ATP Cup Players to Watch: Group D

On paper, there appears to be a clear favorite in Group D of the ATP Cup, the men’s international team competition starting this week in Melbourne. No one, though, will be willing to cede any ground in their efforts to advance.

Here’s a look at three players that should play a critical role for Russia, Argentina and Japan. (All photos: Getty Images)

RUSSIA: Andrey Rublev

Last year, Rublev won five titles in a pandemic-shortened campaign—the most in the men’s game—and cracked the Top 10 in the world for the first time.

And at the ATP Cup, he’s playing in the No. 2 spot.

The Russian team is the only one with two current Top 10 member competing, as Daniil Medvedev is No. 4 in the rankings. It should be a favorite not only in group play, but for the overall title, too. However, doubles could be a tricky proposition if the other two members of the team, Aslan Karatsev and Evgeny Donskoy, are forced to team up. Russia has to put on the pressure from the start, which means the heavily favored Rublev has to set the tone with convincing wins right off the bat. If not, Russia can be in for some battles.

ARGENTINA: Guido Pella

Argentina could be overlooked as a contender. But the nation is actually fielding a pretty solid team with Diego Schwartzman coming off a career year, and doubles specialists Horacio Zeballos and Maximo Gonzalez reuniting for this event.

The biggest questions lie around which Pella will turn up. Will it be the player that cracked the Top 20 on the strength of his first title and a Wimbledon quarterfinal in 2019, or the one who posted a below-.500 record last year? One of his best wins in 2020 did come against Marin Cilic at the ATP Cup. If Pella were to recapture his winning ways, Argentina can be a tough out.

JAPAN: Kei Nishikori

After Juan Martin del Potro, Nishikori might be the most snake-bit players on the ATP Tour when it comes to dealing with injuries. Japan’s top player for the bulk of his career, the 31-year-old is in the midst of another comeback after missing most of 2020.

At the ATP Cup this year, he’s backed up by Yoshihito Nishioka at No. 2 singles, while the doubles team is likely to be led by Ben McLachlan. With veteran Toshihide Matsui, Japan is a solid-enough team, but hopes for success still start and stop with the former world No. 4. Nishikori will face some challenges as the top singles player on the team, but as he’s proven over the years, he’s always up for the fight.