New tennis era kicks off with ATP Cup

Tennis' invative new team championship kicks off men's 2020 season on Friday, with Rafael Nal and vak Djokovic among those looking for a winning start ahe of first Grand Slam of year. ATP Cup will see 24 nations split into six groups across three Australian cities, with eight teams emerging from round-robin to compete in a kckout phase until one country is left standing. It is sport's newest tournament and third men's team event competing for hearts and minds, and dollars, of fans, along with a revamped Davis Cup and annual Laver Cup, which pits Europe against World.

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But it has alrey suffered setbacks, with major drawcard Roger Federer opting to give it a miss and Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori pulling out injured. Despite this, world number two Djokovic said move towards more team tennis was good for a sport best kwn for individuality of its global superstars. "More than 90 percent of time, we're playing as individuals and we don't have too many team events," said Serbian great, who also hes ATP player council. "This is going to bring toger a lot of nations and, for me personally, it will be a very nice and proud moment to represent my country. An event like this is truly going to make an impact." 

Sydney hosts finals, along with group games, which are also held in Brisbane and Perth with US$15 million in prize money and up to 750 singles and 250 doubles ATP rankings points at stake. Australian star Nick Kyrgios agrees with Djokovic, believing it will be "an awesome event". "I kw everyone on Tour wants to be with ir teammates. re's thing better than playing for your country against or best players in world," he said.

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Looking to future

While Federer, Nishikori, and Murray are missing, most of world's top 30 men are playing. championship, from January 3-12, will feature two ties each day in three cities during round-robin, comprising two singles matches n a doubles. Belgium kicks off Sydney action against Moldova before Britain face Bulgaria. Kyrgios spearhes local hopes for Australia in Brisbane against Alexander Zverev-led Germany while Greece take on Cana in same city.

First up in Perth will be United States against rway followed by Russia and Italy. Djokovic makes his tournament debut in Brisbane for Serbia on day two, as does Spanish world number one Nal in Perth. Under format, second-ranked singles players from each country face each or first, n top-ranked men ahe of a potentially decisive double.

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A country winning two of three matches will claim tie. As well as players, some big-name former stars are captaining ir countries, including Boris Becker (Germany), Marat Safin (Russia), Tim Henman (Britain), Lleyton Hewitt (Australia), and Thomas Muster (Austria). Previously men's season kicked off with players spre across various smaller-scale tournaments, and outgoing ATP chairman Chris Kermode said it me far more sense to have everyone under one umbrella.

" ATP Cup fits perfectly with our strategy to invate and look towards future," he said.

" first week of season is when players want to play and that's why tournament has ir strong support." 

Group A (Brisbane) - Serbia, France, South Africa, Chile

Group B (Perth) - Spain, Japan, Georgia, Uruguay

Group C (Sydney) - Bulgaria, Belgium, Great Britain, Moldova

Group D (Perth) - Russia, Italy, USA, rway

Group E (Sydney) - Austria, Croatia, Argentina, Poland

Group F (Brisbane) - Germany, Greece, Cana, Australia. 

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