The team captains for the inaugural ATP Cup have been named, and they include a host of major tennis stars from the past and present, including Boris Becker, Marat Safin, Thomas Muster, Tim Henman, Lleyton Hewitt, and Grigor Dimitrov.
The ATP Cup which will be played across three Australian cities Brisbane, Perth and Sydney from 3rd to 12th January will feature teams from 24 countries, and will see a team competition reintroduced to the ATP calendar for the first time since the World Cup was last played in 2012.
The team have been drawn into six groups of four teams; the six group winners and the two highest second-finishing teams will qualify for the finals to be held in Sydney. Each tie between teams will consist of two singles, and one doubles, match. The doubles matches will be played even if it is a dead rubber courtesy of earlier results in the singles.
Group A will consist of top seeds Serbia led by Novak Djokovic, South Africa, Chile and France, who will be captained by Gilles Simon and led by Gael Monfils. Spain find themselves in Group B, and they will take on Japan, Georgia, and a yet to be disclosed opponent, with world number one Rafael Nadal leading their assault on the title.
Meanwhile in Group C, a Great Britain team featuring Andy Murray, his brother Jamie and Dan Evans, will take on Belgium, Bulgaria and Switzerland, led by Roger Federer. Russia, featuring Daniil Medvedev and Karen Khachanov, have been drawn in Group D, will take on Italy, led by Matteo Berrettini, the USA and Norway.
Austria, captained by Muster and led by Dominic Thiem, are in Group E; their opponents are Croatia, Argentina, and Poland. In Group F there is Germany, Greece, Canada and Australia, with those taking part including Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur.
The venues have also been announced for the group matches Serbia will play at the Pat Rafter stadium in Brisbane, Spain will head to Perth, and Switzerlands matches will be at the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney. Great Britain will also play in Sydney, whilst hosts Australia are headed for Perth.
