Djokovic, De Minaur, Felix Lead 2020 Adelaide Field

Novak Djokovic and some of the world's best #NextGenATP players will launch the inaugural Adelaide International next month.

Djokovic will be joined by Aussie Alex de Minaur and Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime at the ATP 250, to be held 13-19 January, the week before the Australian Open.

Djokovic is a seven-time champion in Melbourne, a record, and usually does not play the week before a Grand Slam. The Serbian last played the week before a Slam in 2017, when he won the Nature Valley International title in Eastbourne.

He has played the week before the Australian Open only once, in 2009, in Sydney. Djokovic played in Adelaide in 2007 when the tournament was held two weeks before the season's first major championship.

But the 32-year-old could be going with a new strategy as he's also signed on to play at the inaugural ATP Cup, which will take place 3-12 January in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney.

De Minaur won the 2019 Sydney International for his first ATP Tour title. The victory propelled the Aussie to his best season yet, which included two more crowns (Atlanta, Zhuhai), another run to the title match of the Next Gen ATP Finals (l. to Sinner) and his best year-end ATP Ranking of No. 18.

Auger-Aliassime enjoyed a breakout season in 2019, reaching three finals (Rio, Lyon, Stuttgart) and becoming the youngest Miami semi-finalist in the tournament's 35-year history.

De Minaur and Auger-Aliassime are also scheduled to compete at the ATP Cup. The Adelaide field also includes Top 30 players Lucas Pouille of France, Russian Andrey Rublev and Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2rW8Ypy