ATP Cup Preview: Powerhouse Russia Eyes Group D Dominance

Powerhouse Russia headlines Group D at the 2021 ATP Cup, which begins on 2 February in Melbourne. The second edition of the event features 12 countries competing across four groups, with the top team from each group advancing to the knock-out semi-finals.

Here is everything you need to know about Group D: who is playing, when they’ll hit the court and how to follow all the action.

Group D: Russia, Argentina, Japan
A young squad anchored by not one but two Top 10 players makes Russia a dangerous threat in Group D. Even if a country’s No. 2 singles player manages to cool the red-hot Andrey Rublev, who won the most titles and joint-most matches in 2020, they’d still be in for a battle against giant-slaying Russian No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, the reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion. Medvedev led Russia to the semi-finals at the inaugural ATP Cup, and he’ll be keen to start the season with even more success in Melbourne.

If any team has the best chance to spoil Team Russia’s party, it might be Japan, led by ATP Cup debutante Kei Nishikori. The Japanese No. 1 can hold his own against Medvedev, evidenced by a 2-2 record in his ATP Head2Head against the Russian, while Yoshihito Nishioka defeated Rublev in their only previous encounter. World No. 41 Nishikori also leads 3-1 in the Head2Head against Diego Schwartzman, but the Japanese player is still finding his best form as he seeks to lead Team Japan out of the ATP Cup group stage for the first time.

World No. 9 Schwartzman returns to lead a deep Argentina side after a career-best 2020 season saw him crack the Top 10 of the FedExATP Rankings and make his Nitto ATP Finals debut. He will receive plenty of support from lefty Guido Pella, who reached a career-high No. 20 in 2019, and a doubles duo made up of Horacio Zeballos, the No. 3-ranked player in the FedEx ATP Doubles Rankings, and Maximo Gonzalez, with whom Zeballos won an ATP Tour title and reached two finals in 2019.

Meet The Group D Players 

Russia	Argentina	Japan
Daniil Medvedev	Diego Schwartzman	Kei Nishikori
Andrey Rublev	Guido Pella	Yoshihito Nishioka
Aslan Karatsev	Horacio Zeballos	Ben McLachlan
Evgeny Donstoy	Maximo Gonzalez	Toshihide Matsui

Three Group D Matches To Watch

Daniil Medvedev (RUS) vs Diego Schwartzman (ARG)
The first day of action will feature a rematch of last year’s quarter-final as World No. 4 Medvedev begins his campaign against World No. 9 Schwartzman. He’ll be looking to extend his mastery over the Argentine in their sixth career clash. Most recently, Medvedev defeated Schwartzman in straight sets en route to the 2020 Nitto ATP Finals crown.

Daniil Medvedev (RUS) vs Kei Nishikori (JPN)
Nishikori will make his ATP Cup debut against familiar foe Medvedev on Day 2 of group action. The Japanese player has the game to make the crafty Medvedev sweat, and the pair are deadlocked at two wins apiece in their Head2Head. Nishikori won their only meeting on Australian soil in three sets at 2019 Brisbane, but Medvedev will have the momentum on his side after finishing the season with a victory at the Nitto ATP Finals.

Andrey Rublev (RUS) vs Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN)
Rublev won Most Improved Player of the Year in last year's ATP Awards after a career-best season saw him lift a tour-leading five titles and rise to No. 8 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. But he’ll have a battle on his hands against Japan’s No. 2 Nishioka, whose speed around the court could prove to be a foil for Rublev's aggressive play. Nishioka leads their Head2Head after winning their only previous encounter at 2019 Sydney.

Where To Watch ATP Cup
TV Schedule

Group D Schedule 
View full group stage schedule

Tuesday, 2 February: Russia vs Argentina
John Cain Arena - starts 5:30pm
Andrey Rublev vs Guido Pella
Not before 7:00pm
Daniil Medvedev vs Diego Schwartzman
Evgeny Donskoy / Aslan Karatsev vs Maximo Gonzalez / Horacio Zeballos 

Wednesday, 3 February: Russia vs Japan
John Cain Arena - starts 5:30pm
Andrey Rublev vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Not before 7:00pm
Daniil Medvedev vs Kei Nishikori
Followed by doubles match – Players TBC

Thursday, 4 February: Argentina vs Japan
John Cain Arena - starts 5:30pm
Guido Pella vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Not before 7:00pm
Diego Schwartzman vs Kei Nishikori
Followed by doubles match – Players TBC

*Match schedule is subject to change in line with ATP rules and regulations

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