Two of the biggest names in men’s tennis have arrived in Australia ahead of the start of the ATP Cup on Friday.
Crowds gathered to welcome Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to the country on Monday. Nadal arrived at Perth airport and Djokovic in Brisbane. The cities where they will play the group stages of the brand new ATP Cup. A team event that has on offer both ranking points and prize money. Nadal’s team Spain has been drawn in the same group as Japan, Georgia and Uruguay. Meanwhile, Djokovic-lead Serbia is set to lock horns with France, South Africa and Chile. A total of 24 nations are taking part.
‘‘Hopefully we arrive in good shape. We have five days to practice well before the competition,’’ Nadal told the Australian Associated Press.
‘‘We are looking forward to play good here in the ATP Cup and then we are going to have one week in Melbourne before the [Open] to start to prepare.
‘‘We are excited to be here and to compete well at this great event.’
It appears that the entire Nadal camp is in a confident mindset. Coach Francisco Roig said he has been ‘impressed’ with what he had witnessed during the off-season. In 2019 the Spaniard claimed four titles on the ATP Tour before guiding his country to glory in the Davis Cup by winning eight consecutive matches.
“Rafa is spectacular,” Roig told atptour.com. “He’s found some very good form. He’s feeling confident in the way he is playing and his serve is really helping him. I think Nadal looks great. Now it’s a question of maintaining his game.”
Meanwhile World No.2 Djokovic is hoping to find his footing quickly ahead of his title defence at the Australian Open. An event he has won a record seven times so far in his career. In comparison, Nadal’s last triumphed in Melbourne back in 2009. Djokovic has previously defended his Australian Open title on three occasions.
‘‘I love it. I’ve had an amazing 10 years in Australia going back to the first grand slam I won in Melbourne in 2008. Ever since then it has been a love affair,’’ Djokovic said.
It is the first time the 32-year-old has played an ATP event in Brisbane since 2009 when he lost in the first round of the Brisbane International to Ernests Gulbis.
“It’s great to be back. It’s been a while since I was last here in Brisbane. I can’t wait for the inaugural ATP Cup event this year,” he said. “Australia always puts on a great show for tennis during January. Any tennis event is successful in Australia and I’m sure the ATP Cup will be a blast. I’m inviting all the nations to come out and support us, especially the Serbian community.”
The ATP Cup will get underway on Friday. Nadal and Djokovic are scheduled to play their first matches the day after.
