The round robin stage of the ATP Cup enters a crucial period on Day 3, as 12 countries contest their second ties.
Here are the 10 things that matter most ahead of Day 3 at the ATP Cup.
1) Final Eight Qualification: Following Team Canada and Team Australia’s Day 1 victories, both countries are in contention to qualify for the Final Eight on Day 3. If Canada defeats Australia and Greece defeats Germany, Canada will win Group F and book its place in Sydney. If Australia defeats Canada and Germany defeats Greece, the home side will top Group F and confirm its spot in Sydney.
2) Maintaining Momentum: Team Russia and Team Belgium claimed 3-0 victories in their opening ties on Friday. Both nations will be hoping to boost their hopes of Final Eight qualification with further success in Sydney.
3) Quick Recoveries: After falling in tie-deciding final-set tie-breaks in their first ATP Cup ties, Team United States and Team Great Britain will both be aiming to reverse their fortunes and pick up a first tie victory.
[WATCH LIVE 1]
4) More Aces: When these 12 countries competed on the opening day of action, they landed 216 aces across Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. With the ATP Cup pledging to donate $100 for every ace hit at this event to the Australian Red Cross bushfire disaster relief and recovery efforts, the Day 1 ace count raised $21,600. Will that amount be beaten on Day 3?
5) Australia v Canada: Day 1 could not have gone much better for Team Australia and Team Canada. Both countries triumphed 3-0 in their first ties and will now meet for the chance to take control of Group F. Felix Auger-Aliassime and Nick Kyrgios will begin the tie, before Denis Shapovalov and Alex de Minaur meet in the second match at Pat Rafter Arena. Auger-Aliassime and De Minaur own 1-0 ATP Head2Head records against their Day 3 opponents.
[WATCH LIVE 2]
6) Germany v Greece: With 0-1 records in Group F, Team Germany and Team Greece return to the court seeking their first win. Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev, champions of the two most recent editions of the Nitto ATP Finals, will meet in the No. 1 singles match. After falling to a straight-sets defeat against Zverev in their maiden ATP Head2Head encounter at the 2018 Citi Open, Tsitsipas has won four straight matches against his fellow Top 10 rival.
7) Norway v Italy: Following the Day 1 heroics of Casper Ruud, Team Norway returns to action in Perth’s day session against Team Italy. Ruud will face Fabio Fognini in the meeting of No. 1 players, with Team Italy seeking its first tie victory at this event.
[WATCH LIVE 3]
8) Russia v United States: Daniil Medvedev and Karen Khachanov will once again take centre stage for Team Russia, which faces Team United States at RAC Arena. Khachanov and Taylor Fritz will both be attempting to record their second ATP Cup wins. Medvedev and John Isner will meet for the first time on the ATP Tour in the second match of the tie.
9) Bulgaria v Moldova: Team Bulgaria created one of the stories of the opening day, saving two match points to beat Team Great Britain in a tie that finished at 2:46am local time. Grigor Dimitrov will contest his second singles match of the competition against Radu Albot, before both men return to the court in doubles. Dimitrov will join Alexandar Lazarov to face Albot and Alexander Cozbinov.
10) Belgium v Great Britain: Following its 3-0 win against Team Moldova, Team Belgium will contest the night session tie at Ken Rosewall Arena against Team Great Britain. Team captain Steve Darcis will open the tie against Cameron Norrie, before David Goffin faces Daniel Evans. In doubles, three-time 2019 ATP Tour titlists Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen will meet Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury.
