Clash of Slam champions set to feature in ATP Cup opening round

The full schedule for the season-opening ATP Cup has now been released, with the first round featuring a heavyweight showdown.

The third ATP Cup gets underway immediately in 2022 as Chile take on Spain and Argentina face Georgia on 1st January.

Of the top 20 players in the world, 18 are set to compete, with only Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal absent.

2020 champions Serbia and defending champions Russia will be led by world number one Novak Djokovic and world number two Daniil Medvedev respectively.

Along with his nation, Medvedev will take on Austria, with Dominic Thiem set to make his return from injury at the event.

As such, Medvedev and Thiem, the last two US Open champions, will play each other should both be fully fit for the tie on 2nd January.

Thiem actually leads the head to head 3-2 over the Russian, though Medvedev won their last meeting in the final of the 2020 ATP Finals.

On outdoor hard courts, the surface on which the ATP Cup will be played, the pair are 1-1.

In the other opening round ties, Serbia face Norway, which would see Djokovic face Casper Ruud for the second time in as many months after their ATP Finals meeting in November.

Greece will play Poland, bringing up a Hubert Hurkacz versus Stefanos Tsitsipas match, and Canada play USA.

Finally, Italy take on Australia and Germany face Great Britain, the Brits given a chance to avenge their recent Davis Cup quarter-final loss.

The group stages will be completed on 6th January, with the two semi-finals played on the 7th and 8th, then the final on the 9th.

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