Action will continue across Australia on day two of the inaugural ATP Cup, with ties set to be played in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. There is no shortage of star power on show, with the world’s top two amongst those in action and as ever we here at LWOT are offering our predictions for as many matches as possible, including Rafael Nadal’s clash with Nikoloz Basilashvili and Novak Djokovic’s matchup with former-world #5 Kevin Anderson. But who will score a vital win for their team on day two?
ATP Cup Day Two Predictions
Guido Pella vs Kamil Majchrzak
Head-to-head: first meeting
Poland look to be facing a tough ask up against a capable Argentinian team, led by Diego Schwartzman, who takes on Polish #1 Hubert Hurkacz, and Guido Pella, who finished the year ranked 25th in the world. Pella’s surge up the rankings was largely the result of a greater adaptability to tennis away from his preferred clay courts, as evidenced by his fine run to the quarterfinals at the All England Club. Having injected some extra pace into his forehand, he will surely be looking to that shot to do the damage against Kamil Majchrzak.
The Pole enjoyed some successes of his own in 2019, qualifying into the main draw at the Australian Open before reaching the third round in Flushing Meadows. He can do real damage with his two-handed backhand, although it is a shot that can misfire. More concerning for Majchrzak is that he cannot match Pella for consistency from the back of the court. Thus, whilst he may land some punishing blows, it is hard to see him finding a path to victory in this one.
Prediction: Pella in 2
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Dominic Thiem vs Borna Coric
Head-to-head: Thiem 3-1 Coric
In what is perhaps the pick of the Sydney action on day two at the ATP Cup, Dominic Thiem will hope to get the better of Croatia’s Borna Coric. The Austrian enjoyed a superb 2019 season, winning his first Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells and also made making finals at the French Open and the ATP Finals in London, establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with on hard courts in the process. However, he has thus far enjoyed little success in Australia.
Coric, in contrast, endured a frustrating campaign in 2019, falling out of the top 20, with injury trouble a recurring feature of his year. However, at his best, he has the tools to trouble Thiem. He covers the court well and excels at defending out of the corners, particularly on the backhand side. He has also sought to add greater offensive variety to his game, with his backhand down the line a vital shot in that regard. But if Thiem can get on top early and bring his forehand into play regularly, he should ultimately have enough to overpower the 23-year-old.
Prediction: Thiem in 3
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Roberto Bautista Agut vs Aleksandre Metreveli
Head-to-head: first meeting
Spain, who won the Davis Cup Finals in November, look to be in strong position again at the ATP Cup, with two top ten stars in their team. Although it is world #1 Nadal who is the headline act, Roberto Bautista Agut enjoyed a career-best 2019 season and will likely be an opponent few relish facing in 2020 thanks to his excellent court-coverage and flat, penetrating forehand. One rather suspects that Aleksandre Metreveli will not fall into that category however.
The world #679 has almost no experience at ATP level, having played just two tour-level matches so far in his career. Bautista Agut, for comparison, has played in 459, winning 287 of them. The chance to test himself against one of the best in the world on a big stage will thus surely be a welcome one for Metreveli. But it is hard to see him walking away with a fairytale victory. Bautista Agut is ranked 670 places than Metreveli for a reason so expect a routine win for the Spaniard.
Prediction: Bautista Agut in 2
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Benoit Paire vs Nicolas Jarry
Head-to-head: Paire 2-0 Jarry
France’s Benoit Paire may not have the most laser-like focus of any player on tour, but the Frenchman did enjoy a fine 2019, winning two titles and reaching the second week at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. That is a fair return for a man of his considerable talent, with his two-handed backhand one of the best in the game. Nicolas Jarry, in contrast, rather flattered to deceive last season, ending the year ranked outside the top 75 with his triumph in Bastad a rare highlight.
Make no mistake, the Chilean has talent, with a booming serve and powerful forehand enough to cause anyone trouble when he is at his best. But he is susceptible to being rushed on quicker courts and his big groundstrokes have a tendency towards waywardness. That said, he has been competitive in both of his previous matches with Paire, including at the Japan Open, where the conditions are not entirely dissimilar to those found in Brisbane. Expect him to test Paire once again, but for the Frenchman to emerge victorious.
Prediction: Paire in 3
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