Canada and Australia, two of the title favorites at the ATP Cup, are 1-0 heading into Sunday. A couple of blockbuster matchups pit Felix Auger-Aliassime against Nick Kyrgios and Denis Shapovalov against Alex de Minaur.
Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) vs. Nick Kyrgios (AUS)
Auger-Aliassime and Kyrgios will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they clash at the ATP Cup on Sunday. Their only previous meeting came last summer at Queen’s Club, where Auger-Aliassime prevailed 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 7-5. A change of scenery to home-court advantage in Australia and a team competition should do Kyrgios a world of good. He generally thrives in these conditions and picked up a 6-4, 7-6(4) win over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff on Friday.
This will be a steep step up in competition for Auger-Aliassime, who waltzed pass Michail Pervolarakis of Greece 6-1, 6-3 in his tournament opener. The 19-year-old Canadian is hoping to get back on track after wearing out down the stretch of what was initially an awesome 2019 campaign. It won’t be easy against Kyrgios Down Under.
Pick: Kyrgios in 3
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Denis Shapovalov (CAN) vs. Alex de Minaur (AUS)
Like Kyrgios, de Minaur–to an even greater extent, in fact–is an absolute force in his home country. The 20-year-old Australian has reached the Sydney final twice (won the title in 2019) and has also performed well in Brisbane and at the Australian Open. He scored a huge 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2 victory over Alexander Zverev on Friday.
De Minaur and Shapovalov will also be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers at the ATP level after the Aussie got the job done 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the Davis Cup Finals only a couple of months ago. Shapovalov endured a tough but successful ATP Cup opener, as well, upsetting Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(6), 7-6(4). De Minaur will likely get just enough balls back to eventually break down Shapovalov and scrape out a win in front of the home crowd.
Pick: De Minaur in 3
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WWW?
Aussies both in three
Kyrious in 3 (but hoping for FAA)
Shapovalov in 2. Really liking Shapovalov right now