World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will take on Denis Shapovalov in a blockbuster opening day at the ATP Cup as defending champion Team Serbia clashes with Team Canada. Second singles is Dusan Lajovic vs. Milos Raonic.
(CAN) Denis Shapovalov vs. (SRB) Novak Djokovic
Team Canada has its work cut out for it, running headlong into Serbia right off the bat at the ATP Cup. Serbia’s powerhouse team features world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who has made a home for himself in Melbourne Park. The Serb holds eight Australian Open titles, and he is almost as dominant in the Aussie lead-up events. He led Team Serbia to the ATP Cup title in 2020.
Unfortunately for Canada, Djokovic has not been a kind matchup for their top player. Denis Shapovalov has faced Djokovic five times and won none of the matches. Most of their encounters haven’t even been particularly competitive. Shapovalov managed to take a set from Djokovic at the ATP Cup last year, but their other contests have been one-sided in the Serb’s favor.
Nothing suggests that there will be any difference in 2021. Djokovic had a stellar 2020 season despite the COVID layoff and his default at the U.S. Open. He was shellacked in the final of Roland Garros at the hands of Rafael Nadal, but making the final of a slam he has only won once can hardly be considered a disappointment.
Shapovalov’s monster groundstrokes are impressive enough to take a set from the Serb but even with Djokovic sporting a nasty blister on his right hand from his warm up in Adelaide, it’s hard to pick anything but a Djokovic win.
Cheryl pick: Djokovic in 3
Ricky pick: Djokovic in 2
(CAN) Milos Raonic vs. (SRB) Dusan Lajovic
This leg of Serbia vs. Canada is likely to be the less competitive of the two matches. Raonic is healthy for a change and he comes into 2021 off an impressive run to the semifinals of the Paris Masters at the end of last year.
His opponent, by contrast, had a positively horrid end of 2020. Dusan Lajovic managed to lose four matches in a row at the tail end of last year. He won a single match at Roland Garros, and thereafter lost the rest–culminating with a straight-set ouster at the hands of Adrian Mannarino at the Paris Masters.
A healthy and motivated Raonic should provide a tick in the win column for Canada. Lajovic has been out of sorts for months and he hasn’t had an official match in 2021 to shake off the offseason rust.
Cheryl pick: Raonic in 2
Ricky pick: Raonic in 3
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