The host nation Australia will kick off their ATP Cup campaign with Alex De Minaur and James Duckworth battling it out with Team Italy in their opening match in Sydney. We have all of your predictions for singles matches at the ATP Cup, including the Team USA vs Team Canada battle that features John Isner and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Jannik Sinner vs James Duckworth
James Duckworth always plays hard in Australia but Sinner is 2-1 in the h2h and the far more accomplished player. The veteran Duckworth is at a career high ranking in the top 50 and reached the quarterfinals in Paris to end the year. His 29-22 record across the ATP and Challenger Tours (mostly ATP) in 2021 was his best ever, he won a challenger and reached the ATP Astana (Nur-Sultan) final, his first ever ATP final. Sinner was 50-22 with four ATP titles and a Masters final in 2021. The Italian should have a more damaging game on these hard courts and find a way to win. Sinner in 3
Matteo Berrettini vs Alex De Minaur
The h2h is split 1-1, the home Australian was 25-25 on the season last year with two ATP titles. Italy’s Berrettini reached a career high of #7 and went 41-13 with two ATP titles and a Wimbledon final. Berrettini has a powerful game and he played well enough to end the year that I will give him a slight edge, even against De Minaur who is playing at home. Berrettini in 2
Jan-Lennard Struff vs Dan Evans
Evans leads the h2h 2-0, he was 27-24 last season with one title (that came in Australia). Struff reached the semis in St. Petersburg at years end and was 27-30 with his first ever ATP final in Munich. Given the surface, Evans should be more effective than Struff but these players aren’t drastically different. Evans in 3
Alexander Zverev vs Cam Norrie
Surprisingly the h2h is 2-2, the world #12 Norrie is at a career high ranking after a stunning 52-25 record in 2021 with two titles (Los Cabos and Indian Wells), along with three more ATP finals. Norrie got to play in the Tour Finals, Tour Finals that Zverev won along with five other tournaments in 2021 including an Olympic Gold Medal, and two Masters Titles as the world #3 compiled at 59-15 record in 2021. Zverev is the better player, but Norrie can compete here and this match looks engaging. Zverev in 2
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