Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev and the rest of your favourite players have all landed in Australia for the ATP Cup. Check out our roundup of the best social media posts from the past week that show how the biggest names on the ATP Tour have been spending their time in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney.

Djokovic arrived in Brisbane and is eager to continue his pattern of success in Australia. Serbia takes on France, South Africa and Chile in Group A.

G’Day @ATPCup! ???? #TeamSerbia #Idemooo pic.twitter.com/LFjyh2UNi1

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) December 29, 2019

Team Spain has touched down in Perth! Nadal, Roberto Bautista Agut, Pablo Carreno Busta and Feliciano Lopez all traveled together and are ready to begin their preparations. Spain joins Georgia, Japan and Uruguay in Group B.

Welcome to Perth, ?? #TeamSpain!@BautistaAgut @pablocarreno91 @feliciano_lopez @RafaelNadal @WestAustralia | #thisiswa pic.twitter.com/jIBUzcNMpk

— ATPCup (@ATPCup) December 29, 2019

Medvedev went straight to work in his bid to lead Team Russia to the ATP Cup trophy. Russia will face Italy, Norway and United States in Group D.

First hit in Perth! @ATPCup pic.twitter.com/M1HOvPulNu

— Daniil Medvedev (@DaniilMedwed) December 29, 2019

Stefanos Tsitsipas and the rest of Team Greece are making the most of their time in Brisbane. They’ll square off against Germany, Canada and Australia in Group F.

Good night from #Brisbane ??! pic.twitter.com/vz1Kx8fItg

— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@StefTsitsipas) December 28, 2019

Kevin Anderson is ready to represent South Africa as he competes in his first event since Wimbledon.

Excited to be back in Australia and getting ready for the 1st ever @ATPCup! ??? pic.twitter.com/a0BsxbmPtz

— Kevin Anderson (@KAndersonATP) December 29, 2019

Jamie Murray hit the court with Team Great Britain captain Tim Henman in Sydney. Murray will team up in doubles with Joe Salisbury.

8am hit with Captain Tim. Think he approves of the sleeveless….result! ??? #backthebrits #ATPCup @ATPCup pic.twitter.com/NZq00Yhzho

— Jamie Murray (@jamie_murray) December 30, 2019

Grigor Dimitrov got his first look at the ATP Cup trophy and the new roof in Ken Rosewall Arena. He leads Team Bulgaria as they take on Belgium, Great Britain and Moldova in Group C.

“Oh that’s a nice one!” ?

Fair to say ?? @GrigorDimitrov from #TeamBulgaria is a fan of the trophy & the roof!#ATPCup | @destinationnsw pic.twitter.com/mKm3Jb4CqT

— ATPCup (@ATPCup) December 30, 2019

David Goffin has already spent plenty of time practising as he aims to guide Team Belgium to a big run in Sydney.

Gearing up for the #ATPCup in Sydney.@David__Goffin | ?? #TeamBelgium pic.twitter.com/8FIih77oHc

— ATPCup (@ATPCup) December 29, 2019

#NextGenATP Aussie Alex de Minaur and team captain Lleyton Hewitt made it clear how much winning for their country means to them.

It means so much more representing your country, especially on home soil.

?? #TeamAustralia captain @lleytonhewitt and No.1 @alexdeminaur are battle ready for Brisbane. #ATPCup ? https://t.co/ejZgS9kBNl pic.twitter.com/0TNXirdSib

— ATPCup (@ATPCup) December 26, 2019

Australian legend Ken Rosewall was joined by ATP stars Borna Coric, Grigor Dimitrov, David Goffin and Jamie Murray on Monday in Sydney to unveil the upgrades to Ken Rosewall Arena at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre ahead of the start of the ATP Cup on 3 January.

“I think it’s pretty exciting,” Rosewall said at the ceremony. “I think that it’s going to be some of the best tennis that we’ve seen here at the stadium and I think with the new facility here, with the new seats and the new roof, it’s going to be exciting for the spectators as well. I know that there will be a lot of great matches.”

The spectacular $50.5 million upgrade to the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre has included the transformation of Ken Rosewall Arena into a multi-purpose outdoor covered arena with upsized in-stadia videoboards and new seating. The players even aimed their phone cameras towards the sky to capture the centerpiece of the transformation — an all-weather canopy roof.

“It’s the first thing I noticed when I walked into the court. I have a lot of memories out here,” said Dimitrov, who reached the final of the Sydney ATP 250 in 2016. “I’m so excited to be here.”

^{Photo Credit: Jaimi Chisholm/Getty Images}
ATP Cup Tournament Director Tom Larner, Tennis NSW CEO and ATP Cup Sydney General Manager Lawrence Robertson and NSW Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee were also in attendance at Monday’s arena upgrade unveiling, sharing their excitement for both the improvements at the facility and the debut of the ATP Cup.

“It’s fantastic to see in this wonderful city of Sydney the global launch of the tennis season with the talent we have here today, taking place here in just four days,” Larner said.

Having completed a tour of Brisbane and Perth, the ATP Cup trophy has also arrived in Sydney. Its bespoke design is both a tribute to tennis’ past and a celebration of its future.

Made from sterling silver, the trophy’s symmetrical design consists of 24 shards, with each representing one of the 24 countries in the competition. The shards support a silver stem adorned with a hand-blown glass silver sphere, replicating both a traditional tennis ball and the hemisphere logo of the ATP Cup.

The trophy’s base is handcrafted from native Banksia hardwood and is finished with a silver plaque, which awaits the engraving of the first ATP Cup champion team.

The first match in Sydney will pit Belgium against Moldova on Friday at 10am local time.

Team Japan has been dealt a blow to its ATP Cup lineup after Kei Nishikori announced his withdrawal on Monday from the inaugural event.

“Today, together with my team, we have made this decision as I am still not 100 percent ready to compete at the highest level,” Nishikori said in a statement.

Nishikori has not competed since this year’s US Open due to a right elbow injury that he underwent surgery for in October. Yoshihito Nishioka will replace him as the top-ranked player in Japan’s lineup. Yasutaka Uchiyama also withdrew from the event earlier this week and was replaced by Toshihide Matsui.

Japan takes on Spain, Georgia and Uruguay in Group B action in Perth.

Novak Djokovic touched down on Monday in Brisbane as he looks to continue his pattern of success in Australia at the inaugural ATP Cup.

The No. 2 player in the ATP Rankings will kick off his 2020 campaign by leading Team Serbia. They’ll take on France (led by Gael Monfils), South Africa (led by Kevin Anderson) and Chile (led by Cristian Garin) in Group A.

G’day, ?? @DjokerNole!

We can’t wait to see you with #TeamSerbia ?@queensland | @visitbrisbane | #ATPCup pic.twitter.com/dipAEnWOOs

— ATPCup (@ATPCup) December 29, 2019

“It’s great to be back. It’s been awhile since I was last here in Brisbane. I can’t wait for the inaugural ATP Cup event this year,” Djokovic said. “Australia always puts on a great show for tennis during January. Any tennis event is successful in Australia and I’m sure the ATP Cup will be a blast. I’m inviting all the nations to come out and support us, especially the Serbian community.”

Djokovic opened 2019 by capturing a record-breaking seventh Australian Open crown (d. Nadal). The Serbian’s other season highlights include saving two championship points to prevail in a historic fifth-set tie-break at Wimbledon (d. Federer) and earning a pair of ATP Masters 1000 titles in Madrid (d. Tsitsipas) and Paris (d. Shapovalov).

Serbia begins their pursuit of the ATP Cup trophy on Saturday against South Africa.

Playing in the ATP Cup will offer Nicolas Jarry another means to continue the arduous task of following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Jaime Fillol Sr. Beginning 3 January in Brisbane, Jarry will represent his country in the inaugural event, 45 years after his relative and idol took part in the former World Team Cup.

“For us as a family, it’s really beautiful to have a member in the world of tennis”, said Fillol Sr., World No. 14 in 1974 and winner of six ATP Tour titles during his career, which ended in 1985. “Obviously, I hope that Nico beats me. But I’m already history. My only interest is his happiness and that he enjoys all the opportunities this sport offers.”

More than anyone, it was Fillol Sr., born in 1946, who encouraged Jarry to play tennis.

“When he was very small, I would give him a racquet or something made of wood and play in my house. We would go to the garden and I would explain that the courts at Wimbledon were like that. We played in the hallways and I told him it was an indoor court. I talked to him all the time about tennis,” said Fillol, whose brother, Alvaro Fillol and son, Jaime Fillol, also played on the ATP Tour.

It wasn’t easy to convince Jarry because many other sports caught his attention as a young boy in Santiago. He played football, rugby, winter sports, cycling, gymnastics and loved skating and riding scooters. He even played volleyball, an inheritance from his parents.

“On beach holidays, they would take suitcases filled with different balls that we could play with. We even liked surfing,” recalled Jarry, the eldest of five brothers.

But Fillol Sr. was determined to immerse the first of his 17 grandchildren in the world of tennis. He took him to ATP Tour tournaments, helped him have his photo taken with legends of the game (including Rafael Nadal in 2005), and introduced him to the big names of Chilean tennis such as Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu.

“My granddad gradually convinced me to get into tennis,” said Jarry. “Little by little, he became my role model.”

Jarry grew up listening to the stories of his grandfather on the ATP Tour and his victories representing Chile in the World Team Cup. Fillol Sr. had a 2-3 record at the event, having participated in Kingston in 1975 and Dusseldorf in 1978. But there will be plenty of chances next month to add more triumphs to the Jarry-Fillol family history.

The 24-year-old Jarry, who won his maiden ATP Tour title this July in Bastad (d. Londero), is part of an impressive Chilean squad. Team Chile will be captained by Paul Capdeville and led by his peer Cristian Garin, No. 33 in the ATP Rankings, who is in a confident mood after playing some of his best tennis to win his first two ATP Tour titles this year in Houston (d. Ruud) and Munich (d. Berrettini). Alejandro Tabilo, Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera and Hans Podlipnik-Castillo complete the lineup. 

“I’m maybe at the best point of my career,” said Jarry. “It’s good for me. Everything has been positive recently and I want to continue in the same vein.”

Another reason the Jarry-Fillol dynasty can be hopeful about making more history in team competitions is Jarry’s love of representing Chile. Playing for his country has always brought out the best in him

“To me, events where you play for your country have always been special,” said Jarry. “Playing tennis for Chile is a really beautiful thing for me.”

The 2019 season of Pablo Cuevas, his 15th on the ATP Tour, was special for many reasons.

The 33-year-old Uruguayan found some of his best form again and jumped from No. 90 in the ATP Rankings, his lowest standing since 2014, to No. 45. He finished runner-up in Estoril (l. to Tsitsipas) and also reached the third round at Roland Garros, matching his best Grand Slam result since accomplishing the feat in Paris two years ago.

However, the ATP Cup has been a priority for Cuevas since the beginning of this year. He views the inaugural competition as a significant moment for his career and Uruguayan tennis.

“Since the beginning of the year, I had expectations that we would enter, although I knew there was a lot of time. I was following the [ATP Cup standings] since the middle of the year and was more interested each time,” Cuevas told ATPTour.com during his preseason in Uruguay. “The first cut was with the first 18 teams [the week] after the US Open, but with 24 teams [qualifying], I had an opportunity.”

Uruguay faces off against Spain, Japan and Georgia as part of Group B in Perth. The Spanish team will arrive with World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and World No. 9 Roberto Bautista Agut, while Japan is led by Kei Nishikori and Georgia has a Top 30 player in Nikoloz Basilashvili. But the six-time ATP Tour singles champion has embraced the challenge and is confident his team will be in top form.

“For Uruguay, it is something spectacular,” he said. “We don’t usually face countries with great tennis potential. All the groups are complex and we are getting ready.”

Team Uruguay will unite Pablo with his brother, Martin Cuevas, Franco Roncadelli, Ariel Behar and 17-year-old Juan Martín Fumeaux. Felipe Maccio, who coached Pablo from ages 10 to 17, will serve as team captain. Martin, affectionately known on Tour as “Bebu”, said that representing Uruguay with his brother will be a meaningful moment.

“Sharing a team with Pablo is the best, It’s beautiful to have a player like him on the team. He’s helped me a lot with advice and when we play doubles together,” Martin said. “Since I knew we had a possibility to qualify in June, we followed the standings and he fought to qualify. All of our rivals are tough. We are preparing to arrive in the best way and to win matches.”

Although Pablo is not often in Uruguay, he represents his country with pride each time he steps on the court. The veteran has loved traveling the world throughout his career, but the rare trips back home remain some of his most treasured moments.

“When I go, I enjoy the tranquility of the country and the rhythm of life that takes. I really like the beaches it has and escape there whenever I can go,” he said. “The best thing is family and friends because I don’t have many opportunities to see them, so we have some barbecues and mates when I go. Those things are not negotiable!”

The 2020 season has yet to start, but there are already plenty of intriguing storylines in place to emphatically kick off the new decade.

The Big 3 have maintained their dominance at the top of the ATP Rankings, but a growing crop of talented young players look to end their reign. Elite players who struggled with injuries have declared themselves fully fit, while those in the current #NextGenATP class look to establish themselves as players to watch. The groundbreaking ATP Cup will provide an unforgettable beginning to the season and could provide a glimpse into who will qualify for the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals.

ATPTour.com breaks down 15 key players and storylines to watch in 2020.

1. Can Rafa Be Stopped?
Rafael Nadal finished as year-end No. 1 for the fifth time after a memorable 2019 in which he won Roland Garros (d. Thiem) and the US Open (d. Medvedev), in addition to ATP Masters 1000 crowns in Rome (d. Djokovic) and Montreal (d. Medvedev).

Nadal will look to kick off the new year with his first Melbourne crown since 2009. He’s finished runner-up in four (2012, 2014, 2017, 2019) of his past seven appearances.

Merci @rolandgarros for this amazing experience. 12!! Still can’t believe it pic.twitter.com/iNj8Me4iRJ

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 9, 2019

2. Djokovic’s Quest For No. 1
Novak Djokovic produced another outstanding year by picking up big titles on every surface. He captured a record-breaking seventh Australian Open crown (d. Nadal), saved two championship points to prevail in a historic fifth-set tie-break at Wimbledon (d. Federer) and earned a pair of Masters 1000 crowns in Madrid (d. Tsitsipas) and Paris (d. Shapovalov).

The 32-year-old seeks to take back the top spot from Nadal. Another title Down Under would send a sharp statement that Djokovic is eager to dominate in the new decade.

?5️⃣?? #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/inKPphJrTS

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) July 14, 2019

3. Roger That
Roger Federer continues to prove that age is just a number. He captured his 100th ATP Tour crown in Dubai (d. Tsitsipas) and followed up a month later with another Masters 1000 trophy in Miami (d. Isner). His tenth titles in Halle (d. Goffin) and Basel (d. De Minaur) soon followed, but his year will also be remembered for the championship points he let slip against Djokovic at The All England Club.

The 38-year-old Swiss is within striking distance of breaking the record for most singles match wins in the Open Era. Federer has 1,237 wins and only trails Jimmy Connors (1,274).

??10is?? pic.twitter.com/pdDJNA7Ddh

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) October 28, 2019

4. Thiem’s Top 3 Pursuit
Dominic Thiem enjoyed another big year on clay by prevailing in Barcelona (d. Medvedev) and Kitzbühel (d. Ramos-Vinolas), in addition to scoring his second runner-up finish at Roland Garros (l. to Nadal), but proved once again that he can excel on other surfaces. He won his first Masters 1000 crown in Indian Wells (d. Federer), took titles in Beijing (d. Tsitsipas) and Vienna (d. Schwartzman), and reached the championship match at the Nitto ATP Finals (l. to Tsitsipas).

Thiem will look for more consistency in Grand Slams as he aims to break into the Top 3. He was forced to retire from his second-round match in Melbourne due to injury and bowed out in the opening round at Wimbledon and the US Open.

There is no substitute for hard work ?

What are your 2020 predictions for @ThiemDomi? pic.twitter.com/Z4H8Mgxf2e

— ATP Tour (@atptour) December 15, 2019

5. Medvedev’s Momentum
Daniil Medvedev’s inspired form in the second half of this year firmly established him as one of the most dangerous players on Tour. Medvedev reached the title match in six consecutive tournaments appearances, clinching his first two Masters 1000 crowns in Cincinnati (d. Goffin) and Shanghai (d. Zverev), as well as winning his first title on home soil in St. Petersburg (d. Coric). He also advanced to his maiden Grand Slam final in New York (l. to Nadal).

With less than 900 ATP Rankings points to defend in the first three months of next year, another big run could push him inside the Top 3.

?? @DaniilMedwed delivered in 2019!

What’s your prediction for the Russian in 2020?

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 27, 2019

6. Superb Stefanos
One year after prevailing at the Next Gen ATP Finals, Stefanos Tsitsipas wrapped up this season by graduating to champion at the Nitto ATP Finals (d. Thiem). His outstanding year, which saw him win 54 tour-level matches and also take titles in Marseille (d. Kukushkin) and Estoril (d. Cuevas), saw him named as Greece’s Best Male Athlete of 2019.

After defeating Federer en route to his maiden Grand Slam semi-final this year in Melbourne, he’ll look to further raise the stakes with his first Grand Slam crown.

Inches make champions @atptour pic.twitter.com/z3o8AAQQjA

— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@StefTsitsipas) November 17, 2019

7. Zverev’s Momentum
Alexander Zverev readily admitted that his 2019 season was a mixed bag, but finished on a strong note with a Masters 1000 final in Shanghai (l. to Medvedev) and semi-final showing at the season-ending championships in London. Zverev also saved a championship point to prevail in Lyon (d. Jarry).

If he can carry his late season form into 2020, he’ll be a contender in any event he plays.

Super performance from @AlexZverev ?

The defending champion defeats Medvedev 6-4, 7-6 to clinch the final spot in the semis at the #NittoATPFinals!

?: @TennisTV pic.twitter.com/SYFG8p4oer

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 15, 2019

8. Grande Matteo
Matteo Berrettini cracked the Top 10 and earned his debut appearance at The O2 after a breakout year that included titles in Budapest (d. Krajinovic) and Stuttgart (d. Auger-Aliassime). The powerful Italian also scored his maiden Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open and first Masters 1000 semi-final in Shanghai. He was fittingly selected by his peers as Most Improved Player of the Year in the 2019 ATP Awards.

Berrettini’s all-surface success showed how dangerous he is, but a win against one of the Big 3 would further solidify that he’s someone to keep a close eye on.

Congratulations, Matteo Berrettini!

The fourth Italian to crack the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings.

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 28, 2019

9. Del Potro Returns
Persistent right knee issues limited Juan Martin Del Potro to five tournaments this year and shut down his season in June after he underwent surgery for a fractured right kneecap. However, the 31-year-old isn’t new to comebacks and typically doesn’t take long to find his form. His powerful baseline game is still potent and will make him an opponent that no one wants to see across the net.

#PatinandoPorUnSueño ??? pic.twitter.com/ic7JmVnlNX

— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) December 6, 2019

10. The Veteran Brigade
Roberto Bautista Agut and Fabio Fognini were rewarded for years of persistence by cracking the Top 10 for the first time, while Gael Monfils returned to the Top 10 after a two-year absence. The trio hopes to back up their strong results with another outstanding season and their success on all surfaces will give them plenty of opportunities to shine. Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka also can’t be counted out.

?9⃣ mundial, mi mejor ranking #ATP ??? pic.twitter.com/mlr237ZQOY

— Roberto BautistaAgut (@BautistaAgut) November 4, 2019

11. Healthy & Dangerous
Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic can deliver great tennis when they’re fit, but both endured frustrating struggles with injuries this year. Nishikori ended his season after the US Open due to a right elbow injury that required surgery, while knee issues forced Raonic to miss the clay-court season and a back injury forced him out of the US Open.

Both men spent their off-season getting back to full strength and are still highly dangerous opponents. If they can stay healthy, expect their ATP Rankings to quickly rise.

The moment @keinishikori clinched his 400th tour-level victory. ?

Which win do you remember most? ?

?: @Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/fE513ruvj5

— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 6, 2019

12. ATP Cup Kicks Off The New Year
The 2020 season begins in grand fashion with the inaugural ATP Cup, held throughout Australia from 3-12 January. Twenty-four teams will compete in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth as they vie for the ATP Cup trophy. Singles players can earn a maximum of 750 ATP Rankings points, which could have a significant impact on who ends up qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals.

Three cities, one ?

The world’s best players are arriving in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney ahead of the first #ATPCup.

? https://t.co/ejZgS9kBNl pic.twitter.com/RfKKeGEb9L

— ATPCup (@ATPCup) December 28, 2019

13. #NextGenATP Stars Ready To Soar
Tsitsipas’ triumph at The O2 while still part of the #NextGenATP class showed that the future is now. Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime are eager to follow in the Greek’s footsteps after producing career-best seasons, while two-time Milan finalist Alex de Minaur looks to build on winning his first three ATP Tour titles in 2019. Reigning Milan champion and 2019 Newcomer of the Year Jannik Sinner gained plenty of new fans with his rapid rise and looks to continue his upward momentum.

On the 31st of December 2018, ?? @janniksin was No. 553 in the ATP Rankings.

Now, he sits inside the Top 100 & is the new @nextgenfinals champion – picking up $372,000 in the process.

?: @TennisTV | @nextgenfinals pic.twitter.com/OIQAaxtX1m

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 9, 2019

14. Double Your Pleasure
Another thrilling year of doubles has set the stage for an exciting 2020 season. Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah look to continue their Grand Slam dominance after prevailing at Wimbledon (d. Mahut/Roger-Vasselin) and the US Open (d. Granollers/Zeballos), while Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut added a bookend to their Australian Open title (d. Kontinen/Peers) with their first Nitto ATP Finals crown (d. Klaasen/Venus).

Roland Garros champions Kevin Krawietz/Andreas Mies (d. Chardy/Martin), Raven Klaasen/Michael Venus and Lukasz Kubot/Marcelo Melo are among the other top teams who hope to have a big impact in the new year.

?? THE FINAL GOES TO THE FRENCH ??@p2hugz & @nmahut defeat Klaasen/Venus 6-3, 6-4 to win their first #NittoATPFinals title ? pic.twitter.com/Kf8ahjYw2C

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 17, 2019

15. Swan Songs
A trio of doubles legends have confirmed that 2020 will be their final season. Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, who have won 16 Grand Slam doubles titles together, will conclude their epic partnership at the US Open. Eight-time Grand Slam doubles champion Leander Paes said that he will play select events throughout the year before retiring after 29 years on Tour.

We dedicate 2020 to all those who have shared this journey with us. Whether you root for us or against us, we are grateful for your passion in the sport that has given us so much. We’ll always do our best to return this love. Thank you for letting us live out our dream. ?❤️ pic.twitter.com/OmsFarDHJz

— Bob Bryan (@Bryanbros) November 14, 2019

Rafael Nadal is back in Australia and ready to kick off the new season at the inaugural ATP Cup.

The World No. 1 touched down in Perth on Sunday and made time for selfies and autographs with his fans. Nadal looks to guide Team Spain out of Group B, which also features Japan (led by Kei Nishikori), Georgia (led by Nikoloz Basilashvili) and Uruguay (led by Pablo Cuevas).

? The World No. 1 is back in Australia ?

The moment ?? @RafaelNadal & #TeamSpain landed in Perth ?@WestAustralia | #thisiswa pic.twitter.com/roVMhKWOum

— ATPCup (@ATPCup) December 29, 2019

The Spaniard spent his pre-season training in Mallorca at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar. Francisco Roig, Nadal’s coach since 2005, joined him for a few days and was impressed with what he saw.

“Rafa is spectacular,” Roig said. “He’s found some very good form. He’s feeling confident in the way he is playing and his serve is really helping him. I think Nadal looks great. Now it’s a question of maintaining his game.”

Nadal is eager to maintain his momentum from finishing 2019 as year-end No. 1 for the fifth time. He prevailed at Roland Garros (d. Thiem) and the US Open (d. Medvedev), in addition to taking ATP Masters 1000 titles in Rome (d. Djokovic) and Montreal (d. Medvedev).

Spain begins their campaign on Saturday against Georgia.

Andy Murray will have a late start to his 2020 campaign. The Brit announced his withdrawal from the ATP Cup and Australian Open due to a recent setback in the off-season.

“I’ve worked so hard to get myself into a situation where I can play at the top level and I’m gutted I’m not going to be able to play in Australia in January,” Murray said. “After the Australian Open this year, when I wasn’t sure whether I’d be able to play again, I was excited about coming back to Australia and giving my best. That makes this even more disappointing for me.

“Unfortunately, I’ve had a setback recently and, as a precaution, need to work through that before I get back on court competing.”

The Brit made headlines this year after an emotional pre-tournament press conference at the Australian Open, when he announced his intention to retire after Wimbledon due to ongoing pain in his left hip. Murray fell in his opening round in Melbourne to Roberto Bautista Agut, but instead opted for a second surgery just weeks later and had a metal plate inserted into his hip joint.

He threw himself into recovery and tested the waters with a foray into doubles, winning his first event back in June with Feliciano Lopez at Queen’s Club (d. Ram/Salisbury). Murray returned to singles action in August and, just two months later, defeated Stan Wawrinka in the Antwerp final to clinch his first ATP Tour singles title since 2017 Dubai.

“I know how excited Andy was about coming back to compete in Australia in January, and how disappointed he is not to make it for 2020,” said Craig Tiley, Tennis Australia CEO. “Andy’s last match at the Australian Open was a five-set roller coaster that none of us who witnessed it will ever forget. His determination and iron will was on display for all to see. It’s that fighting spirit that has driven him to come back from a potentially career-ending injury to achieve the results he has this year.”

James Ward will replace Murray on Team Great Britain at the ATP Cup.

The biggest names in tennis are all making their way to Brisbane, Perth and Sydney for the ATP Cup.

With the inaugural event set to kick off on 3 January, many players arrived early to Australia and started preparing for their first event of the 2020 season. Greece (led by Stefanos Tsitsipas) and Russia (led by Daniil Medvedev) are among the teams scheduled for action on Day 1.

Tsitsipas is in Brisbane and has begun training with his teammates. Greece joins Canada, Australia and Germany in Group F.

Good night from #Brisbane ??! pic.twitter.com/vz1Kx8fItg

— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@StefTsitsipas) December 28, 2019

Medvedev and Karen Khachanov reunited for a flight to Perth. They look to guide Russia past Italy, United States and Norway in Group D.

Russian reunion????✌?
Perth here we come!!!✈️ @ATPCup @DaniilMedwed #TeamRussia pic.twitter.com/rWQgkGFqRx

— Karen Khachanov (@karenkhachanov) December 28, 2019

Borna Coric showed his excitement to join Team Croatia in Sydney. They’ll take on Austria, Argentina and Poland in Group E.

Australia, here I come again! I’m looking forward to the tournaments down under ??
.
.
?: William West/AFP pic.twitter.com/YgIgUwxEiJ

— borna coric (@borna_coric) December 27, 2019

Felix Auger-Aliassime wasted no time getting to work in Brisbane with a practice session on Pat Rafter Arena.

“It’s a beautiful venue.”@felixtennis gets a first taste of Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena.

?? #TeamCanada #ATPCup@Queensland | @visitbrisbane pic.twitter.com/aREvHu7eiv

— ATPCup (@ATPCup) December 27, 2019

Casper Ruud and the rest of Team Norway received some extra motivation by holding the ATP Cup trophy in Perth.

?? #TeamNorway No.1 @CasperRuud98 and captain Christian Ruud get their hands on the spectacular #ATPCup trophy in Perth. ?

@westernaustralia | #thisiswa pic.twitter.com/AIGWNEBwvN

— ATPCup (@ATPCup) December 28, 2019