The ATP Cup is set to begin Tuesday in Melbourne with a loaded field that includes 13 of the ATP's Top 15 suiting up for their respective nations. Before the 12 teams battle it out across four groups, players and captains met with media (virtually). Here are a handful of notable quotes from the press room.
Djokovic gets goosies
'Adelaide was played in front of a packed house, 4,000 people. I had goosebumps coming into the court playing in front of the fans again after 12 months of not experiencing that. It feels like ages, playing without fans. Hopefully this is all temporary, that we will be able to experience everywhere we go the fact of playing in front of the fans, not just here in Australia.'
Tsitsipas P / Tsitsipas S live score (and video online live stream.), schedule and results from all. Tennis tournaments that Tsitsipas P / Tsitsipas S played. We’re still waiting for Tsitsipas P / Tsitsipas S opponent in next match. It will be shown here as soon as the official schedule becomes available. Stefanos Tsitsipas (2) 6 6 Completed Daniel Evans: 3 1 Wed, Sep 23 Casper Ruud: 6 2 Withdrawn Benoit Paire: 4 0 Tue, Sep 22 Dusan Lajovic: 6 6. Tsitsipas will face Roger Federer in the other semi-final on Saturday. Live scores, schedule and results. Analysis and opinion from the BBC's tennis correspondent.
'Crazy' Fognini echoes fan sentiment
- To feel proud when we're out on the court playing tennis.” Greece has been drawn in Group B at the 2021 ATP Cup alongside last year’s finalist Spain and host nation Australia. Captain Apostolos Tsitsipas is working hard in Melbourne to prepare his two sons, World No. 6 Stefanos and Petros Tsitsipas alongside Michail Pervolarakis and Markos.
- Get the latest news, stats, videos, and more about tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas on ESPN.com.
'We're lucky we are here after 14 days of quarantine. We're lucky again we play again with the crowd. My opinion, the player that I am, the person that I am, I feel I need them because, of course, sometimes I'm a bit crazy, I do something special in every sense, but I really enjoy.'
Getty Images
Nadal on Tokyo 202ONE's challenge
'Combining our tour with another 15 days of quarantine to play Olympics. It looks difficult to fix it in our calendar. But, as I said, we going to do what the people who knows about virus and who knows about protecting the people in every single country are going to just follow their instructions.'
Tsitsipas family calls on Kyrgios
Petros: 'I don't think Nick is into doing music so much. I don't know. I recently got into music. I'm creating some songs from now and then.'
Stefanos: 'I think we can manage a way to push Nick to get along and help us out. At least he'll for once get creative and be part of something important, you know. Music is a great thing that we have.'
Apostolos: 'Actually I've seen his last interview. He said he didn't miss tennis so much.'
Stefanos: 'Really? Well, he might miss music after making some music with us (laughter).'
Canada's democratic process
How did you end up being captain of the team?
Polansky: 'It was decided by vote. The players voted for me. Pretty simple (laughter).'
Raonic: 'It was a national election (laughter).'
Getty Images
Behind the wheel with Team Russia
S Tsitsipas Tennis Scores
Donskoy: 'Always when you drive in the car, when you are the one who driving, you feel everything is good. But when somebody is driving that you not trust so much, you're always like (laughter).'
Medvedev: 'Andrey should get fines for playing so fast. All the limit all the time. Fine, fine, fine (laughter).'
Rublev: 'And I'm driving so slow (laughter).'
The governing body of men’s tennis has shared a video on its Twitter page, bringing out a remarkable piece of action from Stefanos Tsitsipas this year.
S Tsitsipas Tennis Score
ATP clip features stunning backhand winner by Stefanos Tsitsipas
The clip is from a doubles encounter at ATP Cup in Brisbane. It featured Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas and his Cypriot partner Michail Perrvolarakis against German Kevin Krawietz and compatriot Andreas Mies.
The moment features Tsitsipas reaching for an overhead smash and producing an incredible backhand winner.
While the shot itself is breathtaking, what is even more sensational is the way the long-haired Tsitsipas shows remarkable agility, for someone of his height, to reach the ball.
Tsitsipas and Cypriot partner lost the match in question
The ATP posted a message along with the video, which aptly says, “The shots that made our jaws drop. Relive the most bizarre and brilliant moments from this season!”
That piece of action was one of many moments in that group stage encounter at the Pat Rafter Arena that made the crowds go ‘wow’ and erupt in applause.
However, the match, though fiercely contested, ended in defeat for the Greek-Cypriot pair.
Tsitsipas-Pervolarakis pair lost after epic final set
Tsitsipas and Pervolarakis took the opening set fairly comfortably, only to see the German pair storm back to win the second.
The deciding set saw an epic battle, with both sets of players going full throttle and matching each other shot for shot, drawing gasps of astonishment and rapturous applause from the crowd.
Read More: Former ATP President Calls for the Merger of ATP Cup and Davis Cup
It turned out to be one the longest sets in doubles history, eventually going in favor of the German pair.
The eventual score-line read 3-6, 6-3 and 17-15, standing testimony to the epic battle.
The title showdown for the doubles crown featured Novak Djokovic and Serbian partner Victor Troicki against Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Pablo Carreno Busta.
The Spaniards were no match for Djokovic and Troicki as the Serbian pair bossed the proceedings and won the championship in straight sets.
The final score-line read 6-3, 6-4 in favor of the Serbian pair.