ATP Cup 2021 Final: Team Russia vs Team Italy – Preview and Prediction

ATP Cup 2021 Final: Team Russia vs Team Italy – Preview and Prediction
Fognini and Medvedev

Team Russia will face Team Italy in the Final of the second edition of the ATP Cup.

Match Details:

  • Fixture: Team Russia vs Team Italy
  • Date: 7 February 2021
  • Tournament: ATP Cup 2021
  • Round: Final
  • Venue: Melbourne, Australia
  • Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
  • Prize Money: $4,500,000

Team Russia vs Team Italy: Preview

Berrettini and Fognini
Berrettini and Fognini

Russia started as one of the favorites to win the tournament and they didn’t disappoint. Their incredible double punch of top 10 players Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev have won all six of their singles matches so far, including against Team Germany in the semi-finals.

World number four Medvedev and number eight Rublev have yet to play a doubles match together this week seeing as they have not yet required a doubles decider and that could factor in if they have to do so for the first time in the final.

FS Video

For the Italians, World no.10 Matteo Berrettini has been near his very best form this week at the ATP Cup and has won all three of his singles matches in straight-sets to help take Team Italy to a first international final since the 1998 Davis Cup.

The second Italian Fabio Fognini was instrumental, however, in taking Italy to the final as he beat Pablo Carreno Busta for the first time in eight attempts to put them 1-0 up against a Team Spain. Eventually, Italy upset Spain to set up a final’s clash with Russia.

Team Russia vs Team Italy: Prediction

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev

All the four singles players have been phenomenal in the tournament so far. Each of Andrey Rublev, Daniil Medvedev and Matteo Berrettini have won all three of their singles matches to reach this final. However, Fabio Fognini deserves special credit for pulling himself into form after a terrible start to the week, winning his last two matches and indeed a crucial doubles decider alongside Berrettini against Austria earlier this week.

Andrey Rublev will face Fabio Fognini in the first match. The Russian will start as the favorite but given on the current form, the match could go down the distance. Rublev may still just edge past his opponent.

The second match between Daniil Medvedev and Matteo Berrettini will be an excellent watch as the two best performers of this week battle out. Berrettini may have on a winning spree but defeating a dominant Medvedev will be a tough challenge. Medvedev should defeat the Italian easily.

Prediction: Russia to beat Italy 2-0.

Also read: Australian Open 2021: Serena Williams vs Laura Siegemund – Preview, Head-to-Head and Prediction