Becker, Safin and Muster named ATP Cup team captains

[November 15, 2019]  (Reuters) - Six-times Grand Slam champion Boris Becker will captain Germany at next year's inaugural ATP Cup, while fellow former world number ones Marat Safin and Thomas Muster will lead Russia and Austria at the nation-based tournament.

Becker, who won his first major title at Wimbledon in 1985, was chosen by world No. 7 Alexander Zverev to captain Germany, who are drawn in Group F alongside Greece, Canada and hosts Australia and play their matches in Brisbane.

The 24-nation ATP Cup will take place from Jan. 3-12 in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney.

"We have a strong chance in an extremely competitive section of the draw," Becker said in an ATP Cup media release.

"Playing against the very best and representing your country sets the tone, sets the sport. I think we're going to see amazing tennis."

Safin, who won the U.S. Open in 2000 and the centenary Australian Open five years later, will lead a Russian team that includes world No. 4 Daniil Medvedev and No. 17 Karen Khachanov.

"We have a real chance of winning the first Cup with the caliber of players we have in the Russian side and I'll be doing everything I can to make that happen from the bench," he said.

Russia face Italy, the United States and Norway in Group D and will play their group games in Perth.

Three-times Wimbledon champion Boris Becker attends a news conference in Wiesbaden, Germany, November 7, 2019. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski

Muster, who claimed the world's top ranking in 1996 after winning the French Open the previous year, was chosen as captain by world No. 5 Dominic Thiem and welcomed the opportunity to lock horns with his former adversaries.

"The ATP Cup brings some old rivals together as captains," he said. "The cream of tennis is competing across Australia and the player field is incredibly strong, I feel very excited to be part of it all."

The winners of the six groups and the two best second-placed finishers reach the ATP Cup Finals in Sydney. Each tie comprises two singles and one doubles match.

(Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.