2021 ATP Cup Group C – Dennis Novak vs Fabio Fognini Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Dennis Novak vs Fabio Fognini taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
When is Dennis Novak vs Fabio Fognini on and what time does it start? Monday 1st February, 2021 – Not before 23:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Dennis Novak vs Fabio Fognini? Visit this link for ticket information
What channel is Dennis Novak vs Fabio Fognini on? This match will not be televised live in the UK
Where can I stream Dennis Novak vs Fabio Fognini in the UK? Amazon Prime Video subscribers can stream the match live
THE LOWDOWN
DENNIS NOVAK
- World number 99 Dennis Novak will be eager to play for his country at the ATP Cup after some eye-catching wins at Cologne 1 last October where he beat Jordan Thompson and Benoit Paire against the odds.
- The 27-year-old did well to beat Guido Pella in his only ATP Cup victory last year and will hope to emulate that as one of the lower-ranked players in this tournament.
FABIO FOGNINI
- 33-year-old Fabio Fognini reached the round of 16 at the Antalya Open at the start of January but fell just short in the third of three tight tiebreaks with an in-form Jeremy Chardy.
- The world number 17 fell away in the rankings after a difficult season but he has a real shot at making the semi-finals with Team Italy if Matteo Berrettini is in form, though he will have to better his 1-2 record from last year.
THE PREDICTION
Having already played a tournament this year and likely match-hardened by a tough tussle with Jeremy Chardy at the Antalya Open, Fabio Fognini should be targeting a stabilising victory here for Team Italy. With the form of Team France up for debate, Italy have a real shot at making the semi-finals from a winnable Group C but that will rest mainly with the performances of Fognini as one of the higher-ranked second options. Dennis Novak enjoyed some good personal form late last season and will be a willing, combative opponent. This could come down to match practice though, rather than ability, and Novak is unlikely to win his first match of 2021 here against a former top 10 player. The pair have faced-off just once before all the way back in 2015 at the Kitzbuhel Open in Austria, where the Italian was victorious on clay, and he can emulate that here in straight sets.
