Less than a week out from the ATP World Tour Finals and the likely winner seems almost pre-ordained to be Novak Djokovic. The world’s top Tennis players will clash at the O2 Arena between 15th and 22nd November, a glitzy gathering guaranteed to delight tennis aficionados. Yet one wonders if anyone can topple the seemingly all-conquering Serbian.
Last Sunday’s Paris Masters’ final against Andy Murray demonstrated that Djokovic still has the appetite for winning titles, his tenth of an ultra-consistent campaign.
A straight sets victory over the player next best in the rankings, does not bode well for the others competing in London.
Indeed Murray’s intention to prepare for the Davis Cup final, instead of exclusively honing his hard court skills suggests that his mind may be elsewhere next week. The same could also be said for his brother Jamie, who is set to compete in the doubles event at the O2 with his Aussie partner John Peers.
The top eight singles players in the rankings will be split into two groups to be drawn on November 12th at 1900 GMT. After battling through three round-robin matches, the top two players in each group will then move on to the semi-finals, before the dazzling lights focus on the remaining two gladiators left in the event.
As ever the tournament in London includes the cream of the current ATP crop:
- Novak Djokovic (Serbia) – at the peak of his powers with three Grand Slam titles this year and almost $17m in prize money, his only major disappointment being at the French Open. A superlative win-loss record of 78-5 for 2015 marks him out as the clear favourite for another title.
- Andy Murray (Scotland) – has battled his way to the number two spot with a consistent season, including titles in Munich, Madrid, Montreal and at the Queen’s Club. Djokovic has been a constant thorn in his side, the Paris Masters final being the latest example. The news that he is utilising part of the week before the event to practice on clay at Queen’s may hinder his chances in London.
- Roger Federer (Switzerland) – as ever 34-year-old ‘Fed’ seems the player most likely to deny the Serb, after withdrawing from last year’s final. An early exit at the hands of John Isner in Paris proved that the maestro is fallible, despite an enviable record of six titles for the year. A man with a record 17 Grand Slam singles titles can never be discounted though.
- Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) – went toe to toe in the semi-finals with Djokovic in Paris, taking a set before fading in the third. The only man to stop the Serb at the Slams this year, when he toppled him to claim the French Open. Four titles in the year suggests that he could be a big threat next week.
- Rafael Nadal (Spain) – after a rollercoaster of a season, Rafa is beginning to find much-improved form and could surprise the doubters in London. Three successes on the circuit would be a great season for many, but not when you have won a prodigious 14 Grand Slams.
- Tomas Berdych (Czechoslovakia) – a consistent performer with a strong serve who only lost in the last-eight to Novak in Paris after two tie-breaks. Has never won a Slam but has had success in England before, reaching the Wimbledon final in 2010. He reached a career high ranking of four earlier this year.
- David Ferrer (Spain) – seems unlikely to trouble the top players these days but usually performs well in London. Could cause a surprise if he can sneak a victory in the round-robin stages, after reaching the semis in Paris.
- Kei Nishikori (Japan) – has earned his spot with three titles in 2015 but was forced to retire in the third round in Paris due to an abdominal injury, so there are doubts about his current fitness.
Two Frenchmen wait in the wings, with Richard Gasquet as first reserve and his compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga next in line.