ATP World Tour Finals Preview: Can the Djoker’s Domination Continue?
The best of the best on the ATP World Tour in 2016 will meet in London next week for the end of the year finals. The tournament begins Nov. 15 and will feature a bunch of familiar faces, with the big question heading in being: Can anyone take down Novak Djokovic?
The world number one from Serbia is the three-time defending champion, and has played a nearly flawless 2015, compiling a record of 78-5 including 10 titles. He has won six Masters 1000 level tournaments and has proven himself as the cream of the crop in men’s tennis.
Below is a breakdown of the eight competitors in London and what they did in 2015 to qualify for the year-end finals.
Novak Djokovic
It was another standout year for Djokovic, who, if there was any doubt entering the year, solidified himself as far and above the best player in the world. He won three of the four Grand Slams and 10 titles overall, and accrued nearly twice the amount of points as Andy Murray, who finished second in the Race to London standings.
Djokovic has won his last 14 matches at the ATP World Tour Finals since losing to fellow Serb Janko Tipsarevic in 2011. He enters the tournament on a 22-match winning streak, which allowed him to win titles in Paris, Beijing and Shanghai following his triumph at the U.S. Open.
You would be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t think the Djoker is the man to beat next week.
Andy Murray
If it were not for the aforementioned Djokovic, it could have been a much different year for Andy Murray. It began with a run to the Australian Open final, before falling to Djokovic in the championship match. He then reached the finals in Miami, but once again ran into Djokovic. In fact, Djokovic accounts for six of Murray’s 12 losses this year.
But it was still an excellent year for the Scot. He went 68-12, with the 68 victories being the most in a single year in his career. At the finals last year, Murray lost round-robin matches to Kei Nishikori and Roger Federer, failing to reach the semifinals. But now fully healthy and playing some good tennis, Murray could be one of the few with a chance to upend Djokovic in London.
Roger Federer
Much like a fine wine, it seems that Roger Federer continues to get better with age. The 34-year-old is the oldest player to qualify for the year-end finals since Andre Agassi did so in 2005 at age 35. The Swiss Mastero enjoyed another fantastic year in 2015, winning six titles and posting a record of 59-10, to qualify for the 14th consecutive season.
He is a six-time champion at the end of the year finals, most all-time, and went 4-0 at the event last year. He reached the finals a year ago, but withdrew with a back injury, giving Djokovic the victory, prompting the Swiss to address the crowd afterwards and apologize for not being able to play.
Federer lost his most recent match in the Paris’ Round of 16 against American John Isner, and so he should be fresh and well-rested for the finals.
Stan Wawrinka
Many thought of Stan Wawrinka as a possible one-hit wonder after he triumphed at the Australian Open in 2014 for his first career Grand Slam title. But he answered those critics by upending Djokovic in the French Open final, denying the Serb a chance at the Calendar Grand Slam while also complimenting his maiden Grand Slam title with another one.
The Swiss is making his third straight appearance at finals, and has reached the semifinals in each of the previous two times. He has shown he can play on the biggest of stages, also reaching the semifinals of this year’s Australian and U.S. Opens, and if his one-hand backhand is on, can be a threat to reach the semifinals in London once again.
Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal endured what many believe to be the worst year of his tennis career in 2015. Making his way back from a number of different injuries, Nadal struggled early on in the year and throughout all four of the Grand Slams. He was knocked out in the quarterfinals of both the Australian Open and the French Open, the tournament he has absolutely dominated in his career. But a late season surge, with titles in Stuttgart and Hamburg, has bolstered his ranking and built his confidence heading into London.
He was forced to withdraw from last year’s finals after he underwent an appendectomy the week prior to the tournament’s start, but is currently the healthiest he has been in awhile. Nadal reached the finals in Beijing and Basel, falling to Djokovic and Federer, respectively, but those runs were encouraging signs for the Spaniard, who feels close to getting back to the level he wants. London will be a good test for the 14-time Grand Slam champion.
Tomas Berdych
The Czech Republic native qualified for the finals for the sixth straight year, and becomes the second player from his home country to reach these finals six times (Ivan Lendl qualified 12 times). Berdych’s year started off very nicely, as he reached the semifinals of the Australian Open before falling to Andy Murray, and reached the fourth round of the next three Grand Slams.
For years, Berdych has been on the fringe of a superstar, but hasn’t been able to break through at the biggest of tournaments. Doing so in London would go a long way for the 30-year olds career.
David Ferrer
Qualifying for the sixth time in his career, Spaniard David Ferrer is the second oldest player in the 2015 field, behind Roger Federer. Ferrer was an alternate at the finals last year, and he played a match in place of Milos Raonic who withdrew with an injury.
He won the 22nd title of his career in Qatar early in the season, and added two more titles throughout the year. And despite a sub-par Grand Slam season, Ferrer had a nice surge late in the year, winning titles in Kuala Lumpur and Vienna, which allowed him to be a member of the eight in London.
He has five titles overall this year, and is a frustrating player to play against because of the way he can rally with anyone from the baseline. He is a tricky matchup and is playing well heading into the finals.
Kei Nishikori
The Japanese native became the first Asian born player ever to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals when he did so last year, and will be making his second consecutive appearance in London. He reached the semifinals in 2014 before falling to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in three sets.
It was an up and down 2015 for Nishikori following his breakout 2014 campaign. He won titles in Acapulco, Memphis and Barcelona highlighting his season and reached the quarterfinals at the Australian and French Opens. But the 25-year old, the youngest in London’s field of eight, was bounced in the first-round of the U.S. Open, a year after reaching the final in Flushing Meadows.
Injuries hampered and limited him in his last few tournaments of the season, but a healthy Nishikori is one of the more exciting players to watch because of his hustle and range, and will look to duplicate his semifinal run from a year ago.
Singles Groups
â–ºStan Smith Group: Tomas Berdych, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer & Kei Nishikori
â–ºIlie Nastase Group: David Ferrer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal & Stan Wawrinka
Doubles Groups
â–ºGroup Ashe/Smith: Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan, Jamie Murray & John Peers, Simone Bolelli & Fabio Fognini and Rohan Bopanna & Florin Mergea
â–ºGroup Fleming/McEnroe: Jean-Julien Rojer & Horia Tecau, Ivan Dodig & Marcelo Melo, Pierre-Hugues Herbert & Nicolas Mahut and Marcin Matkowski & Nenad Zimonjic
