The selling point of last season’s World Tour Finals was a two-man battle for the year-end No. 1 ranking between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. In the absences of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Murray and Djokovic did not disappoint—successfully playing their way into the final match of 2016 for both the tournament title and the top ranking.
Now the roles are reversed. Murray and Djokovic are on the sideline, while Nadal and Federer could turn the O2 Arena festivities into another two-man party. But whereas Murray and Djokovic had competition from the likes of Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori, and Milos Raonic, Nadal and Federer may be the only ones who can stop themselves. Nadal is dealing with a knee injury that forced him out of the Paris Masters prior to the quarterfinals and Federer—whose back has been an issue at times—has not triumphed at the World Tour Finals since 2011.
That being said, it’s not like the six remaining challengers are pushovers of any kind. Federer’s round-robin group could be especially difficult. Alexander Zverev won two Masters 1000 tournaments this season, Marin Cilic was the Wimbledon runner-up and is making his third appearance in London, and Jack Sock is coming off an amazing run to the Paris title.
Nadal likely needed more help from the draw than Federer did, and the Spaniard got it. Thiem has been in a significant slump since the French Open, Grigor Dimitrov is a first-time participant, and Goffin has never been a real threat to the top players in the world (the Belgian is a combined 0-8 lifetime against Nadal and Federer).
Federer is more than capable of handling his tough round-robin road and even Nadal at less than full strength should be able to survive the hand he has been dealt. But the question remains: just how fit is Nadal? He will obviously have to be 100 percent in order to end his current five-match losing streak against Federer.
Group A
Rafael Nadal
Dominic Thiem
Grigor Dimitrov
David Goffin
Group B
Roger Federer
Alexander Zverev
Marin Cilic
Jack Sock
Round-robin predictions:
Group A
Nadal over Goffin in 2
Dimitrov over Thiem in 3
Dimitrov over Nadal in 3
Goffin over Thiem in 3
Nadal over Thiem in 2
Dimitrov over Goffin in 2
Group B
Federer over Sock in 2
Cilic over Zverev in 3
Federer over Cilic in 2
Sock over Zverev in 3
Federer over Zverev in 3
Cilic over Sock in 3
Semifinals: Federer over Nadal in 2 and Cilic over Dimitrov in 3
Final: Federer over Cilic in 2
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who ya got?
Group A
Nadal over Goffin in 2
Dimitrov over Thiem in 2
Nadal over Dimitrov in 3
Goffin over Thiem in 2
Nadal over Thiem in 2
Dimitrov over Goffin in 2
Group B
Federer over Sock in 3
Zverev over Cilic in 2
Federer over Cilic in 2
Sock over Zverev in 3
Zverev over Federer in 2
Sock over Cilic in 3
Semis: Nadal over Zverev in 2, Dimitrov over Fed (upset) in 3
Final: Nadal over Dimitrov in 3
So you’re telling me you actually think that 1) Federer will lose that many sets in round robin play or even lose a match in round robin 2) the one guy he will have the easiest time of with is Cilic even though it will probably be the opposite 3) Fed will lose at all before the finals and even then I doubt he loses in the finals considering he’s won a bunch of times here and 4) Nadal is fit enough to win the whole thing. Maybe one of these could happen but not all of them. Wishful thinking Olly. Roger is the heavy favorite here, and it honestly might be likelier that Fed doesn’t drop a set the whole tournament than any of those four happening.
Olly, your Group A picks are about right, imo.
The group B picks, I have Cilic over everyone else including Fed and tops the group. I have Fed second in the group beating Sock in three, loses to Cilic in straight and maybe beating Zverev in three( or he may lose that one but still qualifies when Sock surprisingly beats Zverev).
The court if it’s similar to Paris, will be slower than Shanghai so others may have a chance to beat Fed in the RR stage. If Cilic plays like he did in Shanghai, he may have his chances vs Fed on a slower court. If Sock plays well like he did at Paris Masters SF and F, he may get a set against Fed. Zverev is the unknown factor here, he’s not playing well lately though he has the game to beat Fed when he’s on and Fed a bit off.
https://tenngrand.com/2017/11/10/2017-world-tour-finals-preview-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-287073
You too?! Holy moly I’ll have to see Fed lose this much here to believe it.
I don’t know what’s funnier. The fact that you have Fed barely squeezing through to the semis or the fact that you discussed all the possible ways that the recent Basel/Shanghai champ who has also won six WTF titles (and is one of the best indoor hard court players of all time) Fed could lose and didn’t discuss any way that the injured and way more vulnerable Rafa could possibly lose. Seriously though. You think that in round robin Fed will lose in straights and win two three setters (or lose a three setter and win a three setter)? That’s about as likely as Sock winning the whole thing.
Hello.
It will be a great tournament.
I hope we will see again a final Federer vs Nadal .
Enjoy the tenis!
Thank you, Ricky! 🙂
Federer and Rafa Nadal are the greatest modern rivals in tennis, but they’re also great friends.
I’m personally a big fan. Did an illustration of these guys a while back.
You can check it out and download it for free if you want on the following link:
https://capturedinart.com/collections/sports-1/products/fedal3pwa
Let me know what you think 🙂
Not bad!
Dude…. You drew this? You’re a fine artist! 🙂
beyond legit
i’ll write an article on Grandstand promoting your art if I can have one of those for free! haha (but seriously)
Nadal would have to be 100 percent to have a CHANCE to end his current five-match losing streak against Federer.
correct
Roger Federer wasn’t 100% when he smoked him( Rafa).
Group A
D. Goffin over R. Nadal in 2.
Dimitrov over Nadal in 2.
Thiem over Nadal in 2.
Semifinals
A. Zverev over Nadal in 3.
How did Rafito make the semis?
Something is wrong here.
If he is fit and he is, Rafa will make the semis or finals( I don’t think he will reach finals but if he does 😂🤣😁😂😋🤣, I am sorry!) but won’t win the title.
Roger Federer is the champion.
Group A:
Nadal over Goffin in 3
Dimitrov over Thiem in 3
Nadal over Thiem in 2
Dimitrov over Goffin in 2
Dimitrov over Nadal in 3
Goffin over Thiem in 2
Group B:
Federer over Sock in 2
Cilic over Zverev in 3
Federer over Cilic in 2
Sock over Zverev in 3
Federer over Zverev in 3
Cilic over Sock in 3
Semifinals:
Federer over Nadal in 2
Dimitrov over Cilic in 3
Finals:
Federer over Dimitrov in 2
Ricky I swear I didn’t look at your round robin picks before I made my picks but they are so similar lol. I was torn on Cilic and Dimitrov in the semis. That one is a tough call for me.
You picked A. Zverev to go 0-3 wow! That’s bold.
I know A. Zverev is not in form but he will surprise many.
A. Zverev defeated M. Cilic, yeah baby lol!
Hows the court playing this year? Any news? Fast, medium, slow?
(With the first 2 games of Group B already played)
Group A
Dimitrov over Thiem in 2
Nadal over Goffin in 2
Nadal over Dimitrov in 3
Goffin over Thiem in 3
Nadal over Thiem in 2
Dimitrov over Goffin in 2
Group B
Federer over Sock in 2
Zverev over Cilic in 3
Cilic over Sock in 3
Federer over Zverev in 2
Zverev over Sock in 3
Federer over Cilic in 2
Semifinals
Nadal over Zverev in 3
Federer over Dimitrov in 3
Final
Federer over Nadal in 2
Nadal won’t defeat A. Zverev if they meet, it will never happen, never, if Nadal wins a set I will consider it a victory 4 Rafito.
R. Federer will win the title.
Why would it never happen?
I agree it would be a close game.. but Zverev has been very inconsistent after winning in Canada. Losing against many low ranked players and wasting a big opportunity in the USOpen.
Also, Rafa is 3-0 in the h2h.
Lets wait for the group stage anyway. I’m not sure if Nadal will manage to finish 1st.
Saying it would “never happen” is absolutely insane when Zverev beating Nadal has “never happened”… Zverev won 2 out of 3 sets in their AO match, but dropped off the face of the Earth for the final two sets like he always does at majors. Also, he had never faced Rafa in best-of-five and didn’t know what he was in for haha. Anyway, while the surface favors Zverev, and we still don’t know how Rafa’s knee will hold up, I’d say it’s more of a 50/50, even favoring Rafa a little of his knee seems fine.
However, it’s way too early to even start discussing a possible meeting between the two. They both need to make it out of their group stage first (which I believe they both will).
Kevin,
You should know by now that anyone saying something will never happen, is the last refuge of someone who does not know what they are talking about!
Native,
I really don’t have your time, you can’t disagree with someone cordially, since I have known you, you are always upset about something that’s sad, I am disappointed in you.
I have never had a discussion with you without it going the wrong way, you need to chill and be friendly, even if it’s for a short period of time.
Kevin you are insane, you should have asked me why I said so not post that trash.