Zverev clinches return trip to London following Shanghai semifinal showing

Alexander Zverev, at just 21 years old, will be making his second appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals next month. The German officially booked his spot in the year-end championship for a second straight season when he beat Kyle Edmund 6-4, 6-4 to reach the semifinals of last week’s Shanghai Masters.

“It’s great to finally officially make it and again be a part of the best eight, which is an elite group,” Zverev said. “It is a goal for everyone at the beginning of the season. I’m very pleased to be in London again and get another opportunity to play there for the second year in a row. I’m looking forward to the tournament.

“I put it close to equal as a Grand Slam, actually; and I think other players will tell you the same thing, because just to be there, you obviously play well throughout the whole year. It’s probably one of the most prestigious events that we have, because to get there, you have to be one of the best eight players in the world. Just being a part of it–just playing there is already an honor, itself.”

Zverev went 1-2 record in his debut at the O2 Arena last year. He defeated Marin Cilic before falling to Roger Federer, setting up a win-or-go-home round-robin contest against Jack Sock. The American ended up winning it 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 to reach the semis.

Federer and Zverev have clinched spots this season along with Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Juan Martin Del Potro. However, Del Potro is expected to miss the rest of 2018–including London–due to a knee injury suffered in Shanghai.

Del Potro’s absence would almost guarantee Marin Cilic, Kevin Anderson, and Dominic Thiem places in the YEC. It would also ignite a race for the eighth and final spot between Kei Nishikori and John Isner.

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