If Rafael Nadal remains in the Nitto ATP Finals field, this will mark the first time since 2015 that at least three members of the proverbial “Big 4” have participated in the year-end championship.
Four years ago, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray all took their talents to London. In each of the past three seasons exactly two members of that prestigious quartet took part. In 2016 it was Murray and Djokovic, in 2017 it was Nadal and Federer, and in 2018 it was Federer and Djokovic. Federer and Djokovic may eventually be left alone again, but for now Nadal is entered despite an abdominal issue that forced him to withdraw from last week’s Paris Masters prior to the semifinals.
With the newly-crowned world No. 1 possibly less than 100 percent and also because of his own post-U.S. Open run of success, Djokovic is the odds-on favorite to capture a sixth title at this event. The second-ranked Serb is sporting a 12-1 record since the conclusion of 2019’s final Grand Slam, which includes triumphs in Tokyo and Paris.
Federer, Nadal, and Daniil Medvedev are not too far behind, while Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, and Matteo Berrettini have longer odds.
Odds
1. Novak Djokovic +110
2. Roger Federer +350
3. Rafael Nadal +400
4. Daniil Medvedev +400
5. Stefanos Tsitsipas +1200
6. Alexander Zverev +1400
7. Dominic Thiem +1400
8. Matteo Berrettini +2000
The less imposing of the two round-robin groups features Nadal, Medvedev, Tsitsipas, and Zverev. If the Spaniard withdraws and is replaced by first alternated Roberto Bautista Agut, it would become even more wide open. For now, though, it will be assumed that Nadal suits up.
“Hello everyone,” the 19-time slam champion wrote via social media on Tuesday. “Yesterday I had [an exam] in Mallorca and despite having a small strain in the right abdominal rectum, I will travel to London. Thursday or Friday I will start adapting to the service. The idea is to be able to play the #atpfinals in London. Thanks for the support!”
“It is very interesting,” said Zverev, the Nitto ATP Finals defending champion. “We have three young guys in our group with Rafa. They are both tough groups. Obviously it was very special lifting the trophy last year an I’ll do everything I can to lift it again.”
It will be an even taller order for Thiem, given that he is in a group with both Djokovic and Federer. The only good news for Thiem and Berrettini is that if they somehow qualify for the semifinals, they cannot meet either Djokovic or Federer at that point–not until the championship match.
“Federer plays unbelievable tennis on that court,” the fifth-ranked Austrian said of Federer’s prowess inside the O2 Arena. “And Djokovic won in Paris. So it’s very difficult but my goal is still the same, to reach semifinals, and I will do my best to achieve it.
“In the first two years (at this tournament) and maybe a bit last year, I was really happy to be there and then I did not look too much at the results. But this year will be definitely different. I want to reach the goal of clinching the semifinals and I would be disappointed if I did not make it. If I am a bit unlucky, it can happen that I play three very good matches and I lose all of them. Matches could be close, players are unbelievable, so a bit of luck would be needed.”
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who ya got?
Hello! 19 Grand Slams for Rafa, please! Thank you! 🙂
Yes I did notice that Rafa was shorted by one slam.
I am glad that I was not the only one to catch it. Glad that someone beat me to it.