When, where, and with fans?
The 2020 Nitto ATP Finals will take place from Sunday, Nov. 15 through Sunday, Nov. 22. This marks the 50th anniversary of the year-end championship, which is being held at the O2 Arena in London for a 12th consecutive occasion. The O2 is a multi-sport hall located in the Millennium Dome complex.
Fans will not be in attendance. Back in August, the ATP announced that the Nitto ATP Finals–like many other tournaments this year–would take place behind closed doors. The ATP specified that this decision was taken in accordance with the directives of the British government.
Who is in the singles field?
Novak Djokovic (Australian Open champion), Rafael Nadal (French Open champion), and Dominic Thiem (US Open champion) are the top three seeds. Defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas also qualified with ease, as did Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev. The last two spots went to Andrey Rublev–who has been on fire this fall–and Diego Schwartzman. Roger Federer would have qualified thanks to the haul of 2019 points that he was able to keep, but he is out due to a knee injury.
Who is in the doubles field?
The first four doubles teams to qualify were Rajeev Ram and Salisbury, Mate Pavic and Bruno Soares, Kevin Krawietz and Andres Mies, and Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos. They were eventually joined by Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic, John Peers and Michael Venus, and Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo.
The last spot will go either to the Jurgen Melzer and Edouard Roger-Vasselin or Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski depending on the results from this week’s 250-point event in Sofia.
What is the allotment of rankings points and prize money?
Ranking points are the same for singles and doubles. A victory in a group stage is worth 200 points. A semifinal win earns 400 points. The title adds 500 points.
Winning a group singles match earns $215,000, winning a semi-final earns $657,000, and winning the final earns $1.354 million. If the champion goes through the entire competition undefeated, he pockets $2.87 million. Additionally, just participating in the tournament is worth $215,000. Alternates who are present in London in case anyone who pulls out during the event collect a minimum of $116,000.
What are the names of the round-robin groups?
In singles, Group A is called “Tokyo 1970,” in reference to the first edition of the year-end championship that took place in the Japanese capital. Group B is named “London 2020” to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the event and its final stop in Great Britain. In doubles, the ATP has decided to pay tribute to the Bryan brothers–the legendary duo that just announced retirement this summer. Group A is called “Bob Bryan” in honor the four-time winner of the event (2003, 2004, 2009, and 2014). Group B is christened “Mike Bryan” for the five-time champion (four times with his brother and once with Jack Sock in 2018).
The draw ceremony for the groups is not until Thursday, but the match schedule is as follows:
Sunday to Thursday
Singles: 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Doubles: noon and 6:00 p.m.
Friday
Singles: 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Doubles: 5:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.
Saturday (semi-finals)
Singles: 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Doubles: noon and 6:00 p.m.
Sunday (finals)
Doubles: 3:30 p.m.
Singles: 6:00 p.m.
Will the year-end championship take place in London in 2021?
No. In London since 2009, the Nitto ATP Finals will move to Turin, Italy in 2021 and stay there until at least 2025. Nitto will remain the title sponsor.
who ya got?
Rublev! On the theory that lately the WTF has been won by someone unlikely who has never won it before. H’m, I suppose Rafa could actually qualify on that criteria, lol!
OK, Rafa or Rublev.
The challenge is one who has won WTF has had disastrous next year starting from 16…Murray, Dimitrov , zverev ,tsitsipas .so not sure whether I really want rafa to win . I rather he win more slams than wtf
Sanju makes a good point. I thought Tsitsipas would have had better results this year. I guess Rublev has a decent shot. Who is your pick Ricky?
My guess is Medvedev. He’s feeling it now and will end his mediocre year with a bang.
Nadal, Sheim, Stefanos and Rublev stacked together. Djokovic, Medvedev, Zverev and Shwartzman in another group.
How do you guys like Nada’s chances.
Zero 🙂 rublev will be too hot for him first match and will likely lose and then forced to beat thiem n tsitsipas back to back . Chances of him reaching semis is tough
I agree with Sanju!…Would love for Rafa to prove me wrong tho…but..i think it’s unlikely…
ATP finals have been open for anyone to win the last few years , Sissy, Zvev, Murray , Dimi, the new gen seem to be breaking through, Rafas never won it, even though hes made the final twice, not his best showing, however not his worst either, id give him as good a chance as anyone, love to see him win it at some point, asking the tennis gods , PUUURLEASE lol 🙂
I always think this tournament is more significant for doubles these days.
Guys AM and Sanju, i think he still stands a reasonable chance, as i said above, its been wide open the past few years, with unexpected players winning, so i wouldnt completely write him off, anything could happen lets see:-)
Respect your opinion very much Al!👍
Hope Rafa will kick our a$$es hard for doubting him!(me & sanju’s a$$es that is!)..like he did to Goran at FO!..
Rafa can do anything,i mean ANYTHING! if he just believe in himself..but he also needs a lot of confidence playing on his least favourite surface…for me his game is fragile here..and those big servers & flat shotters are knowing it too!..and will manipulate it to the fullest…
Let’s see how Rafa will handle their flat DTL shots that sure will come non stop esp from Thiem & Rublev..
I don’t have big expectations for Rafa in this tournament. There is a reason he has never won it. Indoor hard court is not favorable to Rafa’s game. I would never write him off completely. I also think it’s good that he is playing. He has played so little this year and I don’t want him coming into the AO undercooked. At least he is healthy, so why not give it a shot.
Agree. No matter if you are or aren’t a Nadal fan, you must never discount him. Of course he could do it, but doesn’t seem likely.
Respect your opinion very much Al!👍
Hope Rafa will kick our a$$es hard for doubting him!(me & sanju’s a$$es that is!)..like he did to Goran at FO!..
Rafa can do anything,i mean ANYTHING! if he just believe in himself..but he also needs a lot of confidence playing on his least favourite surface…for me his game is fragile here..and those big servers & flat shotters are knowing it too!..and will manipulate it to the fullest…
Let’s see how Rafa will handle their flat DTL shots that sure will come non stop esp from Thiem & Rublev..
Aik!..double post!..Please delete one of them Ricky!…I look like silly!hehe
Lol Mira Andi no problem my dear , i completely agree, you make me laugh, lets see Rafa kick our asses ha ha 🙂
The doubs field is just as good as the Singles….wish I could be there next week! Rublev to win!!!