Group A at the Nitto ATP Finals may be the more interesting given that just about anything could happen between Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Alexander Zverev. That does not mean it is the toughest. No, that distinction belongs to Group B. Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are the main reasons, but don’t overlook the fact that Dominic Thiem has won a surprising 15 hard-court matches since the U.S. Open. London debutant Matteo Berrettini rounds out the field.
Djokovic and Federer are the obvious favorites to reach the semifinals, so it is up to Thiem or Berrettini to throw a wrench into the equation. Thiem has never qualified for the semis in three previous trips to the O2 Arena.
Let’s crunch the Group B numbers prior to Sunday’s start of the year-end championship.
2019 statistics:
Novak Djokovic
Record: 53-9
Record since the U.S. Open: 12-1
Titles: 5 (2 slams, 2 Masters)
Roger Federer
Record: 51-8
Record since the U.S. Open: 8-1
Titles: 4 (1 Masters)
Dominic Thiem
Record: 46-17
Record since the U.S. Open: 15-4
Titles: 5 (1 Masters)
Matteo Berrettini
Record: 42-21
Record since the U.S. Open: 8-5
Titles: 2
Career records against group opponents:
Novak Djokovic
vs. Roger Federer: 26-22
vs. Dominic Thiem: 6-3
vs. Matteo Berrettini: 0-0
Combined: 32-25
Roger Federer
vs. Novak Djokovic: 22-26
vs. Dominic Thiem: 2-4
vs. Matteo Berrettini: 1-0
Combined: 25-30
Dominic Thiem
vs. Novak Djokovic: 3-6
vs. Roger Federer: 4-2
vs. Matteo Berrettini: 2-1
Combined: 9-9
Matteo Berrettini
vs. Novak Djokovic: 0-0
vs. Roger Federer: 0-1
vs. Dominic Thiem: 1-2
Combined: 1-3
Career records at the Nitto ATP Finals:
Novak Djokovic: 36-12 (5 titles)
Roger Federer: 57-16 (6 titles)
Dominic Thiem: 3-6
Matteo Berrettini: 0-0
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who ya got?
You didn’t do the interesting poll: Djokovic v Federer. Or Thiem v Berretini for that matter.
For the record I have Fed and Djoker advancing and both beating Thiem and Berretini.
only doing the first matches right now.
can’t vote on the others without seeing the outcomes of the first matches.
Group B really tough, but I like Fed and Joker coming out.
How many think thiem can cause an upset ?
That wouldn’t be an upset. It would be pretty normal. He’s 2-4. Let’s go Fed!
2-4?
Federer vs Thiem 2:4. Considering that and the fact Fed is past his peak by so long, a Thiem win wouldn’t be a real upset for me.
It’s not beyond thinking that Thiem can upset djoko too. I did not mean he can upset only fed
I am going by the fact that Thiem himself saying he’s not here just to play but to reach semis
Yeah but unless the O2 surface plays slow, I doubt Fed is going to lose to Thiem indoors. Fed is resting after Basel to give himself the best chance of winning at WTF.
I seriously think that Fed doesn’t want Djoko to get his 6th YE no.1 and going for Fed’s 310 weeks at no.1 record.
For Rafa’s sake, I hope Rafa wins all his RR matches, and Djoko losing one or even two RR matches, so that Rafa can get his YE no.1 for the fifth time.
I’m not hoping for fed to lose to Thiem . I’m hoping for thiem to take out djoko 🙂 n fed also to beat him. Fed beating him is probable but Thiem beating him is a long shot