Nitto ATP Finals round-robin preview and prediction: Djokovic vs. Isner

Novak Djokovic has won four of the last five huge tournaments (Grand Slams and Masters 1000s) and he is 31-2 in his last 33 matches heading into the Nitto ATP Finals. But that does not mean he is immune to imminent danger right from the start in London.

Because matches involving John Isner are almost always close to 50-50 propositions, lower-ranked opponents often relish an opportunity to get a shot at the 6’10” American whereas the top players want to avoid him at all costs. It is Djokovic who will be running into Isner right off the bat on Monday night at the O2 Arena.

They have faced each other on 10 previous occasions and the Serb is holding an 8-2 advantage in the head-to-head series. Six of their first seven showdowns required final sets, with Isner winning two of those deciders, but since then Djokovic has taken complete control. The current world No. 1 has reeled off four consecutive straight-set wins at Isner’s experience, including three times in 2015 to extend his winning streak against the tour’s biggest server to five.

This probably isn’t the right time for Isner to be getting his first crack at Djokovic in more than three years. After all, the 14-time major champion has been absolutely on fire since the start of Wimbledon despite finally running out gas and losing to Karen Khachanov in last week’s Paris final. Moreover, Djokovic is 31-11 lifetime at the year-end championship with five titles and one runner-up showing.

Isner, on the other hand, is making his Nitto ATP Finals debut. He had been the second alternate at No. 10 in the world before a snagging a spot thanks to withdrawals by Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin Del Poto. Although Isner has played sparingly this fall, he put himself in position for London qualification with the biggest title of his career in Miami, a semifinal run at Wimbledon, another Atlanta triumph, and a quarterfinal performance at the U.S. Open.

As usual, the 33-year-old will surely be competitive. But this is an unfamiliar setting for him and it is not a great matchup because Djokovic wields perhaps the game’s best return of serve with which to combat Isner’s biggest weapon.

Pick: Djokovic in 2

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