If you’re watching the World Tour Finals this week and have a sense of déjà vu, you won’t be alone. We aren’t still in Paris. This really is London—it’s simply the exact same competitors.
The eight participants at this season’s year-end championship were the eight quarterfinalists in Paris. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, David Ferrer, Juan Martin Del Potro, and Tomas Berdych had already wrapped up their London spots, but Roger Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka, and Richard Gasquet clinched without too much trouble thanks to their Paris performances.
Even some of the matchups will be the same. With no week of rest in between the two events, tournament organizers tweaked the schedule so that the Paris semifinalists would all have at least a day off prior to their London openers. As a result, Nadal, Djokovic, Ferrer, and Federer all play on Tuesday—with another all-Spanish clash to be followed a by one more installment of the Djokovic-Federer rivalry.
World Tour Finals
Where: London, England
Surface: Indoor hard
Prize money: $6,000,000
Points: Maximum of 1500
Top seed: Rafael Nadal
Defending champion: Novak Djokovic
Draw analysis:
Group A
Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych, Stanislas Wawrinka
Group B
Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin Del Potro, Roger Federer, Richard Gasquet
Although Nadal is one of the undisputed best players of all time, that he has never won the year-end championship is not a huge surprise. The world No. 1 is simply not at his best during the fall swing, and this season—despite almost non-stop domination from March through September—is no exception. While recent results are not encouraging for Nadal’s title hopes, the draw should help him surge into the semifinals. He headlines what is clearly the weaker of the two groups and boasts a combined record of 47-8 against the other three players. Prior to his Paris loss to Ferrer on Saturday, Nadal’s combined winning streaks against the trio stood at a ridiculous 35.
The key for Ferrer was finding himself in the same group with Berdych instead of with Federer. After all, the Spaniard is 7-3 lifetime against Berdych (including 4-1 on indoor hard courts) and 0-14 against Federer. If this pod does–in fact–turn into a battle for second place, it should be a furious one. Neither Berdych nor Wawrinka is in top form, but both have the firepower on serve and from the back of the court necessary to trouble the Spaniards on fast surfaces.
Gasquet, meanwhile, said that a berth in his first year-end championship since 2007 felt almost too good to be true. The dream, realized in part because Andy Murray is out with a back injury, may turn into a nightmare. Gasquet got arguably the worst hand he could have been dealt, landing with Djokovic, Federer, and Del Potro. Djokovic and Del Potro have combined to win five titles this fall and Federer has heated up with a runner-up finish in Basel and a semifinal showing in Paris.
The news also isn’t good for Del Potro, both on and off the court. He drew Djokovic instead of Nadal, and he likely would have preferred Berdych instead of Federer. The 2009 U.S. Open finalists have squared off in three-setters each of the past two weeks, with one going Federer’s way. Furthermore, Del Potro was robbed on his way from Paris to London and a Rosary given to him by Pope Francis I was among the stolen items. In this kind of form, though, Del Potro is capable of overcoming any obstacles.
Round-robin predictions:
Group A
Berdych over Wawrinka in 3
Nadal over Ferrer in 2
Nadal over Berdych in 3
Wawrinka over Ferrer in 3
Nadal over Wawrinka in 2
Ferrer over Berdych in 3
Group B
Del Potro over Gasquet in 3
Djokovic over Federer in 2
Djokovic over Del Potro in 2
Federer over Gasquet in 2
Djokovic over Gasquet in 2
Del Potro over Federer in 3
Semifinals: Del Potro over Nadal in 2, Djokovic over Berdych in 2
Final: Djokovic over Del Potro in 3
Comments and your own predictions are appreciated!
[polldaddy poll=7530334]
thoughts?
You forgot to anti-jinx Rafa in the RRs 🙂
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
Fed over Nole. Fed will be better rested and the Fed-biased crowd will get to Nole.
Interesting, hawkeye.
It would also be interesting if Novak and Rafa are both in the semis but do not play each other.
Won’t shock me if Delpo beats him too and he fails to make it to the semis. It’s a tough group B.
Poor Reeshard.
Ferrer will beat Wawrinka in 3. Fed will take at least one set, if not two off Djokovic. Fed will take down del Potro.
how is Fed gonna beat Djoker???
^^ I was wondering the same, hawkeye. Not that it is entirely impossible but it is pretty unlikely, Even if Novak is not playing at his best.
I just hope you aren’t comparing me with hawkeye.
DO YOU?
“DO YOU?” Got a chuckle out of that reference. Are we comparable? Hypothetically yes. Technically no.
#PRMC
^^^^ everyone should check out Glen’s site. tacticaltennisblog.com
merely musing with you how Rogerer is going to beat Novaker
comparing you to hawkeye? would have been more fun than this bland stuff I type 🙂
“I was wondering the same thing, hawkeye.”
#DirectQuote
Riveting stuff. Thanks for the link.
semifinals: Nadal over Federer in 3…Nole over Ferrer in 3…and the finals…hmmm…shall tell you at some point, not now…I still have some dreaming to do… 🙂
Ricky has Rafa winning all three of his RR matches. That means he will secure the year end #1 ranking.
I think Glen may be right about Ferrer beating Wawa.
I am not convinced that Djoker is going to beat Fed or Delpo in two sets. I can even see Fed beating Delpo again.
I want to think on it a bit more before any semifinal or final predictions.
who would finish YE No. 1 in my predictions?
Ricky,
If this question is meant for me, my understanding is that Rafa needs to win two RR matches to be year end #1. That’s what was said after he lost to Ferrer in the semis in Paris.
I really want Fed to beat djoko on Tuesday n I think he can pull it off
Match will be like at 1 India time at night but I will watch it
Sanju,
I think that will be a match worth staying up to watch. Fed did make it interesting in Paris, He usually does very well at the WTF. It’s not out of the realm of possibility for him to beat Djoker.
Natashao do you rem ur dream of Rafa beating Novak at Aussie open was not realized in 2012 hope it realized in 2014
Ill be happy if Rafa reaches final here at wtf but seriously can Rafa beat Fed indoors has never done it yet
yeah, I do remember… 🙂 but I think my dreams do come true-it’s just that I do not interpret them well…
I believe Rafa to perform better in London…wining the whole thing is little unrealistic but hopes are there…who knows how it may all unfold…In the meantime I will try to dream about it… so far it hasn’t been addressed in my dreams… 🙂
and yes, I am certain Rafa can beat Fed indoors…
The semis prediction are as per your dreams natashao?
I think it has a lot to do with power of subconcious mind s as they say it can move mountains to get you what you truly desire
Yes NNY I will be awake, how alert I will be at work next day, that is a different matter 🙂
Don’t stop believing,
Hold on to that feeling,
Rafa-world people!
OK, ricky, i see now what you were after. When I wrote, hawkeye under your post I was writing about the question you raised and telling hawkeye that I had the same doubt re fed. Not calling you hawkeye. My post and intention were that boring :-).
Ricky picked T-Berd whereas I picked Stanford.
#NoComparison
RT @scambers73: “Beautiful day in London for day one of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Just a shame it’s indoors!”
A very big shame…………….
Glad that you think that Berdych will get to the Semis. I have that same feeling. I do not have that same “good feeling: about Delpo. That robbery, and a grueling last 5-6 weeks, may throw him off his game . Fed WILL be in the semis mix, and maybe win it all!
guys,I am in London and planning on watching Rafa live. The problem is that I have another commitment tomorrow, I can either to on thursday or saturday! Now the issue is, I can attend either the day session or the evening session, difficult to attend both ! haha
Now, rafa has a match in the afternoon session tomorrow but the schedules for wed onwards is not available. does anyone have any clue what will be the order of matches?? If rafa got a day session on Tue, will he get a night session on thurs? anything like that?? :/
is Saturday two different sessions also?
Rafa isn’t playing on Thursday. He’s playing Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
you can take it to the bank that Rafa will be night session on both Wednesday and Friday.
oops, rafa is playing on wed and friday !! yes that is correct…haha, yeah high probability rafa will have the night session on friday
night sessions almost sold out!
jump on it now, then
or is it simply not possible to tell?!
limited tickets remaining so quick info help would be appreciated 😛
Ricky, the evening session on wedneday will feature either rafa from group A or djo/federer from group B , against delpo right?? please confirm !
And sure rafa is playing on wed ? haha
no, everyone in Group A is playing on Wednesday
starting on Wednesday its one group per day. Not matches from two different groups like it is today and Tuesday.
vamosrafa@November 4, 2013 at 6:14 pm
Have you access to the schedule on the WTF website?
According to the schedule (look carefully at the text above the boxes):
¤ Group A will play on Tuesday (afternoon), Wednesday & Friday,
¤ Group B will play on Tuesday (evening), & Thursday & Saturday
http://www.barclaysatpworldtourfinals.com/en/schedule
thanks a lot augusta 🙂 was counting on you to help ! haha
Nadal vs. Ferrer preview and pick – https://tenngrand.com/2013/11/04/world-tour-finals-preview-and-pick-nadal-vs-ferrer/
haha…how unlucky would it be if the night session features berdych/wawa vs ferrer !
I think it is safe to assume it will be rafa, though 🙂
assuming Rafa wins, it will be Rafa vs. Stan on Wednesday night.
(Berdych-Ferrer afternoon)
That would be awesome ! thanks for all the info…
If Rafa loses, it will be rafa vs berdych on wed night? right?
correct
vamosrafa..If Rafa loses? You confidntly said Rafa will sweep all RR matches and now this If (:-
GOT THE TICKET 😀 😀 Got one in Row A 😀 shud be a great view ! now PLEASEEE put rafa in the evening session on wednesday ! canttt waittttt 😀
vamosrafa:
Really looking forward to reading your on site observations of the match. Congratulations on securing the ticket.
thankssss Jpacnw ! will surely do so 😀
and apologies to all, esp NNY for not responding on time and posting regularly…I am in London and had a busy schedule 🙂
hit me up with pics. I will post.
I’m happy for you, vamos Enjoy!
same. So legit that u are going.
vamosrafa,
You don’t ever have to apologize to me!
I hope you have a great time seeing Rafa in action! All I ask is that you make sure to tell us all about it! 🙂
sure thing Ricky!
Give us a wave if the camera zooms in on you!!!!!
Have you made your ‘Vamosrafa’ banner?
haha….so rafa gets the afternoon match ! I am GUTTED !!
Just the worst bad luck. You were not to know. Even the commies were discussing the unusual scheduling this year. Presumably Rafa’s match was brought forward to give Ferrer a few extra hours between his 1st and 2nd matches. To add insult to injury you won’t even get the Leander Paes and Stepanek doubles against Lopez and Granoller.
#best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men
Desperate to see Rafa play..have tickets for Fri night. Do you think he’ll get the evening session? Keeping everything crossed!
yes, this time there is no doubt Rafa will be night session