ATP World Tour Finals 2014: Final Race to London Rankings and Qualifiers
Aside from the four Grand Slam competitions, a victory at the ATP World Tour Finals is the most coveted amongst the world’s elite tennis players. And after the conclusion of the Paris Masters, won by world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, the eight players that’ll take part in the end-of-season showpiece have been confirmed.
While the prospect of winning the event is an enticing one, there are other accolades up for grabs, most notably, the battle to end the calendar year as the world’s best player. Djokovic currently holds claim that title, but with Roger Federer in hot pursuit, it adds another fascinating dimension to what’s typically an engrossing competition.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Here’s a rundown of the players who have qualified for the ATP Finals and a look at what we should expect when the action gets underway at the O2 Arena in London.
| Novak Djokovic | Serbia |
| Roger Federer | Switzerland |
| Stanislas Wawrinka | Switzerland |
| Kei Nishikori | Japan |
| Andy Murray | Great Britain |
| Tomas Berdych | Czech Republic |
| Milos Raonic | Canada |
| Marin Cilic | Croatia |
The final eight was also confirmed by the ATP World Tour Twitter account:
Battle for World No. 1
Djokovic strengthened his stranglehold on the top spot after his victory in Paris, and unfortunately for Federer, the Serb seems to be nearing his very best form ahead of the London finals.
Milos Raonic was unable to live with a rampant Djokovic in the Paris final, and if the seven-time Grand Slam winner plays with a comparable panache in London, then it’s tough to identify any of the field capable of coping with his punishing style.
Raonic was subject to some of that treatment in the Paris final, as we can see here:
Federer will be looking to overhaul a 1,310 point deficit to recapture the No. 1 spot, and with 1,500 points on offer for a champion who goes through the round-robin format undefeated, Novak’s spot at the top isn’t quite secure yet. But with Djokovic having won his last 27 matches indoors, it’ll take a phenomenal effort from the Swiss—or any of the other six men in situ—to halt his momentum.
The O2 Arena is a venue that the Serb typically relishes, too; he’s looking to make it three wins in a row in the London finals after victories in 2012 and 2013. Meanwhile, Federer last won this title in 2011.
Andy Murray Looking to Finish 2014 with a Flourish
After a testing 2014, the British No. 1 will be hoping that a home crowd can inspire him to great things at the ATP Finals. Murray fell to Djokovic in the quarterfinals in Paris, but prior to that defeat, there were signs that the two-time Slam winner was getting back to his best.
This was most notable perhaps in his recent clash with Tommy Robredo in the final of the Valencia Open. Murray showcased the unerring fortitude that became almost patented during his finest run of form back in 2013, saving five match points against the Spaniard before fighting back to clinch victory.
After teetering on the edge of the world’s top eight throughout the year, Murray finally confirmed his spot at the finals with a win over Grigor Dimitrov in the third round, and he responded to his critics in a rather bespoke manner, per Tennis TV:
With the London crowd at his back, expect the 2013 Wimbledon champion to make a real impression here. At this juncture he may not have reached a level that'll trouble the likes of Djokovic and Federer, but expect a strong display from the Scot—one that should see him only beaten by the aforementioned twosome.
Dark Horses for the Title
The man Djokovic conquered in Paris was Raonic, and although he’s not a household name quite yet, the young Canadian comes into the ATP Finals on the back of an excellent year.
Raonic toppled Federer in the quarters at Paris and Tomas Berdych—who will also be in attendance in London—in the semis; his dynamic style and monster serve make him one of the most enthralling men to watch on the tour. He’s just 23 years old, too, and a player that will accrue vital experience from the end-of-season showpiece.
Kei Nishikori is another young player hoping to make an impression on the back of an prosperous year. The Japanese star finished as runner-up at the U.S. Open, and after becoming the first Asian man to compete in a Slam final, he’ll become the first player from the continent to play at the ATP Finals, per SI Tennis:
The man who bested Nishikori in the Flushing Meadows final was Marin Cilic, and he’ll also be in attendance at the O2 Arena. The 2014 Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka completes the lineup, and he’ll be looking to finish the year as he started it: with victory in one of the most illustrious tournaments on the tennis calendar.
All statistics courtesy of atpworldtour.com
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
