Top Storylines to Watch at the 2015 World Tour Finals
After 11 months of nonstop, heart-pounding and wild tennis, the season comes down to this: the ATP World Tour Finals.
These prestigious year-end championships, which start Sunday and end on Nov. 22, have found a comfortable home in London at the O2 Arena, which is bathed in adrenaline and atmosphere as the titans of the sport duke it out for one of the game's biggest crowns. And this edition features one of the best fields in recent memory.
Three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic returns to defend his throne, while six-time victor Roger Federer joins Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer and Kei Nishikori as the other seven combatants looking to take down Djokovic.
Each of those men toiled all season to reach this point, but only one will be named champion. As they set out on that quest, some key storylines will add an extra layer of intrigue to the proceedings.
The following slides will highlight a few of the most notable things to watch in London. Let the race to the finish line begin.
Stan Wawrinka Tries to Play the Role of Spoiler
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All due respect to the other attendees in London, but Stan Wawrinka is the non-member of the Big Four most primed to spoil the party.
And it's a role he's played so well these past two seasons, besting Novak Djokovic for this year's French Open title and denying Rafael Nadal in the 2014 Australian Open final. Against his Swiss compatriot Roger Federer, Iron Stan's dealt some humbling losses on the red clay in Monte Carlo and Paris. His rivalry with Andy Murray is even tighter, though the two haven't played since 2013.
So Wawrinka certainly won't be intimidated by the packed field in London. Sure, he's at his best when conditions are slower and the bounce is higher so he can have that extra fraction of a second to rip his shots. But Wawrinka has made the semifinals at the World Tour Finals each of the last two years, showing his game can translate indoors.
If he gets on a roll and starts firing those missile backhands, Wawrinka will be a force to be reckoned with at the O2 Arena.
Roger Federer Aims to Extend His Record
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As far as year-end titles go, no man has been more successful than Roger Federer.
The Swiss legend owns the record for most championships, winning six (2003-04, 2006-07 and 2010-11) and reaching three other finals. Qualifying for his 14th consecutive appearance, Federer has also been the model of consistency, advancing past the round-robin stage all but one time (2008).
Forced to withdraw before last year’s final against Novak Djokovic because of a back injury, Federer is eager to make amends this time and halt the Serb’s momentum. The best-of-three-set format will work in his favor should they meet.
Based on his level of comfort with indoor conditions and track record at the World Tour Finals, Federer is the challenger best positioned to pressure Djokovic. While recent early-round losses in Shanghai and Paris offer reason for pause, expect Federer to make a valiant charge and cap his season on a positive note.
The Battle for No. 2
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One storyline that’s being overlooked but could have future ramifications is the battle for the year-end No. 2.
Roger Federer and Andy Murray have gone back and forth this fall for that honor, yet it’s Murray who’s stormed out to a late and substantial lead. While Federer’s hopes are still technically alive, he’ll need the tennis equivalent of a Hail Mary to overtake the Scot.
If Federer goes undefeated at the O2 Arena and Murray bombs in the round-robin stage, then he’ll have a shot. But that scenario seems unlikely. What’s more realistic is Murray clinching the year-end No. 2 for the first time in his career.
Only once before (2012) has Murray finished as high as third. He’s put himself in this position because of a strong fall campaign, which will pay dividends in the coming months. With Novak Djokovic nearly holding a monopoly over the big titles these days, whoever owns the No. 2 ranking won’t have to play him at the Australian Open until the final. That's a big deal.
Clinching that second spot therefore holds great value, and not just from a pride standpoint.
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Andy Murray's Focus with the Davis Cup Final Looming
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While the No. 2 ranking will be very much on Andy Murray's mind in London, his heart will be elsewhere.
Murray will represent Great Britain in the Davis Cup final against Belgium later this month, seeking to guide the British to their first crown since 1936. It's a similar proposition to what he once faced at Wimbledon.
It's clear how much representing Great Britain means to Murray. He considered skipping the year-end championships entirely in order to allow himself extra clay-court preparation for the Davis Cup. Yet the threat of a hefty fine forced him to nix those plans, so he'll be traveling to London after all.
With the Davis Cup final looming and all the pressure that goes with it, Murray's main mission at the World Tour Finals will be to simply stay healthy and gather some confidence. A deep run would be welcomed, but the prize he covets most is still on the horizon.
Rafael Nadal's Quest for a First Year-End Championship
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The biggest hole on Rafael Nadal’s otherwise sparking resume? A victory at the World Tour Finals.
He’s only the second man (along with Andre Agassi) to capture the Career Golden Slam in singles, yet that level of success has somehow never translated indoors to the year-end championships.
The quicker and lower-bouncing conditions don’t help, but Nadal’s had a tough time staying healthy enough to even compete at the event, being forced to skip in 2008, 2012 and 2014 because of injuries. His physical and relentless style of play is probably to blame for him often wearing down by the end of the season.
Nadal’s twice come close to getting the monkey off his back, finishing as runner-up in 2010 and 2013. But he ran into Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, respectively, on those occasions and couldn’t seal the deal. He may face a similar outcome this time.
Although Nadal’s gained some steam in recent weeks, his season hasn’t been up to standard. A strong finish in London would go a long way toward soothing some of that pain and keeping him on the right track heading into a pivotal 2016.
Novak Djokovic Goes for a Fourth Straight Crown in London
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Can anybody stop Novak Djokovic?
Lately, that answer has been a resounding no. Djokovic isn’t just dominating this fall—he’s breaking the will of his peers courtesy of flawless play. With 22 consecutive wins since the start of the U.S. Open, the world No. 1 is in the middle of yet another of his patented streaks.
Just taking a set off Djokovic these days is a daunting enough challenge, let alone actually beating him. He’s in such a physical and mental zone entering the year-end finals that watching him hoist a fourth straight (and fifth overall) crown seems inevitable.
Salivating to put an emphatic finishing statement on a season for the ages, Djokovic should continue to soar above the field in London. The king of tennis probably won’t be vacating his throne anytime soon.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.
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