The Biggest Questions Ahead of the 2016 ATP World Tour Finals
The 2016 ATP World Tour Finals have yet to get underway and already there's more drama than last year. That's because, in 2015, Novak Djokovic rolled into London with three Grand Slams titles that year and a commanding points lead.
This year, Djokovic is No. 2 and one of the biggest questions ahead of the ATP Finals is who leaves London ranked No. 1?
Andy Murray occupies the top spot right now. He seized the top ranking last week at the Paris Masters. Murray's first turn at No. 1 ends Djokovic's reign of 122 consecutive weeks on top of the tour.
The round-robin tournament featuring eight of the tour's top players begins on Sunday. The players have been divided into two groups: Team John McEnroe (Murray, Marin Cilic, Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori) and Team Ivan Lendl (Djokovic, Gael Monfils, Milos Raonic and Dominic Thiem).
Monfils and Thiem are making their debuts in this year-end championship. With Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal out, Djokovic is the only player in the field who has won the tournament. He hopes to win his fifth consecutive title and tie Federer for most ATP Finals titles won.
Meanwhile, Murray is trying to become the first Brit to win the ATP finals. A win would also lock down the No. 1 ranking.
“You're playing against the best players in the world in this event. The top eight players are here, and every match is extremely tough. I look forward to getting out there. It's obviously an amazing atmosphere, playing at The 02,” Murray told the ATP Tour staff during the opening ceremony.
So the stage is set for plenty of drama in London. The following are the biggest questions ahead of the ATP Finals.
Who Could Play Spoiler?
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Finals regulars Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Tomas Berdych and David Ferrer won't be competing this year. This leaves the door open for another player to break through.
Cilic could be that guy. The Croation upset Djokovic at the Paris Masters. Winner of the 2014 U.S. Open, Cilic has a game tailor-made for fast indoor courts.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka poses a threat, too. Despite winning more Grand Slams in the past two years than Murray, Wawrinka continues to fly under the radar. A title here would put him front and center.
How Serious Is Novak Djokovic's Psyche Situation?
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According to the Sun, Djokovic is seeking help from a guru who suggests his students send "pleasant thoughts to a container of boiled rice as part of projects to better themselves."
That may seem odd, but so does the idea of the methodical, super-focused, hyper-healthy Djokovic experiencing a late-season mental and physical meltdown.
He's only played in two tournaments since his loss in the finals at the U.S. Open. He failed to reach the finals in both.
His meltdown in Shanghai and straight-sets loss to Cilic in Paris raised more questions about the Serbian's determination and motivation.
“I don’t think he answered any of the questions people had about him coming into this tournament,” Tennis Channel commentator Lindsay Davenport (via Tennis.com).
How Will Andy Murray Handle Pressure of Being No. 1?
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Murray has never won an ATP Finals title, despite reaching the semifinals twice since the tournament moved to London in 2010. Well, as he proved last week, there's a first time for everything.
During the pre-tournament gala, Murray was presented with a trophy for his first time at No. 1. He's only the 26th player to hold the No. 1 ranking, since 1973.
The vantage point is so different from the top. Now the target is on Murray's back. How will he handle being the favorite at home? Despite the home-court advantage, Murray is just 11-11 in the finals in London.
He won most of his titles, including the Summer Olympics, Paris Masters, Shanghai, Beijing, Vienna and the Aegon Championships, in finals against players ranked outside of the Top 10. A few were outside the Top 20. And all but one, the Rome Masters, came against a player in the Top Five.
Everyone in the finals is ranked in the Top 10.
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Which Gael Monfils Shows Up to Play?
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The flamboyant Frenchman makes his debut in the tournament. He's certain to be a crowd favorite. How he performs may depend on which Monfils shows up to play.
Will we see the more focused Monfils who had the best season of his career? Or will we see the player who puzzled many with his tactics of "trickeration" in the semifinals of the U.S. Open?
The tournament is indoors, where Monfils has a higher winning percentage than he does outdoors. Because he's a first-timer, he could show up nervous or playing as if he has nothing to lose.
The nothing to lose Monfils is dangerous.
Who Leaves London Ranked No. 1?
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The biggest question ahead of the finals is who leaves London ranked No. 1?
Murray leads Djokovic by less than 500 points, and he will lose 275 points he earned from last year's appearance in the Davis Cup final.
So he goes into the finals with a slim lead over Djokovic. If Murray finishes the final undefeated, he can earn a maximum of 1500 points. Points are awarded per round, so there are so many scenarios in which Murray or Djokovic could emerge No. 1.
To keep it simple, either of these two can secure the No. 1 ranking by winning the tournament.
But they must survive the round-robin.
Murray seems to have the tougher draw, which includes Grand Slam champions Cilic, Wawrinka and U.S. Open finalist Nishikori.
Djokovic has two newbies in Monfils and Thiem and Milos Raonic, who is recovering from injury. Still, if caught looking ahead, Murray or Djokovic can get tripped up. Unlike in Grand Slams, there are easy tuneup matches at the ATP finals.
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