Federer, Djokovic drawn in same ATP Finals group
LONDON: Spectators will be hoping for a mini repeat of this year’s epic Wimbledon final between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer after the two tennis legends were drawn in the same group on Tuesday for next week’s climax to the season, the ATP Finals.
Djokovic, who could finish the week as world No.1, and Federer fought out a thrilling five set final at Wimbledon with the Serbian coming from a break down in the final set to win it 7-6 (7/5), 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 13-12 (7/3) in what was at four hours and 57 minutes the longest final in the tournament’s history.
Their group clash in London will only be the best of three sets — Austria’s two-time French Open finalist Dominic Thiem and Italian Matteo Berrettini make up the quartet.
World No.1 Rafael Nadal is in a group with this year’s US Open finalist Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece and Germany’s Alexander Zverev.
Nadal declared himself fit for the finals on Tuesday after he pulled out of last week’s Paris Masters semi-finals — a scan revealed a “slight strain to the left abdominal”.
“Yesterday I had an MRI in Majorca and despite a slight strain to the left abdominal muscle I will go to London,” tweeted Nadal.
“Thursday or Friday I will start hitting services. The idea is to play the ATP Finals. Thanks for your support.”
Nadal on Monday replaced Djokovic — who won the Paris Masters — as world No.1 but the Serbian can reclaim it.
Djokovic will take top spot if he wins two group-stage matches and reaches the final and if the 33-year-old Spaniard, who is yet to win the finals, does not play or fails to win a round-robin match.
Djokovic will also finish the year as No.1 if he wins the tournament and Nadal does not reach the semi-finals.
“There’s always a chance that I win all my matches in London, that I play well. I have done it in the past, and I like playing there,” said the 32-year-old, who has won five ATP Finals titles.
“But it’s [an] extremely difficult task considering who my opponents are going to be.”