Djokovic, Nadal vie for supremacy
London, Nov. 8: Novak Djokovic can end his season with a flourish by equalling Roger Federer’s record haul of six titles at the ATP Finals and pipping Rafael Nadal to the year-end number one spot. Germany’s Alexander Zverev shocked Djokovic in last year’s final at London’s O2 Arena but the Serbian will start as the firm favourite after cantering to victory at last week’s Paris Masters. Djokovic and Nadal have shared the spoils at this year’s four Grand Slams, refusing to yield to the next generation. “One of the two biggest achievements that you can have as a professional competitive tennis player — winning a Grand Slam and being number one in the world at the end of the season,” he said. “At this stage of my career in terms of goals and achievements obviously that's right at the top. In order for me to be in the position to be yearend number one I understand I have to be healthy and schedule well.”
Nadal, who has never won the ATP Finals, dethroned his old rival from the top of the rankings this week and will be hoping to seal the yearend spot despite injury doubts ahead of the tournament, which starts on Sunday.
Federer, Nadal and Djokovic were the top three seeds when they first competed together at the tournament way back in 2007.
Twelve years later little has changed at the top of men’s tennis, although they will be wary of the challenge from Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, who has won two Masters titles since August and pushed Nadal to five sets in the US Open final.
Austria’s Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, Germany’s Zverev and Italian Matteo Berrettini make up the rest of the field of eight players.