TOP TROPHY EASES FINALS PAIN FOR NADAL
AT teatime yesterday, Rafael Nadal was being feted at the 02 Arena with the presentation of the year-end world No 1 trophy. Last night, at 9.30pm, he was packing his bags and preparing to leave London, having been knocked out of the ATP Finals as a helpless spectator. The 33-year-old Spaniard had kept his hopes alive of a 41st meeting this afternoon with Roger Federer by coming back to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 in his last group match. Yet he was powerless to prevent Alex Zverev wrapping up the round-robin stages by defeating the alreadyeliminated Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 7-6. That settled today’s last four, which will see Tsitsipas taking on Federer in the first match and Dominic Thiem up against Zverev in the second. It means Nadal, third in his group, will today head to Madrid for the Davis Cup finals. The Spaniard was able to watch his immediate fate being determined back at his hotel, with the world No 1 trophy to keep him company. After yesterday’s match he was presented with it for the fifth time in his career. In a neat symmetry, Federer and Novak Djokovic have also won it five times, and the only interloper in the last 16 seasons has been Andy Murray three years ago. ‘After all the things I went through in my career with injuries, I never thought at 33-and-a-half I would have this trophy in my hands again,’ said the Spaniard. ‘It’s something really emotional for me. There’s been a lot of work in the shadows to be where we are today and, without all my team and family next to me, this thing would be impossible. ‘The preparation was very short for me here and not ideal after the injury in Paris. ‘So for me it was important to give myself a chance to compete better than what I did the first day. I have confidence going into next week.’ Tim Henman, discussing yesterday his appointment as captain of the GB team for January’s ATP Cup, believes Federer is clear favourite to win the title this weekend. ‘I think he probably is,’ said the Englishman. ‘It was an amazing performance from Roger against Novak.’