Latest News | Tennis Courts Map Directory | Every Tennis Court in the World

The Battle For No. 1, With Just Days To Go

Nov172016

Both players remain unbeaten in London

Who is going to finish the year No. 1? After four days of play at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, we’re not much closer to an answer.

Neither Andy Murray nor Novak Djokovic is giving each other an inch in the battle to finish No. 1 in the year-end Emirates ATP Rankings. Both have started the tournament with two round-robin victories, leaving Murray with an effective lead over the Serb of 130 points, the same edge with which he entered the tournament.

On paper Murray is 405 points ahead of Djokovic, but the Scot will see the 275 points he earned in the 2015 Davis Cup final fall from his points total on 28 November, the day the year-end rankings are calculated. So, that effectively leaves Murray with a 130-point lead at the half-way point of the season finale.

You May Also Like: Murray Digs Deep To Top Nishikori

Djokovic does have one advantage over Murray: he has already clinched his place in the semi-finals. Murray has a strong claim to a semi-final spot after two strong victories over Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori. But Stan Wawrinka’s defeat of Cilic Wednesday night means that the Scot must wait until Friday’s final-day of group play to confirm his semi-final spot.

Should Murray join Djokovic in the semi-finals, here are the key scenarios…

If Murray and Djokovic meet in SFs, the winner of that match will clinch No. 1
If they don’t meet in SFs, the player advancing farthest in the tournament will clinch No. 1
If they both lose in the semi-finals, Murray will clinch No. 1 unless Djokovic has a better round-robin record

But there are several other scenarios, including one that could see Murray finish No. 1 even if he misses the semi-finals, provided Djokovic doesn’t go 3-0 in round-robin play and the Serb doesn’t reach the final. If Murray misses the semi-finals, Djokovic can clinch by going 3-0 in group play or by going 2-1 and then winning his semi-final match.

Murray is looking to become the 17^th man in history (since 1973) to finish as the year-end No. 1. Djokovic is looking to finish No. 1 for the third consecutive year, and for the fifth time overall.

Murray became World No. 1 for the first time in his career on 7 November. The last time a No. 2 dethroned the incumbent No. 1 at the season finale to claim the year-end No. 1 title was back in 2001, when Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt overtook Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten in Sydney.

For each group-stage match win at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, players earn 200 points. A semi-final win means an additional 400 points and a win in the final brings a further 500 points.

ATP World Tour Finals: David Goffin replaces injured Gael Monfils

Posted: Nov 16, 2016

Belgium’s David Goffin will contest Novak Djokovic’s final round-robin match at the World Tour Finals on Thursday after Gael Monfils withdrew.

Monfils, who had been eliminated anyway, has struggled after hurting his ribs in Stockholm in October.

“I tried to make it, but I couldn’t,” said Monfils, who has lost to Dominic Thiem and Milos Raonic at the O2.

Djokovic, who is already into the semi-finals, can earn 200 ranking points by beating first alternate Goffin.

The Serb is attempting to win a fifth straight World Tour Finals – a result which would ensure he reclaims the world number one spot from Britain’s Andy Murray.

Murray leapfrogged Djokovic to reach the top of the rankings for the first time in his career on 7 November.

World number 11 Goffin, 25, has lost all four of his previous meetings with Djokovic – most recently in the semi-finals of the Miami Masters in March.

Inspired to play tennis?

Find out how to get into tennis in our special guide.

Source link

Murray closes in on semis after epic win over Nishikori

Posted: Nov 16, 2016

Andy Murray fought back to beat Kei Nishikori in a gruelling contest and close in on a semi-final place at the ATP World Tour Finals.

The world number one lost a tie-break but came through 6-7 (9-11) 6-4 6-4 against the Japanese fifth seed.

At three hours and 20 minutes, it was the longest match at the event since it moved to London in 2009.

Murray, 29, will qualify for the last four if Marin Cilic beats Stan Wawrinka in the evening session at 20:00 GMT.

It is the first time since his debut in 2008 that the Briton has won his opening two group matches.

The victory, his 21st in succession, had added significance as Murray needs to at least match Novak Djokovic’s results in London if he is to stay ahead of the Serb in the year-end rankings.

Djokovic has a 2-0 record in the Ivan Lendl Group, as does the Scot in the John McEnroe Group, having beaten Cilic in his first match.

Key info: Standings, results, schedule and BBC coverage

Murray battles back for victory

It was resilience rather than brilliance that eventually carried Murray through in a match that lasted eight minutes longer than his 2010 semi-final loss against Rafael Nadal.

The Wimbledon champion erased the memory of his US Open quarter-final defeat by Nishikori in the most punishing manner.

“I feel OK right now, but it is the following day when you feel it often,” said Murray.

“Hopefully there will be another three days to this season and I’ll do my best to get through them.”

Nishikori, 26, deservedly took the opening set but only after an 85-minute tussle that saw both men create – and miss – numerous opportunities.

Murray netted a forehand on set point before they headed into a remarkable tie-break, which saw the Scot recover from 6-3 down – saving the third set point with an outrageous backhand when all seemed lost.

Nishikori fended off two more set points, one with a spectacular smash, before converting his fifth chance when Murray found the tramlines.

The 16,000 spectators buzzed with excitement but there were signs that the players were understandably flagging as the match wore on.

Murray could not hold on to an early break in the second set, with Nishikori breaking serve for the first time after two hours to make it 4-4, but the Briton toiled his way through the next two games to level.

A net cord helped Murray get the crucial first break at 2-1 in the deciding set, but even with a 5-1 lead there were more twists to come.

Nishikori discovered a burst of energy to peg Murray back to 5-4, but the top seed found his range when he needed it to serve out the match at the second time of asking.

“I eventually got over the line,” added Murray. “These are the sort of matches you work so hard for.”