Week 46 - ATP Tour Finals 2016 - O2, London

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Week 46 - ATP Tour Finals 2016 - O2, London

TMH · Futures qualifying

Bob in Spain wrote:
The Oxford English Dictionary has run out of superlatives for describing Andy's achievements. Much as I would love Nishikori to beat Djokovic later, it would be so fitting for Andy to confirm his Nº1 year end ranking by beat Novak in a final showdown tomorrow. It would (or at least should) be the final nail in the coffin of his detractors and would be a rightful end to what has been an astonishing season for him.

People have said that he hadn't beaten many players in the Top 5. Well in the last 4 days, he has just beaten the Nº5, Nº4 and Nº3 (not in that order). Beating the Nº2 in the final would be the icing on the cake.

Go Andy.

In an ideal word - absolutely. I fear he will be too exhausted tomorrow though, and may roll over against a highly intense Djokovic.

Would much rather Nishikori prevent it from happening but I fear he will also be too exhausted!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Agreed. I don't think the draw and schedule could have worked out any better for Djokovic if he had made all the decisions himself. But even if Nishikori loses tonight, I hope he can push Novak to a long 3 setter as least.

TMH · Futures qualifying

Yep. Murray has done magnificently to come through that draw unbeaten but he will surely be heavily worn down doing so, whereas Djokovic had two easy matches and only one battle (which he handled superbly).

Worst case though he goes into 2017 just 370 points behind Djokovic, so whilst it would be disappointing to not end the year as #1 having come so close, there will be plenty of opportunity to win it back early next year. Frankly, the most important thing for me is that he got here in the first place - YE #1 or not, the title of being world number one can never be taken away.

the addict · Tennis legend

Oh dear, we have a number 1 hangover

Jamie and Bruno are 1-6 1-2*

indiana · Tennis legend

Broke back but just broken again, 3-4*

I see they are playing no ad even in the tour finals !

Jan · Hall of fame

indiana wrote:
Broke back but just broken again, 3-4*

I see they are playing no ad even in the tour finals !

It's all over far too quickly. Just not proper tennis.

the addict · Tennis legend

Well, that was over far too quickly. 6-1 6-4 to Klaasan and Ram

Mahut will be the happiest man around, the number one doubles player

TMH · Futures qualifying

The no ad rule is utterly bonkers.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Klaasen & Ram win by 1 & 4. bleh

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
Agreed. I don't think the draw and schedule could have worked out any better for Djokovic if he had made all the decisions himself. But even if Nishikori loses tonight, I hope he can push Novak to a long 3 setter as least.

Bang goes that theory. Novak is 6-1 4-0* up. Apparently, these two have played three times at the O2. Those matches have encompassed a total of 38 games, of which Nishikori has won just 4.

Previous matches have been, 6-1 6-0 and 6-1 6-1.

Stats courtesy of Stuart Fraser on Twitter.

the addict · Tennis legend

Stuart Fraser on twitter

"In five of the six sets Novak Djokovic has played against Kei Nishikori at The O2, he has dropped no more than one game: 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-1"

Repeat in progress 6-1 4-0*

Edit - You saw that too, Bob

-- Edited by the addict on Saturday 19th of November 2016 09:30:27 PM

Spectator · All-time great

Meh.

Congratulations, meanwhile, to Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares on their trophy as the YE number one team. And to Jamie Murray's erstwhile partner and Henri Kontinen, Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram for making the finals. And to Nicolas Mahut for ending as YE doubles number one. Happiness to go around in the doubles!

I can't see tomorrow going well. Like BiS, I feel this tournament has been handed to Djokovic on a platter ... at least as his to lose. But in a sense, I couldn't care less. An absolutely magnificent, gutsy performance this week from AM at a tournament where he's never done even remotely this well. And top 5 victories enough to satisfy even the harshest of critics.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Nish loses by 1 & 1. What a wimp! bleh

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Nishikori's run of bakery products goes on as he gets broken from 40-0 up in the final game.

It will be the final everyone was hoping for, but the odds are stacked in Djokovic's favour as they have been all week.