Tomas Berdych is in unfamiliar territory this week at the BNP Paribas Masters. He is 10th in the Emirates ATP Race To London and No. 11 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, marking his first week outside of the world rankings’ Top 10 since reaching the 2010 Wimbledon final as the World No. 13. In the 329 weeks since then, Berdych has qualified for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and ended the year at No. 6 or No. 7 on six straight occasions. Both of those streaks are on the line Tuesday when the 2005 BNP Paribas Masters champion plays his opening match in Paris. Berdych trails Dominic Thiem and Marin Cilic for the final two vacancies at the year-end...
Marin Cilic sent a strong message to fellow contenders in the Emirates ATP Race To London, powering to the Swiss Indoors Basel title on Sunday. The fourth-seeded Croatian downed Kei Nishikori 6-1, 7-6(5), riding his dominant serve and potent forehand to victory after one hour and 37 minutes. Cilic notched his 16th tour-level title and second of the year. Two months after capturing his maiden ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown in Cincinnati (d. Murray), he earned his first title at the 500 level. Cilic strengthened his position among the final two players looking to secure bids at the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, boosting his point total to 3,090 in the Emirates ATP Race To London. Currently in...