Fear does not come into the equation for Rafael Nadal. Having arrived in London for the Nitto ATP Finals, the Spaniard admitted he would not even allow a resurgent Roger Federer, nipping at his heels for a return to No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, to play on his mind in the latter part of 2017. Having achieved so much already, reassuming top spot was a bonus, an unexpected reward for a season that has bagged titles in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Roland Garros, Flushing Meadows and Beijing. The Spaniard begins his season-ending campaign with one less pressure hanging over his head. Federer can nip at his heels all he wants. The year-end Emirates ATP No. 1 Ranking belongs to...
Jack Sock might be the only non-European at the Nitto ATP Finals this year, but he certainly isn’t out of place. Having earned his place at the prestigious year-end event in London on the back of a surprising title run at the Rolex Paris Masters, Sock is flying the American flag amidst a field of Europeans. Although they might not share the same continent, they’ll share the same court over the next week of exciting matchups at The O2 arena in Britain’s capital. Not since 2011 has an American qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, when Mardy Fish capped off a sensational season with three tight matches at the round robin stage, and Sock’s victory in Paris, which halted a...
It has been a season to remember for Roger Federer, but he hasn’t forgotten: there’s one tournament left and his eyes are on the prize – and beyond. Arriving at the Nitto ATP Finals for a record 15th time, Federer is looking to cap off his best season in nearly a decade with an eighth title of the year at the prestigious year-ending event. The Swiss superstar, who shut down his 2016 early as a result of injury, came back this season to strike gold at two Grand Slams, three ATP Masters 1000 events and, remarkably, registered a 4-0 record over legendary rival and current World No.1 Rafael Nadal. “It’s a good achievement,” said Federer of qualifying for the season-ending...
Marin Cilic is no longer the fresh face at the Nitto ATP Finals. He’s not the out-of-the-blue Grand Slam champion trying to find his footing. He’s not the seventh seed who barely squeaked in, entering the tournament with a 12-46 record against the field. The Croatian is the experienced world No. 5 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, appearing at The 02 for the third time and heading into the year-end finale playing some of the best tennis of his life. The 29-year-old is ready to make his mark in London. “The year has been extremely consistent for me. I played great tennis and found the key in my own game to play at a good level almost every single week,”...