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Novak Djokovic is bidding to win the ATP Finals for a record-equalling sixth time as Rafael Nadal chases the largest title lacking from his glittering resume at London’s O2 Arena. The high eight out there gamers within the males’s rankings — with Roger Federer absent — will compete on the end-of-season event, which begins on Sunday behind closed doorways regardless of a coronavirus lockdown in England. The two round-robin teams have been named Tokyo 1970 and London 2020 on the 50th anniversary of the primary staging of the occasion.
World primary Djokovic is in Group Tokyo alongside Daniil Medvedev, 2018 winner Alexander Zverev and Argentine debutant Diego Schwartzman.
Second-seed Nadal will compete towards defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, Dominic Thiem, and Andrey Rublev, who’s showing for the primary time, in Group London.
The 4 best-placed gamers from the round-robin stage will progress to the semi-finals of the occasion, going down in London for the ultimate yr earlier than a transfer to Turin.
Six-time champion Federer, recovering from knee surgical procedure, is probably the most notable absentee after a world tennis season truncated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Five-time champion Djokovic, who not too long ago equalled Pete Sampras’s file of six year-end primary finishes, has misplaced simply three matches this season, with a kind of his default on the US Open.
The Serbian, who has not received the London occasion since 2015, stated he was trying to finish his season on a excessive on the elite eight-man occasion.
“Coming into the tournament and knowing that I have clinched the year-end number one releases some of the pressure, definitely,” he stated.
“But at the same time it doesn’t change what I hope to achieve in this tournament and why I’m here.
“I actually need to win each single match that I get to play and attempt to get my fingers on the trophy and I need this trophy as a lot as anyone.”
Nadal drought
Nadal, who pulverised Djokovic in the French Open final last month to pull level with Federer on 20 Grand Slams, has qualified for the ATP Finals for a record 16 consecutive years
The Spanish world number two is well aware of his shortcomings on indoor hard courts — only one of his 86 trophies has come on the surface.
“I feel I’m able to play just a little bit higher the final couple of years indoors than what I did firstly of my profession for sure however that is the numbers and I can not say one thing completely different,” said the 34-year-old two-time finalist.
“I hope to alter that this week.”
Despite his lack of indoor success, the shortened season could count in Nadal’s favour — he has been forced to withdraw from the ATP Finals six times previously.
Last year’s winner Tsitsipas, who beat Thiem in the final, comes into the tournament after early exits in Vienna and Paris.
“Very blissful to be again, that is for certain,” said the Greek world number six. “Every yr I get to expertise being again right here is thrilling.
“It’s like a meeting spot for those that had a good year to be back here, celebrate their hard work, their dedication to the sport. I’m very privileged to be part of it.”
Austria’s Thiem broke his Grand Slam duck on the US Open in September, beating Zverev within the ultimate, and the world quantity three stated he now felt as snug on onerous courts as he does on clay.
Zverev, who has received two titles this season, has been dogged in latest weeks by home assault allegations made by a former girlfriend however he insists they’re unfaithful.
“While I very much regret that those accusations are made, I have to stick to my initial thing of them being just untrue and continue to deny them,” stated the German.
Medvedev, who misplaced all three matches on his debut in London final yr, comes into the event as one of many kind horses after successful final week’s Paris Masters.
Promoted
Rublev, who has had a breakthrough season, successful 5 titles, and world quantity 9 Schwartzman full the sphere.
The ATP Finals additionally options the highest eight doubles groups. The high seeds are US Open champions and French Open finalists Mate Pavic and Bruno Soares.
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