Układ sił 2018

[DUN I LOVE]

IMHO to jest nie do uratowania. Tzn. ATP. Za wiele jest przesłanek, że to gigantyczny, strukturalny problem, który jest nie do wyleczenia, a w najlepszym wypadku dostaniemy WTA bis, gdzie na krótką metę fajnie może to się śledzi, ale na dłuższą metę wylot całego top10 po kilku dniach WS jest dobrym odzwierciedleniem poziomu tych rozgrywek.

Jak pisał gdzieś niedawno Żilu, jeżeli młodsi nie zaczną ogrywać Fabsterów, kiedy ci jeszcze się do czegoś nadają, czeka nas 10-12 lat (jakieś 2 pokolenia myślę) wiecznych porównań i negowania poziomu rozgrywek. Trzeba będzie poczekać aż naznaczeni porażkami z Fab3,4 ludzie znikną ze sceny, a do gry wejdą nowi, których nie będzie można zestawić z legendami i napisać: "oni na pewno są gorsi, bo 24-letni zawodnik X dostawał regularny oklep od 38-letniego Federera).

Niemniej, od kiedy istnieje sport rodzą się co kilka lat/dekad nowi GOAT-ci i tak będzie i tym razem. Za kilka lat układ sił wykreuje następców Nadala, Federera, Djokovicia, Samprasa, Agassiego, Edberga, Beckera, Borga, McEnroe, Lavera i innych, urodzonych wcześniej.

Jeszcze 20 lat temu najwięcej szlemów miał Emerson, przypominam.

[Rroggerr]

To już pytanie brzmi czy uznajesz za przypadek, że przez dekadę w męskim i żeńskim tenisie nie pojawił się żaden kozak. Ja - nie, bo to już nie przypadek, a tendencja. Kiedy coś takiego miało wcześniej miejsce?

[DUN I LOVE]

Podobna sytuacja miała już miejsce, ale w innym wymiarze. Po tym jak początek lat 70. przyniósł nam Samprasa z Agassim też trzeba było czekać 10 lat na narodziny Federera. Oczywiście, w międzyczasie objawili się Rafter, Kuerten czy Kafielnikov, ale 2-4 szlemy to równie dobrze mogą wygrać Thiem, Dimug czy Kyrgios, zanim odwieszą rakiety. Wiadomo, 3 w/w potrafili to robić na mistrzach w kwiecie wieku, ale nie wiem, czy na każdym kroku historia będzie to podkreślać.

[Rroggerr]

2-4 szlemy to równie dobrze mogą wygrać Thiem, Dimug czy Kyrgios, zanim odwieszą rakiety.

W drugiej połowie lat 90-tych miałeś jednak Hingis czy siostry Williams. Niby już urodzone w latach 80-tych, ale chodziło mi o to, że nigdy nie było takiej pustki jeżeli chodzi o poważne talenty w tenisie. Szarapowa, Djokovic - a potem tylko Delpo, Kvitova i Muguruza. I ten stan zaczął drugą dekadę trwania. Dlatego czarno widzę ten tenis, bo IMHO to nie przypadek. No bo nie przez przypadek największym talentem w tenisie stał się Shapovalov, który wyszkoleniem przypomina trochę inną epokę. 12 lat czekania na poważny talent u facetów i babek, no zgroza.

Ale trochę się zgadzam, bo z czasem serio zacznie być lepiej - teraz widzimy kompletne dno, bo Zverev jest za młody, Shapo też, a Chaczanowy i De Minaury potrzebują jeszcze trochę czasu żeby się przebić do top20 i wygonić tych Dżumhurów. Więc mamy sytuację, że czołówka wygląda jak wygląda, a zaplecze to żart, co przechodzenie spacerkiem pierwszych tygodni WS jest idealnym przykładem. Za to za dużo się zmieniło i za dużo już wydarzyło, żeby wierzyć w kompletną odbudowę tenisa, i do tego zmierzałem. Bardziej znośnie (fanów WTA uspokajam) powinno być już niedługo.

[Robertinho]

Podobna sytuacja miała już miejsce, ale w innym wymiarze. Po tym jak początek lat 70. przyniósł nam Samprasa z Agassim też trzeba było czekać 10 lat na narodziny Federera. Oczywiście, w międzyczasie objawili się Rafter, Kuerten czy Kafielnikov, ale 2-4 szlemy to równie dobrze mogą wygrać Thiem, Dimug czy Kyrgios, zanim odwieszą rakiety. Wiadomo, 3 w/w potrafili to robić na mistrzach w kwiecie wieku, ale nie wiem, czy na każdym kroku historia będzie to podkreślać.

Stary, proszę. Kuerten i Rafter w jednym poście z Thiemem i Mugiem... Dokładnie takim graczem, to był Wawrinka, nawet tenis miał z lat 90-tych, pokazując zresztą, że taką grą spokojnie można szmacić fapsterów. I uprzedzając, nie, żaden z tych dwóch na poziom topowego Stana nie wejdzie. Nie mają tenisa, żeby tak grać. A Kyrgios raczej nie wejdzie nawet na poziom topowego Muga, aczkolwiek tu mogę się mylić. Tu naprawdę przez ostatnich kilka lat, była przestrzeń do wygrywania WS, gdyby ktoś był naprawdę dobry.

[DUN I LOVE]

Osiągnięcia, Robert. Osiągnięcia. Stan w wieku Dimuga miał na koncie 4 nędzne kurniki. Zobaczymy.

Mnie martwi tylko mała liczba młodych graczy zasilających tour. Rozwinę później.

[Robertinho]

Ja rozumiem, ale po pierwsze, wymienieni przez Ciebie gracze ich nie mają, tj mają znacznie mniejsze, niż rywale Samprasa i Agassiego. I to po pierwsze, na razie wystarczy.

Co do Stana, z jednej strony miałeś zapuszczonego gracza z potencjałem, z drugiej, facetów przygotowanych chyba topowo. Tj może Thiem ma rezerwy, przede wszystkim taktyczne i w grze ofensywnej, tu zgoda. Mug imo wyciska maksa, niestety.

O młodych chętnie poczytam. Napisałeś, że nie będziesz czepiać się Mino, ale ja chętnie poczytam, co tam od stycznia się z nim działo i czemu nic.

[jaccol55]

Przepraszam Robert za moją wczorajszą tyradę. Zdecydowanie przesadziłem.

[Robertinho]

Przepraszam Robert za moją wczorajszą tyradę. Zdecydowanie przesadziłem.

Nie ma problemu. Zadaję sobie sprawę, że moje wywody mogą być irytujące, chyba nawet mają być.

[Robertinho]

Cóż, beton się kruszy. W roli młota pneumatycznego, Kevin Anderson. Straszne jest to, że ciężko sobie wyobrazić któregoś z młodych, grającego taki mecz. Z drugiej strony, Fed w tym roku jest naprawdę słaby i kilku graczy może zrobić na nim ładnie wyglądającą w tenisowym CV wygraną.

[Barty]

Cóż, beton się kruszy. W roli młota pneumatycznego, Kevin Anderson. Straszne jest to, że ciężko sobie wyobrazić któregoś z młodych, grającego taki mecz. Z drugiej strony, Fed w tym roku jest naprawdę słaby i kilku graczy może zrobić na nim ładnie wyglądającą w tenisowym CV wygraną.

No właśnie, kiedy w końcu zobaczymy młodego grającego na takim poziomie i solidności przeciwko Fabsterii w szlemie, jak Candy od czwartego seta.

[Rroggerr]

Niedługo Laver Cup, to Nick będzie miał okazję.

[arti]

Q2 Review: Moving Time For Nadal, Djokovic

Spoiler:

After six months of the 2018 ATP World Tour season, there’s already a plethora of storylines to track. Here are the top five stories of the second quarter.
Nadal Proves His No. 1 Status
Rafael Nadal swept through the European clay swing once more, dealing with the pressure and weight of expectation so well to compile a 32-2 match record - including the 900th match win of his career - in the second quarter of the year.
While his red dirt dominance is nothing new, the Spaniard strengthened his lead at the top of the ATP Race To London, for one of eight spots at the Nitto ATP Finals in November, with four clay-court titles — historic 11th crowns at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (d. Nishikori), the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell (d. Tsitsipas) and Roland Garros (d. Thiem), in addition to an eighth trophy at the Internazionali d’Italia (d. Djokovic). In beating Juan Martin del Potro 7-5, 6-7(7), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 at Wimbledon, Nadal won a match for the ages to advance to semi-finals for the first time since 2011.
As World No. 1 for 40 of the past 46 weeks (since 21 August 2017), Nadal has withstood Roger Federer’s three brief stints in the top spot this year, and will enter the North American hard-court swing defending 2,270 points, including 2,000 points at the US Open. How the 32-year-old fares at the Western & Southern Open, the Rogers Cup and in New York City will go a long way in clarifying whether he will finish at year-end No. 1 for a fifth time (2008, '10, '13, '17).
The Resurgence Of Djokovic
As Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka continue to find their way back from long-term injuries, the rehabilitation and resurgence of Novak Djokovic in recent months, initially on European clay and then on London’s grass, after a right elbow injury, is heart-warming.
Having missed six months of 2017, and forced to undergo surgery after the Australian Open (l. to Chung in the fourth round) in January, the Serbian protected his elbow with a new service technique and went 6-6 in his first six tournaments. Yet, the 31-year-old’s confidence began to resurface in reaching the Internazionali BNL d'Italia (l. to Nadal in the semi-finals), then at Roland Garros, where he advanced to the quarter-finals (l. to Cecchinato).
It wasn’t until he contested the Fever-Tree Championships final (l. to Cilic) that Djokovic began to serve and return with greater potency. With low expectations coming into The Championships at Wimbledon, particularly because of a lack of big-match play, Djokovic moved through the draw, relatively unheralded for a former champion, to beat Nadal 10-8 in the fifth set in the semi-finals and then Kevin Anderson in the final. It was his 13th Grand Slam championship crown (fourth all-time in the singles list) and first since May 2016 in Paris.
From No. 22 in ATP Rankings on 21 May — his lowest position since No. 22 on 2 October 2006 — Djokovic has put together a 19-3 match record in his past four tournaments and was restored to the Top 10 at No. 10 on 16 July.
Anderson, Isner Enjoying Career Years
Anderson and John Isner, both at career-high ATP Rankings, are highlighting how off-court work can reap dividends between the tramlines in 2018. As evidenced in Anderson’s 26-24 fifth set win over Isner in the Wimbledon semi-finals, which lasted six hours and 36 minutes — the second-longest match in major championship history.
Anderson, 32, has backed up strong early-season form over the past three months to reach his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-final — and first on a clay-court — at the Mutua Madrid Open (l. to Schwartzman), the Roland Garros fourth round for the fourth time (also 2013-14 and 2017) and his second Grand Slam championship final at Wimbledon (d. Djokovic). Currently at a career-high No. 5 in the ATP Rankings, the South African will now work with coach Brad Stine towards adding to his four ATP World Tour crowns and a first Nitto ATP Finals qualification, following a near miss in 2015.
Isner, 33, who lifted his first Masters 1000 crown at the Miami Open presented by Itau (d. Zverev) on 1 April, went 8-6 on the spring clay swing and came into Wimbledon with low expectations, having reached the third round (on three occasions) in nine visits. But, under the guidance of David Macpherson, Rene Moller and Justin Gimelstob, the American adopted aggressive returns and a serve-and-volley game, to beat 2016 runner-up Raonic in the quarter-finals en route to a breakthrough run at a major. He now sits at a career-high No. 8.
ATP Race To London Taking Shape
Six of the Top 10 in the ATP Race To London on 2 April 2018, remain among the contenders for a spot at the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held at The O2 in London from 11-18 November. While Nadal and Federer lead the charge for a place at the season finale, 10 different nations are represented in the Top 10 (as of 16 July 2018).
Djokovic has been the biggest riser over the past three months, jumping from 85th position (200 points) to fifth place (3,335) points in the current standings, while Nadal has moved from 39th (360) to first (5,760) and Kei Nishikori has soared from 74th (235) to 10th (1,610). Federer, who missed the clay swing, added 910 points from three grass-court tournaments.
Twelve months ago, following the conclusion of The Championships in 2017, Nadal, Federer, Dominic Thiem, Wawrinka, Marin Cilic, Zverev, Djokovic, Murray, Grigor Dimitrov and Tomas Berdych made up the Top 10 in the ATP Race To London. Seven of that elite group secured enough points to qualify for the prestigious season finale (Wawrinka did not compete due to injury).
Zverev, Tsitsipas, Shapovalov Among 2018 #NextGenATP Leaders
Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Denis Shapovalov are the pick of the #NextGenATP so far this season. Tsitsipas and Shapovalov, both 19, trail Zverev in the ATP Race To Milan for a berth at the 21-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals in November.
Buy Your Milan Tickets
World No. 3 Zverev put together a 21-4 record on the red dirt, including a 13-match winning streak that included back-to-back ATP World Tour crowns at the BMW Open by FWU (d. Kohlschreiber) and the Mutua Madrid Open (d. Thiem). His run ended at the hands of Nadal in a three-set Rome final, shortly prior to Roland Garros, where the 21-year-old reached his first major championship quarter-final (l. to Thiem).
Tsitsipas did not drop a set en route to his first ATP World Tour final in Barcelona (l. to Nadal), earning the biggest win of his career over No. 7-ranked Thiem in the quarter-finals. He was the first Greek to reach a tour-level final since Kalogeropoulos at Des Moines in 1973, and the first man from his country to advance to the fourth-round at Wimbledon (l. to Isner). He also beat Anderson en route to the Millennium Estoril Open semi-finals (l to Sousa).
Over the past three months, Shapovalov became the youngest quarter-finalist and semi-finalist ever in Madrid (d. Raonic in 3R, l. to A. Zverev) and peaked at World No. 23 on 11 June. He is the youngest player in the Top 25 since then-No. 19 Gasquet on 25 July 2005 and has been Canada’s No. 1 since 21 May after reaching the Rome third round (l. to Nadal).
Americans Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz, Australia’s Alex de Minaur, Spain’s Jaume Munar and Russia’s Andrey Rublev also feature among the Top 8 in the battle for a Milan spot.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/na ... eview-2018

[DUN I LOVE]

Todd Martin w tym samym tonie, co Krajicek - Federer i Nadal wygrywali, bo Djoković był nieobecny.
https://www.tennisworldusa.org/tennis/n ... nt-martin/

[Kiefer]

Todd Martin Ameryki nie odkrywa, przecież każdy mówi o tym jak bardzo niski jest poziom touru, był niski kiedy kontuzjowany był Nadal, Federer, jest niski kiedy nie ma Djokovica czy nawet Murraya. Oczywistym jest, że gdyby cała trójka grała na wysokim poziomie to pewnie nie byłoby tak, że dwóch tenisistów podzieliło by między sobą tytuły.

Nie ma jednak co się podniecać wygraną Djokovica aż tak bardzo, nie wiadomo czy zgarnął by ten tytuł gdyby Federer nie miał jakiś problemów w tym roku.

[Emu]

Możliwe, że Rogerem mam już spokój, Szkota można śmiało skreślić. Pytanie kiedy Rafole się skończą? Serb wraca po ciężkiej kontuzji i nie wiadomo ile wytrzyma jego ciało. Najgorzej sytuacja wygląda z poczciwym, wiecznie "kontuzjowanym" i żyjącym w przewlekłym bólu Nadalem. Stawiam na "kontuzje" po US Open i odpowiednią "regenerację" na rybach. W takim trybie Rafcio może nas zachwycać na RG do jakiegoś 2022 co jest koszmarną perspektywą.
Chciałbym żeby jak najszybciej cała czwórka zakończyła kariery albo przestała się liczyć w szlemach, przed 2020 u Rafole są na to małe szanse( zakładam, że Serba w miarę poskładali do kupy i trochę potrwa nim ponownie się rozleci).

[DUN I LOVE]

81 - Federer
85 - Isnerl

Ta dwójka ucieka ostatnio metryce, bo w szerszej reprezentacji układ sił widzimy od rocznika 86 i młodsi. Zakładam, że Berdych, Tsonga i Wawrinka już nie wrócą do najlepszych swoich dni.

[Barty]

Top Challenger Performers Making Strides In ATP Rankings

Spoiler:

A look at the eight biggest movers to Top 150 breakthroughs this year
It happens every year on the ATP Challenger Tour. Players making the biggest strides on the circuit are not only scoring valuable match wins and trophies, but significant gains in the ATP Rankings.

The 2018 season is no exception. Among those with the highest Challenger win percentages, three of the top four have made some of the biggest progress in surging up the ATP Rankings. Challenger success also inevitably leads to opportunities to showcase skills on the ATP World Tour and many have already taken full advantage.

With the mid-season pole in the rearview mirror, we review the biggest movers to career-highs in the Top 150. It's no surprise that all of them have made their mark on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2018.

Juan Ignacio Londero (ARG)
+240 to No. 122
For Londero, success is well worth the wait. The 24-year-old is bursting onto the scene in 2018, behind 30 match wins and a pair of titles in Mexico City and Marburg, Germany. After first beginning his ascent in 2014, a series of health issues would see him plummet down the ATP Rankings. But now fully healthy, a resurgent campaign has injected new life into the Argentine. Not only does he boast the fourth-highest win-loss percentage on tour (30-9, .769), he has reaped the rewards with 240-spot rise to a career-high World No. 122.

Read: Meet Argentina's Newest Star

Ugo Humbert (FRA)
+237 to No. 141
The 20-year-old Frenchman is the newest kid on the block, having just recently made his mark with three consecutive final appearances in July. He would lift his first Challenger trophy last week in Segovia, capping a stunning ascent to a career-high No. 141 in the ATP Rankings. One year ago, Humbert was outside the Top 700 and today he is one of two #NextGenATP Frenchmen (also Moutet) knocking on the door of the Top 100. It just goes to show that one breakthrough tournament is often all it takes. Entering July, Humbert owned five Challenger matches wins. After a 13-2 stretch, he is now the hottest player on tour.

Read: Five Things To Know About Ugo

Jason Kubler (AUS)
+236 to No. 105
Kubler's health woes have been well documented over the years, but the Aussie is finally healthy and taking aim at the Top 100. There is no doubt that he has the game to compete with the very best and now the confidence and consistency are coming together. After notching his first hard-court title in his first hard-court tournament late last year, he has thrived on the surface in 2018, winning a pair of titles in Playford, Australia and Winnipeg, Canada. Moreover, Kubler's 31 match wins has him tied with Hugo Dellien for the tour lead, vaulting him 236 spots to No. 105.

Watch: The Comeback Story Of Jason Kubler

Alex de Minaur (AUS)
+163 to No. 45
Yes, you read that correctly. It's not often that a player breaks into the Top 200, Top 100 and Top 50 in the same season. De Minaur has already achieved the feat and it's only August. The Aussie teen is establishing himself as a significant threat this year, not only on the ATP Challenger Tour, but on the ATP World Tour as well. He has reached finals at the 500 level in Washington, 250 level in Sydney and at a trio of Challengers, lifting his maiden trophy on the grass of Nottingham. One of three teens in the Top 50, De Minaur's .783 win percentage (18-5) is second-highest on the Challenger circuit this year.


Hugo Dellien (BOL)
+141 to No. 100
It has been a historic breakthrough campaign for Dellien and his native Bolivia. The first titlist from his country since Mario Martinez more than 30 years ago, he is also the first to crack the Top 100 since his countryman in 1984. Five years after making his Challenger debut, Dellien has finally put it all together, crashing onto the scene with a tour-leading three titles (Sarasota, Savannah, Vicenza) and 31 match wins. He broke into the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings on 30 July, one of the biggest sporting achievements for the developing South American nation.

Read: Dellien's Historic Breakthrough

Hubert Hurkacz (POL)
+126 to No. 112
One year ago, Poland's #NextGenATP star was sitting outside the Top 400 and looking to find his form on the ATP Challenger Tour. Safe to say that Hurkacz has discovered it in 2018. At 21 years and three months, he became the youngest player from his country to triumph on the circuit since Jerzy Janowicz in 2010, with his victory at home in Poznan. Another final in Zhuhai, China, as well as a first Grand Slam match win at Roland Garros, has the 21-year-old up to a career-high of No. 112 in the ATP Rankings.

Read: Five Things To Know About Hubert

Mats Moraing (GER)
+126 to No. 148
After winning his maiden Challenger crown in Koblenz, Germany, in January, Moraing exclaimed that he hopes to complete the climb to the Top 100 by the end of the year. What seemed ambitious at first is now certainly attainable for the 26-year-old German. Behind 28 match wins, the big-serving 6'6" German is up to a career-high No. 148 in the ATP Rankings.

Read: Five Things To Know About Mats

Jason Jung (TPE)
+125 to No. 114
It has been seven years since Jung first turned pro and the Taiwanese No. 1 is proving that it's never too late to make your mark. At the age of 29, the former University of Michigan standout rose to a career-high No. 114 in the ATP Rankings two weeks ago. Playing the best tennis of his career, he lifted a Challenger trophy for the third consecutive year with his victory in San Francisco in February. And he finally broke through on the ATP World Tour last month, winning his first tour-level match in Newport, en route to the quarter-finals. It came two weeks after making his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/ch ... overs-2018

[DUN I LOVE]

Fabsteria mnie znosi próżni. Był Nadal z Federerem, Fed osłabł i nagle wrócił Novak. Jak Rafa na chwilę spasuje, to pewnie Rudy podniesie poziom...

[Barty]

Q3 Review: Djokovic, Nadal, Tsitsipas Lead The Way

Spoiler:

ATPWorldTour.com looks back on an exciting third quarter of 2018

Nine months into the 2018 ATP World Tour season and the countdown to the Nitto ATP Finals in November begins. Here are the top five stories of the third quarter.

Djokovic On The Charge
Novak Djokovic continued his charge post-Wimbledon, winning 15 of his past 16 matches. The Serbian, who captured his fourth trophy at Wimbledon on 15 July, did not let up on the North American hard-court swing with his 31st ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati (d. Federer). It helped him to become the first player in history to complete a Career Golden Masters of all nine Masters 1000 tournaments and, three weeks later, in New York City, the Serbian clinched his 14 Grand Slam championship crown – and his third US Open title (d. Del Potro). Djokovic has put together a 34-4 match record in his past seven tournaments — which includes winning the Wimbledon and US Open in the same year for the third time (also 2011 and 2015).

Rafael Nadal, who has been World No. 1 for the past 12 weeks, is now 1,035 points ahead of second-placed Djokovic in the year-to-date ATP Race To London after a dramatic shift in momentum. Nadal captured his 33rd ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown last month at the Rogers Cup (d. Tsitsipas) to further strengthen his hold on the top spot and his bid to become year-end No. 1 for the fifth time (2008, 2010, 2013 and 2017). With two Masters 1000s and four 500 events left in the regular season, which ends on 4 November, in-form Djokovic now also has the prospect of adding to his 2011-12, 2014-15 year-end No. 1 finishes. Nadal fell to Juan Martin del Potro in the US Open semi-finals and now looks to recover sufficiently from knee tendinitis in what could be a intriguing end to 2018.

Tsitsipas Makes Breakthrough
Stefanos Tsitsipas showcased his potential during the European clay-court swing earlier in the year, learning a terrific amount from his loss to Nadal in the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell final. Afterwards, Tsitsipas admitted, "The patience that Rafa has is amazing. He never cracks. He will always grab you like a bulldog." Fast forward five months and the 6'4" Greek soon turned around a 5-9 record on hard courts in 2018 with two deep runs in North America. Tsitsipas initially grew in confidence in tricky, wet conditions at the Citi Open, where he beat No. 11-ranked David Goffin en route to the semi-finals (l. to A. Zverev). He then headed to Toronto, for the Rogers Cup, and overcame four Top 10 opponents - Dominic Thiem, Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Kevin Anderson - for a place in the final, where he met Nadal on his 20th birthday. Tsitsipas, who 12 months earlier was at No. 168 in the ATP Rankings, was the youngest player to beat four Top 10 stars at a single tournament since the ATP World Tour was established in 1990. He is now at World No. 15 and among the leading contenders for a spot at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.

Buy Your Milan Tickets

Nadal, Djokovic, Federer Clinch Nitto ATP Finals Spots
A trio of players — Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer — all booked their places at the Nitto ATP Finals in the third quarter of the season. Nadal clinched his spot for the 14th straight year as a result of beating Marin Cilic in the Rogers Cup quarter-finals on 11 August, while five-time former season finale titlist Djokovic and six-time former champion Federer booked their berths for the 11th and 16th time, respectively, on 8 September.

US Open finalist Del Potro, who is up to third place in the ATP Race To London, is now on the cusp of qualifying for the first time since 2013 - and for the fifth time overall. In his past three tournaments, Del Potro went 11-3, which also included finishing runner-up at the Abierto de Tenis Mifel presentado por Cinemex (l. to Fognini).

Buy Your London Tickets

John Isner and Kei Nishikori, who both sit outside the automatic qualification berths, will look to make up ground toward the end of the season. Isner, a quarter-finalist at the US Open (l. to Del Potro), aims to made his debut in London, but is 435 points (2,930) behind eighth-placed Dominic Thiem (3,365). US Open semi-finalist Nishikori, with 2,475 points, attempts to qualify at The O2 for the fourth time (also 2014-16).

2018 ATP RACE TO LONDON SECOND, THIRD QUARTER COMPARISON

Player Points 10 September Points 16 July (Position) Points (Position) Difference
1) Rafael Nadal (ESP)* 7,480 5,760 (1) +1,720 (-)
2) Novak Djokovic (SRB)* 6,445 3,355 (5) +3,090 (+3)
3) Juan Martin del Potro (SRB) 4,910 3,380 (4) +1,530 (+1)
4) Roger Federer (SUI)* 4,800 4,020 (2) +780 (-2)
5) Alexander Zverev (GER) 4,365 3,585 (3) +780 (-2)
6) Marin Cilic (CRO) 3,815 2,915 (7) +900 (+1)
7) Kevin Anderson (RSA) 3,450 2,820 (8) +630 (+1)
Dominic Thiem (AUT) 3,365 2,995 (6) +370 (-2)
9) John Isner (USA) 2,930 2,220 (9) +710 (-)
10) Kei Nishikori (JPN) 2,475 1,610 (10) +865 (-)
* Qualified for 2018 Nitto ATP Finals

Fognini Still Perfect In Finals This Year
Fatherhood must suit Fabio Fognini. Since the birth of his son, Federico, in May 2017, the Italian has refocused to reach seven of his 17 singles finals and this year he has lifted three ATP World Tour titles - the Brasil Open (d. Jarry) in February and, in the past two months, the SkiStar Swedish Open (d. Gasquet) and Los Cabos (d. Del Potro). It's the third time in his career that Fognini has reached three finals in a season (also 2013-14). This week, the 31-year-old Italian returned to a career-high No. 13 in the ATP Rankings for the first time since April 2014.

Zverev, Tsitsipas, Shapovalov Among 2018 #NextGenATP Leaders
Tsitsipas and Denis Shapovalov trail Zverev in the ATP Race To Milan for a berth at the 21-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals in November. Zverev put together a 9-3 record on hard courts in his past four tournaments, including a third ATP World Tour title of the year at the Citi Open. The German defeated fast-rising Australian Alex de Minaur, who has an 18-15 match record this year, including a trip to the Sydney International final (l. to Medvedev), and currently holds down the fourth spot in the Race standings. Americans Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz, Russia’s Andrey Rublev and Jaume Munar of Spain also feature among the Top 8 in the battle for a Milan spot.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/dj ... eview-2018