The final Grand Slam of the year - the US Open- contested two weeks ago in New York, coincides with the end of best of five set matches for the men until the Australian Open next January. Battle weary and fatigued both mentally and physically, the ATP World Tour returns to Europe for the indoor season culminating in London at the O2 Arena for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

Only the top eight players qualify for the season-ending round-robin competition. Consequently, the players over the next seven weeks, will be competing for precious ranking points in the hopes of qualifying. To date, only four players have done so: Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka.

One hundred and thirty-five points separate Tomas Berdych, currently number five in the rankings race and the top seed at the St. Petersburg Open from Rafa Nadal, currently at number seven. Kei Nishikori, with 3,770 points is positioned between them while David Ferrer, currently number eight and coming off an injury plagued season, maintains a sizable lead over Richard Gasquet at number nine.

Milos Raonic, the number two seed in St. Petersburg where 250 points are up for grabs, also struggled with an injury this season and is currently number thirteen in the ATP Race to London. Of the top four players in the points race, only Wawrinka, the Swiss number two is competing this week.

The French Open champion is the number one seed at the Moselle Open in Metz, France. Giles Simon, France’s number one player and the second seed in Metz, is enjoying a splendid season. Simon, with one title this season, occupies the number fourteen spot in the race to London.

Murray, currently ranked three in the world, has announced his intention to skip the World Tour Finals - a mandatory event - in order to prepare for the Davis Cup Final in Belgium, on clay five days later. He was summarily warned by ATP President Chris Kermode that unless unfit, he is expected to compete.

The Scot is justifiably motivated given Britain's inability to make a Davis Cup final since 1978 or win the Cup since 1936. They dutifully waited seventy-seven years for one of their own to win Wimbledon. In 2013, Murray mastered the grass and subdued Djokovic at the All England Club; will he conquer the clay and bring the Cup home too?

There are eleven tournaments remaining before the ATP World Tour Finals kicks off on November 11th in London; five at the 250 level, four at the 500 level and two Masters 1000  The Shanghai and Paris Masters. The Masters 1000 events are premier tournaments on the ATP Tour and consistently boast a field comprised of the game’s elite. Federer will seek to defend his title in Shanghai while Djokovic will attempt to do the same in Paris.

The Swiss number one and world number two will strive to win a record seventh Barclays World Tour Finals championship. He is the only player to have won the title six times and in three different cities – Houston, Shanghai and London. Though Djokovic is the three-time defending champion, Federer was unable to compete last year in the final due to an injured back. The Swiss legend will endeavor to improve upon his win-loss record versus the world number one, having lost four of six matches they played thus far this season.

The road to London is littered with bandages, disappointments and impracticable expectations; hopefully, the final leg of the race to the O2 Arena will produce only high quality tennis - not more casualties.

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Emmy Caporale
I taught American Government at Hunter College and hope to resume teaching at the college level in the near future. I am also extremely passionate about history, foreign policy and tennis.