2013 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals Singles Preview and Match Predictions
Steen Kirby, Tennis East Coast
The top 8* men’s singles players and top 8 men’s doubles teams will play starting tomorrow in the World Tour Finals round robin in London with points, prize money, and pride on the line.
*#4 Andy Murray is out with a back injury and Richard Gasquet takes his place.
Here is a short preview of finals and predictions for the round robin singles groups. This is the final ATP level event of the year and it’s been a pleasure covering all the ATP action again this year.
Hope everyone enjoys their slight winter break from ATP tennis.
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals
ATP World Tour Finals (1500 ranking points category)
London, England
November 4-November 11, 2013
Prize Money: $6,000,000
Singles Group A:
1: Rafael Nadal
3: David Ferrer
6: Tomas Berdych
8: Stanislas Wawrinka
Singles Group B:
2: Novak Djokovic
5: Juan Martin Del Potro
7: Roger Federer
9: Richard Gasquet
Doubles Group A:
1: Bryan Brothers
3: Ivan Dodig/Marcel Melo
5: Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi/Jean-Julien Rojer
8: Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski
Doubles Group B:
2: Alex Peya/Bruno Soares
4: Marcel Granollers/Marc Lopez
6: David Marrero/Fernando Verdasco
7: Leander Paes/Radek Stepanek
Singles Standings Predictions
Group A:
Nadal 3-0 (d. Ferrer in 2, Berdych in 3, Wawrinka in 2)
Ferrer 2-1 ( d. Berdych in 2, Wawrinka in 3)
Wawrinka 1-2 (d. Berdych in 3)
Berdych 0-3
Nadal will be fresher than Ferrer, who just beat him. Rafa will be eager for both revenge and clinching the year end #1, which he can do with a minimum of two wins in the round robin. He also has positive head to heads and better form than both Berdych and Wawrinka.
Ferrer, though perhaps tired, just beat Berdych in Paris. I think his form is better than Wawrinka though that is a tough match to call.
Group B:
Djokovic 2-1 (d. Federer in 3, Gasquet in 2)
Federer 2-1 (d. Del Potro in 3, Gasquet in 2)
Del Potro 2-1 (d. Djokovic in 3, Gasquet in 2)
Gasquet 0-3
Djokovic just beat Fed in Paris. Both players might be a little tired but Novak is in great form. Gasquet will be found slumping in such a tough group. I have Del Po beating Djokovic just because, though he could easily finish 1-2 based upon his health and also his mental attitude.
After all, he was robbed of his personal possessions in a horrible incident on the way to London. Federer just beat him in Paris and Del Potro seems to be playing some of his best tennis at the end of the year. It will likely come down to the tiebreak formula, but I think he makes the semis.
Semis:
Federer d. Nadal in 3
Djokovic d. Ferrer 2
Have to wonder what Rafa’s focus will be like after he clinches the number 1.
If Federer can keep his form up, he has a chance at a big upset as he seems focused here.
Djokovic should beat an equally tired Ferrer in a rematch of the Paris final.
Final:
Djokovic d. Federer in 3
This one would be exciting and probably close, just like their 3 set Paris meeting along with their previous meeting this week. I expect the result to be the same, Djokovic in 3 to retain the World Tour Finals crown. This is also a rematch of the 2012 final at the O2 arena.
Tennis Atlantic 