The draw for the 2011 Barclays ATP World Tour finals have been completed and that means we can take a realistic look at the betting opportunities on offer for this end of season showcase. The top eight points earners from the ATP season all qualify for the finals, which are being held in London again this year, and all of the top four in the world are in attendance, so we have some high class, thrilling action to look forward to. There are injury concerns over Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal though, so the two back up players on stand by are Janko Tipsarevic and Nicolas Almagro. The first stage of the tournament is broken into two groups of round robin format, with four players in each.
In Group A we have the current world number one Novak Djokovic and Britain’s Andy Murray headlining, while the old rivalry between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will resume in Group B. Naturally we will completely expect one of the big four to be lifting the title, and interestingly, the only two men in the field to have won it before are Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. The top two from each Round Robin group progress through to the semi finals, with the winner of Group A playing the Runner Up of Group B, and vice versa. Basically, if all four of the big guns reach the semi finals, then you just have to pick which one out of the four are most likely to beat at least two of the other three in the same tournament. If Nadal and Djokovic drop, then betting options get a little clearer! The winner may well have to beat all three of the other World’s top four, which makes the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals tennis betting so interesting. So let us explore our options a little more for tennis betting.
Group A
Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych
You may be surprised to see that Andy Murray is favourite to top the group here. It is not that much of a surprise because the Scot has been in great form lately, and with injury problems for Djokovic as well, it makes a sensible tennis betting option that Murray will be the strongest force here. This should be a more competitive group than Group B, because Tomas Berdych just snapped Murray’s long match winning streak, with a surprise victory at the Paris Masters. If Djokovic isn’t 100% then there could be surprises! Murray is 11/10 at SkyBet to win Group B in Barclays ATP World Tour Finals Tennis betting. Djokovic is 21/10 at Bwin to win the group.
Group B
Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Mardy Fish
Best price on offer to take Federer to win this group is 4/5 at Victor Chandler and it should be jumped all over. Federer should get the better of Tsonga and Fish without too much trouble with the form that he is in, with Federer beating Tsonga in the final of the Paris Masters on the weekend. Mardy Fish pulled out of the Paris Masters with an injury last week too. So that will leave a showdown against Nadal. No idea what kind of form Nadal is going to be in, so Federer makes the sensible bet here to top the group in your Barclays ATP World Tour Finals tennis betting. Nadal is 5/2 at SkyBet to win Group B.
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals Tennis Betting Outright Winner Odds
Roger Federer: 2/1 at SkyBet
The Swiss superstar is the outright favourite here, when all things are considered it makes a lot of sense. Federer just steamed to his first ever victory at the Paris Masters on the weekend, meaning that he is great form, and he did play very, very well there. Federer still has so much class to his game, and the power he generates from out of the blue in his shots is still enviable. He may not be as quick around the court as he was, but has still one of the top serves in the game, and has the craft and guile to get the job done. Because of the injury problems to Novak Djokovic, and the rustiness of Rafael Nadal heading to London, it makes sense to back the in form man as the favourite. Federer is one of just a few select players who have beaten World Number One Djokovic this year, and just can’t see him having any problems against Tsonga or Fish in the Round Robin. Definitely worth backing as he is the master here, with him gunning for his sixth ATP World Tour Finals title.
Andy Murray: 3/1 at SportingBet
The Brit heads to London with the best current form of all the top four players in the world. He won three back to back tournaments before losing out to Berdych in Paris last week. Murray lost his cool in that match a little bit, arguing with the umpire and probably frustrated at having Berdych’s serve on the ropes so many times but just unable to convert break points that it got to him. Still, he can use revenge as motivation in the Round Robin after drawing Berdych. You can’t argue with his form and he heads to the ATP World Tour Finals in perhaps the best shape of his career. Lost in last year’s semi finals against Rafael Nadal and could be on course for a rematch. Would fully expect Murray to get through to the semi’s, but will naturally face a tough match against Djokovic in the group. Has a great chance after winning 18 of his last 19 matches.
Novak Djokovic: 5/1 at Victor Chandler
The Serb had to withdraw from the Paris Masters last week because of injury. Hopefully he is fit enough to see this tournament out, because he is line to cap what has been a remarkable year for him. He has ten titles under his belt for 2011 and the World Number One would be fully justified in taking his second ATP World Tour Finals title. He made it to the semi finals here last year but lost out at that stage to eventual winner Roger Federer. The pain which he was reportedly in after having to withdraw from the third round in Paris last week, reportedly stopped him from sleeping. We know he is the best player in the world at the moment, but you wonder if he will have enough recovery time. It is hard to see him turning up and really being at his very best.
Rafael Nadal: 6/1 at Bwin
This year’s French Open champion has not had the best second half to the season. Has injury and fitness issues and decided to pull out of the Paris Masters so that he could be ready for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. He must be a little bit ring rusty though, especially compared to how well Federer and Murray have been playing of late. Either that or he will be more rested than everyone else and come out with all guns a blazing. Has not been infallible but you just cannot count him out. He has beaten Federer in all three of their meetings this year. Nadal has also been a thorn in the side of Andy Murray this season in the latter stages of tournaments, but most of all looking forward to seeing Nadal renew his long rivalry with Federer in the group stage, a head to head which Nadal leads 17-8. Probably more of a threat than Djokovic, because he is something of an unknown quantity heading in the Finals. Has never won the ATP World Tour Finals.
Other Odds:
Jo Wilfried Tsonga: 16/1 at SportingBet
Tomas Berdych: 22/1 at Bet365
David Ferrer: 66/1 at SportingBet
Mardy Fish: 90/1 at Paddy Power
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