The decision to revamp the format for the Davis Cup from next year has not been well received among the players, who don’t want to be involved in an intense competition in late November when they are normally winding down.
From next season, there will be a round-robin group stage and knockout tournament between countries all staged within one week. The Nitto ATP Tour Finals take place in November and we’ve seen how a long, hard season can take its toll on players playing at the very top of their profession. Rafael Nadal has opted to have ankle surgery rather than play in London next week and that has ensured that Novak Djokovic will end 2018 as world number one – it’s the fifth time that the Serb has topped the world rankings. Nadal’s replacement in the event will be John Isner. At 33, Isner is actually a year older than Nadal, who is considered a veteran of the men’s game. With 37-year-old Roger Federer the top seed in the second group of four, maybe experience is trumping youth at the moment. Karen Khachanov and Borna Coric are first and second reserves.
ATP Tour Finals Singles Group Draws
Group Guga Kuerten
[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB)
[3] Alexander Zverev (GER)
[5] Marin Cilic (CRO)
[8] John Isner (USA)
Group Lleyton Hewitt
[2] Roger Federer (SUI)
[4] Kevin Anderson (RSA)
[6] Dominic Thiem (AUT)
[7] Kei Nishikori (JPN)
For the second year in succession, there are eight different nations represented in this end-of-season showpiece which has made its home at the O2 in London.
Novak Djokovic has only played Alexander Zverev twice before with the score standing at 1-1 but leads Marin Cilic 16-2 in their personal head-to-heads and has only lost twice to John Isner in 10 previous meetings. The 14-times Grand Slam winner has qualified for the season finale for the 11th time and is bidding for a sixth victory, though a first since 2015. He is a best 4/6 with Betfred to complete a thrilling comeback season with yet another title but this is not an event that always follows the form book. That said, it would be a massive shock if Djokovic was not to reach the semi-finals.
| Rank | Player | ATP World Tour Final (Champion) | Winning Year |
| 1 | Roger Federer | 6 | 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 |
| 2 | Ivan Lendl | 5 | 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987 |
| 3 | Pete Sampras | 5 | 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999 |
| 4 | Novak Djokovic | 5 | 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 |
| 5 | Ilie N?stase | 4 | 1988, 1992, 1995 |
| 6 | Boris Becker | 3 | 2002, 2003, 2010 |
| 7 | Björn Borg | 2 | 1979, 1980 |
| 8 | Lleyton Hewitt | 2 | 2001, 2002 |
| 9 | Andre Agassi | 1 | 1990 |
| 10 | Stan Smith | 1 | 1970 |
| 11 | Nikolay Davydenko | 1 | 2009 |
| 12 | Stefan Edberg | 1 | 1989 |
| 13 | Jimmy Connors | 1 | 1977 |
| 14 | Àlex Corretja | 1 | 1998 |
| 15 | Gustavo Kuerten | 1 | 2000 |
| 16 | Andy Murray | 1 | 2016 |
| 17 | David Nalbandian | 1 | 2005 |
| 18 | Manuel Orantes | 1 | 1976 |
| 19 | Michael Stich | 1 | 1993 |
| 20 | Guillermo Vilas | 1 | 1974 |
| 20 | Grigor Dimitrov | 1 | 2017 |
It could be argued that his chief rival on paper and with the bookmakers, Roger Federer, has the slightly easier draw in the second group. The Swiss does not only have the most ATP World Tour Finals titles, he has also contested the most finals at the season-ending tournament (10) winning six and losing four. Federer actually reached five consecutive finals between 2003 and 2007. He manages his playing time carefully nowadays but clearly likes playing at the O2 and there will be plenty willing to risk the 5/2 with Boylesports, though Dominic Thiem has given him problems in the past and is overpriced at a general 25/1 to win the tournament. The Austrian reached his first ever Grand Slam Final in Paris this year, beating Kevin Anderson on the way, and was also a quarter-finalist at the US Open, his best-ever result at Flushing Meadows.
ATP Tour Finals Outright Winner Current Best Odds
Novak Djokovic 4/6
Roger Federer 5/2
Alexander Zverev and Marin Cilic 12/1
Kei Nishikori 22/1
Kevin Anderson and Dominic Thiem 25/1
John Isner 33/1
(Odds Correct at 9.45am November 7)
