NO. 1 RANKING, WORLD TOUR FINALS SPOTS STILL UP FOR GRABS AS PARIS GETS UNDERWAY BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 27th October 2014

NO. 1 RANKING, WORLD TOUR FINALS SPOTS STILL UP FOR GRABS AS PARIS GETS UNDERWAY BY RICKY DIMON

epa04441700 Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts after winning his semi final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the Shanghai Tennis Masters in Shanghai, China, 11 October 2014. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL |

The stakes cannot get much higher at a Masters 1000 event. Not only is the BNP Paribas Masters title on the line, but there are also four World Tour Finals spots left to be decided this week in Paris. Six contenders are battling for the remaining berths in London: Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori, Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer, Milos Raonic, and Grigor Dimitrov. Meanwhile, the year-end world No. 1 ranking is in play thanks to Roger Federer’s recent hot streak. The Shanghai and Basel champion is gaining on Novak Djokovic, who is back in action this week following the birth of his son.

Britain’s Andy Murray in action during his third round match against David Ferrer of Spain at the Shanghai Tennis Masters in Shanghai, China, 09 October 2014. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL

“It would be very special to reclaim No. 1,” Federer assured. “World No. 1 is what it’s all about in our game.”

The Paris draw certainly did everything in its power to make that ranking all come down to London. That’s because Federer is in by far a friendlier half of the bracket. The other seeds in the 33-year-old Swiss’ section are an ice-cold Raonic, a hobbled Roberto Bautista Agut (withdrew last week in Valencia with an abdominal injury), and an out-of-sorts Fabio Fognini.

Raonic must either reach the semifinals or go further in Paris than Ferrer in order to have a chance of qualifying for London. Even if he fares better than Ferrer, the Canadian could still be passed by Grigor Dimitrov–but Dimitrov would have to reach the final.

The third quarter is wide open. Stan Wawrinka has lost his opening match at three straight tournaments and Berdych got blown out by Pablo Andujar in the Valencia first round. Fellow seed Felicino Lopez also fell early in Valencia, so the door could be open for Kevin Anderson. Wawrinka can expect to have a tough second-rounder on his hands with Dominic Thiem, to whom the Swiss lost earlier this season on clay.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during his men’s singles semifinal match against Andy Murray of Great Britain in the China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China 04 October 2014. EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA

Djokovic’s half is absolutely loaded. Ferrer, in far better form than Wawrinka at the moment, landed in the top section. Murray, the Shenzhen, Vienna, and Valencia champion, is in Djokovic’s quarter. Nishikori, Dimitrov, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, John Isner, and Gilles Simon are additional seeds in the top half. Even the unseeded floaters are daunting; among them are Philipp Kohlschreiber, Gael Monfils, Leonardo Mayer, Julien Benneteau, Fernando Verdasco, Vasek Pospisil, Valencia runner-up Tommy Robredo, and Basel runner-up David Goffin.

Murray soared to No. 5 in the race by outlasting Robredo in an epic Valencia Open final. The Scot has not yet mathematically clinched a place at the WTFs, but Raonic would have to reach the final and Ferrer would have to make a semifinal run in order to have a chance of passing him.

“I just kept fighting as hard as I could and it’s going to stand me in good stead for the end of this year,” Murray said after beating Robredo. “I knew I had to win matches at the start of the tournament to get there and I’ve won some important ones. I’ve given myself a good opportunity and a good chance.”

Djokovic, who has not played since Shanghai, will have to get past Kohlschreiber and then likely either Isner or Monfils just to reach the quarters. Murray and Dimitrov are on course for an early meeting in the third round, with the winner possibly to face Djokovic. Ferrer may be required to defeat an on-fire Goffin and Simon—the Shanghai runner-up—in order to reach the last eight.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Andy Murray, Bnp Paribas Masters, David Ferrer, GRIGOR DIMITROV, Kei Nishikori, milos raonic, Paris, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Tennis, Tomas Berdych

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10sBalls_com says:

October 27, 2014 at 3:12 pm

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RD_Tennistalk says:

October 27, 2014 at 6:04 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: NO. 1 RANKING, WORLD TOUR FINALS SPOTS STILL UP FOR GRABS AS #PARIS GETS UNDERWAY BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/N7Fvz2DC…
JenNypatissier says:

October 27, 2014 at 6:51 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: NO. 1 RANKING, WORLD TOUR FINALS SPOTS STILL UP FOR GRABS AS #PARIS GETS UNDERWAY BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/N7Fvz2DC…