10SBALLS LOOKS AT THE RACE FOR THE ATP BARCLAYS MEN’S TENNIS FINALS IN LONDON AT THE 02 ARENA AS IT HEATS UP

Written by: Staff on 2nd October 2016

10SBALLS LOOKS AT THE RACE FOR THE ATP BARCLAYS MEN'S TENNIS FINALS IN LONDON AT THE 02 ARENA AS IT HEATS UP

epa05529074 Andy Murray of Great Britain hits a return to Kei Nishikori of Japan during their quarterfinals round match on the tenth day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 07 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT |

@tomasberdych beats #Gasquet 76(5) 67(2) 63 to defend his @atpshenzhen crown! #ATP #tennis – Photo by @atpworldtour via Instagram.

Berdych gains on Nadal in World Tour Finals race by winning Shenzhen title

By Ricky Dimon

The race for the eighth spot at the 2016 World Tour Finals is on–just ask Tomas Berdych. Although the ninth-ranked Czech was already in contention even before this week, he announced himself as a truly legitimate London threat by capturing the Shenzhen Open title on Sunday afternoon. Berdych triumphed over Richard Gasquet 7-6(5), 6-7(2), 6-3 in an entertaining final that lasted two hours and 40 minutes.

Adding 250 points to his race count, Berdych remains in ninth place but now stands a mere 330 points behind Rafael Nadal for the all-important No. 8 distinction. With two 500-point tournaments next week and still two more Masters 1000 events on the 2016 schedule, 330 points is hardly a significant advantage. Even Marin Cilic (10th place, 800 points behind Nadal) and David Goffin (11th place, 990 points behind Nadal) can enter the discussion with either a 500-point title or a deep run at a Masters 1000.

Nine of the top 11 players in the race will be in action this upcoming week, with only Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka on the sideline. The two U.S. Open finalists had been scheduled to join the party, but they withdrew from their respective tournaments because of injuries.

Djokovic, Wawrinka, and Murray–the three Grand Slam champions this season–have already clinched spots in London. No. 4 Milos Raonic and No. 5 Kei Nishikori look like locks. Like Nadal, No. 6 Gael Monfils and No. 7 Dominic Thiem need to put more points on the board in order to be safe.

Andy Murray of Great Britain hits a return to Kei Nishikori of Japan during their quarterfinals round match on the tenth day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 07 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

Berdych will try to make additional headway at the Rakuten Japan Open, where is joined in the field by Cilic, Goffin, Nishikori, and Monfils. At the China Open, meanwhile, Murray and Nadal are the top two seeds followed by Raonic and Thiem.

Top 8

1. Novak Djokovic – 10,240 points. Last week: Did not play. This week: Not playing.

2. Andy Murray – 8,185 points. Last week: Did not play. This week: Beijing Open.

3. Stan Wawrinka – 4,970 points. Last week: Did not play. This week: Not playing.

4. Milos Raonic – 4,420 points. Last week: Did not play. This week: Beijing Open.

5. Kei Nishikori – 4,315 points. Last week: Did not play. This week: Japan Open.

6. Gael Monfils – 3,355 points. Last week: Did not play. This week: Japan Open.

7. Dominic Thiem – 3,205 points. Last week: Chengdu quarterfinals. This week: Beijing Open.

8. Rafael Nadal – 3,200 points. Last week: Did not play. This week: Beijing Open.

Outside looking in

9. Tomas Berdych – 2,870 points. Last week: Shenzhen Open title. This week: Japan Open.

10. Marin Cilic – 2,400 points. Last week: Did not play. This week: Japan Open.

11. David Goffin – 2,210 points. Last week: Shenzhen second round. This week: Japan Open.

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

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp World Tour, London, Richard Gasquet, Ricky Dimon, Shenzhen Open, Sports, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych

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