GAEL MONFILS OFFICIALLY QUALIFIES FOR BARCLAYS ATP WORLD TOUR TENNIS FINALS FOR FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER

Written by: Staff on 25th October 2016

GAEL MONFILS OFFICIALLY QUALIFIES FOR BARCLAYS ATP WORLD TOUR TENNIS FINALS FOR FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER

epa05575782 Gael Monfils of France hits a return to Nick Kyrgios of Australia during the men's singles semifinal match at the Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo, Japan, 08 October 2016. EPA/KIYOSHI OTA |

By Ricky Dimon

Gael Monfils may not be playing this week, but it was still a productive one. The Frenchman booked a spot in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals when Tomas Berdych lost in round one of the Erste Bank Open to Nikoloz Basilashvili. Monfils will be making his first-ever appearance in the year-end championship next month.

Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the quarterfinals of the Rogers Cup Men’s Singles tennis tournament in Toronto, Canada, 29 July 2016. EPA/WARREN TODA

Berdych could still pass Monfils if the Czech captures the title at next week’s Paris Masters. But if that actually happens, the math is such that Monfils–who is currently in sixth place–cannot be overtaken by more than two of the contenders behind him. The worst he could finish in the race to London is eighth.

With Rafael Nadal having announced that his season is over, Dominic Thiem is effectively in the seventh spot. Berdych is eighth ahead of David Goffin and Marin Cilic. It has been a good week so far for Goffin, who watched Berdych lose on Monday in Vienna before the Belgian beat Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 7-6(4) at the Swiss Indoors Basel on Tuesday.

Monfils’ march to the World Tour Finals was fueled by the biggest title of his career in Washington, D.C., runner-up performances in Monte-Carlo and Rotterdam, a quarterfinal finish at the Australian Open, and a semifinal run at the U.S. Open. The world No. 8 accomplished this feat despite failing to win a single match at the French Open (did not play) and Wimbledon (lost to Jeremy Chardy in the first round).

Six of the top eight have now clinched a place in London. Joining Monfils will be Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic, and Kei Nishikori.

Top 8 not including Nadal, as of Tuesday night

1. Novak Djokovic – 10,600 points. This week: Not playing.

2. Andy Murray – 9.685 points. This week: Vs. Martin Klizan in Vienna first round.

3. Stan Wawrinka – 5,060 points. This week: Advanced to Basel second round.

4. Milos Raonic – 4,690 points. This week: Lost in Basel first round.

5. Kei Nishikori – 4,360 points. This week: Advanced to Basel second round.

6. Gael Monfils – 3,625 points. This week: Not playing.

7. Dominic Thiem – 3,205 points. This week: Advanced to Vienna second round.

8. Tomas Berdych – 2,880 points. This week: Lost in Vienna first round.

Next 3 contenders

9. David Goffin – 2,690 points. This week: Advanced to Basel second round.

10. Marin Cilic – 2,590 points. This week: Advanced to Basel second round.