RAFA Nadal First To Officially Clinch Nitto ATP Finals Spot, Zverev and Federer Next In Line
Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during the third round of the Rogers Cup men's tennis tournament in Toronto, Canada, 09 August 2018. EPA-EFE/WARREN TODARafael Nadal of Spain in action against Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during the third round of the Rogers Cup men's tennis tournament in Toronto, Canada, 09 August 2018. EPA-EFE/WARREN TODA |
By Ricky Dimon
Rafael Nadal has never won the year-end championship and he withdrew after one match last fall. He will have a chance to make amends for those disappointments–if he is still healthy come November–this season.
Nadal became the first player to clinch a spot in the Nitto ATP Finals when he beat Stan Wawrinka 7-5, 7-6(4) in round three of the Rogers Cup on Thursday night.
“It was a good match,” Nadal said after picking up his second match victory of the week in Toronto, having previously beat down Benoit Paire. “Of course, a very positive victory for me against a very tough opponent. (I’m) happy to see Stan playing that well again. So I am very pleased. That’s what I needed–a match like this to be a little bit more confident, and I did it.”
The Spaniard’s place at the O2 Arena in London was a foregone conclusion going into this tournament, with one major title (his 11th at the French Open), two slam semifinals (the Australian Open and Wimbledon), two Masters 1000 titles (Monte-Carlo and Rome), and an additional triumph in Barcelona. But it became official on Wednesday, when he took his 2018 point total to 5,940. It is mathematically impossible for eight other players to reach the 5,875-point mark this season–currently the magic number to clinch a berth in the London finale.
Part of the reason why Nadal has never won the year-end championship, aside from the fact that an indoor hard-court is not favorable for his game, is that he has made only eight career appearances. The current world No. 1 has now qualified 14 times, but injuries have often prevented from successfully finishing seasons. Nadal attempted to play in 2017 but withdrew after losing his first-round robin match to David Goffin. The 32-year-old is 12-9 lifetime in six trips to London, with three semifinal appearances–including two runner-ups.
Alexander Zverev is currently second in the race to the O2, followed by Roger Federer, Juan Martin Del Potro, Novak Djokovic, Marin Cilic, Dominic Thiem, and Kevin Anderson. John Isner and Fabio Fognini stand as the two alternates as of now.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.
Topics: nadal, Nitto ATP Finals, Rafa, Rafael Nadal, Ricky Dimon, Rogers Cup, Sports, Stan Wawrinka, Tennis, Tennis News
Share this article:
Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:
10sBalls Top Stories
- Как Войти В Онлайн Казино Банда?
- Как Вывести Деньги Kometa Casino?
- Kometa Casino Зеркало – Рабочие Зеркало На Сегодня Комета Казино
- Комета Казино Онлайн
- Kometa Casino Зеркало – Рабочие Зеркало На Сегодня Комета Казино
- Игровые Автоматы Бесплатно Лягушка Комета Казино
- Как Сменить Почту Комета Казино?
- No Key Biscayne, No Problem; New Site, Same Great Miami Open Tennis Event
- 10SBALLS SHARES FAVORITE EPA TENNIS PHOTOS Of 2018
- THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT FOR ANY TENNIS PLAYER & FAN
- ATP MEN’S TENNIS • WILL IT MOVE FROM LONDON TO MANCHESTER OR TOKYO OR SINGAPORE? OR TURIN?
- ALIX RAMSAY WRITES TO “TENNIS SANTA CLAUS” WITH HER WISHES • ANDY MURRAY!
- CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE JACK KRAMER CLUB – DECEMBER 15 TO 22 2018 • UTR • ORACLE • AND AN AWESOME NEW TENNIS EVENT
- 10sBalls.com Shares Alix Ramsay’s Rambling On About Tennis and The Holidays
- ROGER FEDERER JOINED BY RAFA NADAL FOR THE 2019 LAVER CUP FESTIVITIES IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
In Case You Missed It
TENNIS PLAYERS’ UNION – IS IT NEEDED? BY MARK WINTERS
Roger Federer did it. So, did Caroline Wozniacki. They were the applauded and appreciated Australian Open singles winners. Much less well received was the brutal heat that turned the fortnight into the Dehydration Open.
Tennis News: Wilson’s Revolution Is Here – THE CLASH
Tennis players and coaches around the world will receive this prototype racket as part of, what we believe is, the largest and broadest playtest in racket history.
ROTTERDAM TENNIS TOURNEY DIRECTOR RICHARD KRAJICEK ANNOUNCES DAVID GOFFIN TO PLAY IN 2019 ABN AMRO
David Goffin, finalist of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in 2017, will come to Rotterdam for the sixth time in February. The 28-year-old Belgian is the ninth player who has been announced for the 46th edition.
JELENA VEMIC’S PHOTO GALLERY
Click here to check out the latest photos from our tennis friend Jelena Vemic.