RICKY’S PREVIEW FOR GROUP A AT THE LONDON ATP TENNIS FINALS: DJOKOVIC, ZVEREV, CILIC, AND ISNER

Written by: Staff on 10th November 2018

Swiss Indoors tennis tournament in Basel

RICKY'S PREVIEW FOR GROUP A AT THE LONDON ATP TENNIS FINALS: DJOKOVIC, ZVEREV, CILIC, AND ISNER

epa07124260 Alexander Zverev of Germany returns the ball to Marius Copil of Romania during the semi final match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland, 27 October 2018. EPA-EFE/ALEXANDRA WEY |

Alexander Zverev of Germany returns the ball to Marius Copil of Romania during the semi final match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland, 27 October 2018. EPA-EFE/ALEXANDRA WEY

By Ricky Dimon

Novak Djokovic is an obvious favorite in Group A—and in the entire tournament—at the upcoming Nitto ATP Finals, but there could be some potential round-robin roadblocks for the world No. 1. Joining him in the group are three-time Masters 1000 title winner Alexander Zverev, 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic, and London debutant John Isner.

Zverev is 1-1 lifetime against Djokovic, Cilic has plenty of O2 Arena experience (none of it positive, however), and Isner is always an opponent whom none of the top players want to see on the other side of the net.

Let’s crunch the Group A numbers is advance of Sunday’s start of the year-end championship.

2018 statistics:

Novak Djokovic

Record: 49-11

Record since the U.S. Open: 9-1

Titles: 4 (2 slams, 2 Masters)

Alexander Zverev

Record: 54-18

Record since the U.S. Open: 9-4

Titles: 3 (1 Masters)

Marin Cilic

Record: 41-18

Record since the U.S. Open: 4-5

Titles: 1

John Isner

Record: 34-19

Record since the U.S. Open: 4-3

Titles: 2 (1 Masters)

Career records against group opponents:

Novak Djokovic

vs. Alexander Zverev: 1-1

vs. Marin Cilic: 16-2

vs. John Isner: 8-2

Combined: 25-5

Alexander Zverev

vs. Novak Djokovic: 1-1

vs. Marin Cilic: 5-1

vs. John Isner: 4-1

Combined: 10-3

Marin Cilic

vs. Novak Djokovic: 2-16

vs. Alexander Zverev: 1-5

vs. John Isner: 7-3

Combined: 10-24

John Isner

vs. Novak Djokovic: 2-8

vs. Alexander Zverev: 1-4

vs. Marin Cilic: 3-7

Combined: 6-19

Career records at the Nitto ATP Finals:

Novak Djokovic: 31-11 (5 titles, 1 runner-up)

Alexander Zverev: 1-2

Marin Cilic: 1-8

John Isner: 0-0

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @TennGrand.

Editors Note: Our first team member arrived yesterday in LONDON. Two more are on their way. They’ve already seen Roger Federer practicing on the historic indoor courts at The Queens Club. This event is so special in so many ways.

Yes, Ricky’s the next one to arrive. (LJ)

Topics: 02 Arena, 10sballs, London, Nitto ATP Finals, Sports, Tennis, Tennis10sBalls