Stefanos Tsitsipas beats Dominic Thiem to win ATP Finals title (2019)

[Abdullah719]

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have been drawn in the same group for the ATP Finals in London.

The pair will do battle in the Bjorn Borg group at the O2 Arena and are joined by French Open finalist Dominic Thiem and Italian debutant Matteo Berrettini.

Top seed Rafael Nadal avoided Federer but finds himself in a tough-looking quartet alongside US Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and defending champion Alexander Zverev at the season-ending tournament, which begins on Sunday.

Doubts remain about Nadal's fitness but he is hopeful of being able to compete.

The Spaniard suffered an abdominal injury at the Paris Masters last week and had to pull out prior to his scheduled semi-final against Denis Shapovalov, prompting concerns he may again miss the ATP Finals.

Writing on Twitter, Nadal said: "Despite having a small strain, I will travel to London. Thursday or Friday I will start serving. The idea is to be able to play the £atpfinals in London."

Nadal has pulled out of the tournament four times since it moved to London in 2009 while he withdrew after one round-robin match on his last appearance in 2017.

The 33-year-old regained the world number one ranking for the first time in a year on Monday but has Djokovic breathing down his neck in the race for the year-end top spot.

Nadal, who has never won the title, would need to reach the final and win all three of his group matches to guarantee staying at number one.

The only British representative is doubles specialist Joe Salisbury, who makes his debut alongside American partner Rajeev Ram.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...le-nitto-nadal-djokovic-federer-a9185906.html

 

[MenInG]

Some excellent mouth-watering clashes coming up in this tournament.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Atp tour finals are always good, however nadal generally tanks - always comes out with a so called injury.

I wont be surprised if we see a djok/fed or djokv medvedez final

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Not a fan of the tour finals - the players always seem so knackered that we rarely get many classic matches.

Also they should move it around from year to year and perhaps play it on different surfaces.

 

[MenInG]

2019 Nitto ATP Finals
Venue: O2 Arena, London Dates: 10-17 November
Coverage: Watch live coverage of one match per day on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer and online; Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra; Live text on selected matches on the BBC Sport website and app. Click here for Live Guide.
Novak Djokovic made a winning start at the ATP Finals but Roger Federer was beaten by Dominic Thiem in his opener.

Djokovic, who is chasing a record-equalling sixth title and trying to overhaul Rafael Nadal as world number one, was imperious, beating Italian eighth seed Matteo Berrettini 6-2 6-1.

But Federer lost 7-5 7-5 against fifth seed Thiem at London's O2 Arena.

The Swiss, 38, was uncharacteristically wayward while Thiem impressed with his powerful hitting.

Federer and Djokovic meet later in Group Bjorn Borg, their first match since their marathon Wimbledon final last July and one Federer may now have to win to reach the semi-finals of the season-ending championships.

Djokovic can overtake Nadal and become year-end number one this week but must reach the final to stand a chance.

Nadal is in Group Andre Agassi but is an injury doubt for the tournament with a stomach muscle issue, although the Spaniard said on Friday that he is confident of playing against Alexander Zverev in his opener on Monday.

This is the second year in a row that Federer has lost his opening match at the ATP Finals, having been defeated by Kei Nishikori 12 months ago.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion made a slow start, losing his serve in the opening game of the match, and despite levelling the scores three games later, a string of errors off the Swiss' racquet at 5-5 saw Thiem take the decisive break of the first set.

Federer struggled to create momentum because of his errors but threatened to take the upper hand early in the second set, only for Thiem to save break point with a brilliant forehand on the run.

The Austrian was on the front foot for much of the match and pushed his opponent in most of his second-set service games before eventually clinching another break for a 6-5 lead thanks to a crunching forehand, a fine return and Federer's missed volley.

Federer had two opportunities to break back when his opponent served for the match but was unable to convert - and Thiem sealed the win on his second match point.

He has now beaten Federer in each of their past three meetings and leads their overall head-to-head 5-2.

Djokovic is arguably the favourite in London, and securing the title would see him equal Federer's total of six wins at the Tour Finals.

He won the Paris Masters last week and continued his fine form against 23-year-old Berrettini, winning in just 63 minutes.

The Italian, making his debut at the event, played well but could not keep up with the relentless Djokovic.

Berrettini regularly served above 130mph, and landed 71% of his first serves, but Djokovic broke serve twice in the first set and three times in the second.

The 2019 Australian and Wimbledon champion was rarely troubled on his own serve and hit just eight unforced errors.

"It was not easy for him playing his first World Tour Finals match," Djokovic said.

"I knew he would be a bit more nervous at the beginning. He has got big weapons with the serve and forehand but I managed to play really solid throughout the whole match."

Earlier, Britain's Joe Salisbury lost the opening match of the doubles competition with his American partner Rajeev Ram.

The fourth seeds lost 6-3 6-4 to Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus.

Londoner Salisbury, who was a 'hitter' at the tournament four years ago, is the only British player in the event.

He and Ram can still progress from the group, which also includes second seeds Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo, and eighth seeds Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek.

Kubot and Melo beat Dodig and Polasek 4-6 6-4 10-5 in the evening session.

 

[MenInG]

Rafael Nadal saved a match point to beat Russian Daniil Medvedev and boost his hopes of a first ATP Finals title.

Nadal, bidding to keep his world number one ranking, could have been eliminated on Wednesday with defeat but beat the fourth seed 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-4).

The Spaniard trailed 5-1 in the third set and saved match point on his serve at 5-2 before a stunning comeback.

The 33-year-old's hopes of progression to the semi-finals rest on his meeting with Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday.

Greek Tsitsipas plays Alexander Zverev, who beat Nadal on Monday, later on Wednesday.

Nadal shows trademark fighting spirit
The last meeting between Nadal and 23-year-old Medvedev was September's US Open final, which the Spaniard won in five sets, and this match was almost as thrilling.

Both players looked beaten at times, Medvedev when he was distracted while he was losing the second set and Nadal when a double-break down in the decider.

Errors from Nadal and a resurgence from Medvedev at the start of the third set had led to the Russian racing into a 4-0 lead.

He had two break points for 5-0, and the match point two games later, but 19-time Grand Slam champion Nadal showed all of his trademark fighting spirit, roared on by the crowd at London's O2 Arena.

As Nadal clawed his way back, Medvedev lost focus again, sarcastically giving a thumbs-up to his box as games slipped away.

After losing five successive games, the Russian settled himself to force a tie-break and was on serve at 4-5 in the breaker before he dragged a short forehand wide to give Nadal a mini-break and match point.

Another gruelling rally followed but a Medvedev shot that was originally called in was ruled out by Hawk-Eye to hand Nadal victory after two hours 49 minutes.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/50410791

 

[MenInG]

Thiem beats Djokovic to reach semi-finals

Dominic Thiem stunned Novak Djokovic to become the first player into the semi-finals at the ATP Finals in London.

The Austrian won a thriller 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-5) to advance, ensuring Djokovic and Roger Federer will fight for the other place when they meet in their final group match on Thursday.

Federer, who had lost his opening round-robin match to Thiem on Sunday, had earlier got his campaign on track.

He beat Italy's Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 to keep alive his hopes.

The results set up an enticing winner-takes-all battle between 16-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic and 20-time major winner Federer, who played out an epic Wimbledon final in July that the Serb eventually won.

 

[MenInG]

Novak Djokovic faces Roger Federer for a place in the semi-finals
Both players have won one and lost one in the round-robin

 

[MenInG]

Nadal beats Tsitsipas to stay in the ATP Finals

Nadal needed to win to stand any chance of reaching last four, fights back to win 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-5

 

[MenInG]

Roger Federer v Stefanos Tsitsipas for a place in the final at the ATP Finals in London (14:30 GMT)

 

[MenInG]

Stefanos Tsitsipas beat six-time champion Roger Federer to reach the final of the ATP Finals in London.

The Greek, making his debut at the event aged just 21, won 6-3 6-4.

Swiss Federer, 38, was aiming for a record-extending seventh title but was undone by the nerveless Tsitsipas, just as he was at January's Australian Open.

Defending champion Alexander Zverev and fifth seed Dominic Thiem meet later on Saturday for the chance to play Tsitsipas in Sunday's final.

Federer was supreme in beating great rival Novak Djokovic to reach the semi-finals on Thursday but was well below his best on this occasion and was left rueing a host of missed opportunities on crucial points.

The 17-year age gap between the two players is the biggest in the history of the season-ending championships.

With the London crowd heavily in favour of Federer, Tsitsipas played the better tennis, particularly on the big points.

The Greek saved break point in the very first game before clinching Federer's opening service game minutes later with a forehand winner.

In total, Federer had six break points in the opening set but failed to take any as Tsitsipas held firm and the 20-time Grand Slam champion gifted points with errors.

Serving for the set at 5-3, Tsitsipas fought off two of those break points but saw six set points of his own come and go in a marathon game before clinching the opener on his seventh.

Federer errors gave his opponent an further early break in the second set, only for the Swiss to finally convert a break point a game later at the 10th attempt.

But, after the crowd roared in hope of a comeback, Tsitsipas crunched another forehand winner to seal Federer's service game.

Typically, Federer had two more break points when Tsitsipas served for the match but the Greek closed out the win with some big deliveries.

He was already the youngest player to have recorded wins against Federer, Djokovic and Rafael Nadal but this victory strengthens further his standing as one of the best young players in the game and leaves him one win away from the biggest title of his career.

"Today's victory is probably one of my best moments of the season," said Tsitsipas, who 12 months ago won the Next Gen Finals - the season-ending event for the best players under 21.

"These are the moments I live for."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/50446609

 

[finalfantasy7]

thiem beats zverev,

who would thought the final wouldn't consist of djok, nadal, federer

 

[MenInG]

Stefanos Tsitispas v Dominc Thiem in final of ATP Finals at the O2 Arena in London atm

 

[sweep_shot]

A nerveless Stefanos Tsitsipas came from a set down to beat Dominic Thiem on a thrilling final-set tie-break and become the youngest winner of the ATP Finals in 18 years.

The Greek, 21, won 6-7 (6-8) 6-2 7-6 (7-4) to claim the biggest title of his fledgling career.

Thiem, 26, who edged a tight first set, fell away in the second and the start of the third before fighting back.

But Tsitsipas forced a tie-break, and then won it, at a raucous O2 Arena.

He collapsed to the floor after Thiem put a forehand return out on the first match point before the pair embraced at the end of a two-hour 35-minute battle, with the Greek kissing his beaten opponent on the shoulder.

Tsitsipas is the youngest winner of the season-ending championships since Australia's Lleyton Hewitt in 2001 and claims prize money of just over £2m.

"It's been a rollercoaster. Holding this trophy is amazing," the world number six said.

"It is a dream come true and the best way to end this match.

"I did get nervous at some points in the match but I managed to forget about how I felt and I had momentum in the tie-break, which was really tight.

"My fighting spirit and me constantly trying to push myself to do better got me there in the end."

Tsitsipas takes advantage of Thiem's lapses

Tsitsipas broke the hearts of many in London on Saturday in knocking out six-time champion Roger Federer and a day later backed that up with a performance that showed why he is regarded as a player who will be one of those at the top of the game when the Swiss and the other current greats move on.

He had been the better player in the opening set only for Thiem to take it on a tie-break but when the Austrian's level dropped he was there to take advantage.

He did not panic and hit just one unforced error in the second set compared to eight from his opponent - going 4-0 ahead in 14 minutes and wrapping up the set soon after.

Tsitsipas' entertaining game - full of powerful forehands, laser-like serving and a stunning single-handed backhand - improved further at the start of the third set and he looked set to power on to the title.

But Thiem, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, broke back and levelled as his crunching groundstrokes returned.

In the tie-break Tsitsipas saw a 4-1 lead become 4-4 before he held his nerve to take the match with three straight points.

Unlike against Federer, the Greek had the backing of the majority of the spectators inside the arena and he celebrated with his fans long after the match had finished, taking selfies and signing autographs.

Can Tsitsipas go on after stellar year?
A year ago Tsitsipas was celebrating winning the NextGen tournament - the end-of-season event for the best players aged 21 and under.

He has now ended his breakthrough season by winning the biggest tournament outside the four Grand Slams and has done so with an entertaining style and exuberant personality that will bring him many fans.

He became the youngest Grand Slam semi-finalist in 12 years at the Australian Open in January, beating Federer along the way, and won two regular-season ATP titles as he climbed into the world's top 10.

The Greek is just the seventh man to win the season finale on his first appearance and the sixth-youngest winner in history.

He is the fourth new champion of the event in a row - following Andy Murray, Grigor Dimitrov and Alexander Zverev - and will now aim to succeed where Zverev failed this year in turning success in London into a Grand Slam win.

"This year was the best year I've had and I want to constantly improve," Tsitsipas said.

"Things were great this year and I beat some top-ranked players which gave me confidence and I've won matches in Grand Slams and Masters 1000s. I think I can do well in the Slams."

Agonising end to 2019 for Thiem

Thiem too has had his best year on tour but he ends it with very differing emotions.

He reached a second successive French Open final in June and won five ATP titles, the joint-most on tour along with Novak Djokovic, but a win here would have capped his season in style.

His collapse in the middle of the match allowed Tsitsipas back into the contest but the Austrian still had the momentum after levelling in the decider, and also at 4-4 in the tie-break.

His challenge ended with three errors in a row at the end of the breaker, however, and he described it as a "probably" the toughest defeat of his career - more so than his two defeats by Rafael Nadal in the final at Roland Garros.

"It is very hard to digest but I have had some amazing wins even this week," said the Austrian, who beat Federer and Djokovic in the round-robin stage.

Despite the loss Thiem has progressed this season, becoming far more than the clay-court specialist he may previously have been considered to be, and will end the year as world number four.

French pair win doubles with perfect record
French pair Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut added to their growing title haul by beating fifth seeds Raven Klaasen of South Africa and New Zealand's Michael Venus 6-3 6-4 to win the doubles title.

Herbert, 28, and Mahut, 37, won the Australian Open earlier this year to complete a career Grand Slam and now become the first French pair to win the season finale since 2005.

Last year's beaten finalists did not lose a match - or drop a set - during the week in London.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/50454198.

 

[MenInG]

Sad to see the usual big names missing from the finals but time moving on ...

 

[Salma_T]

I think those in their mid 20s missed the boat the new champions are from this younger cohort

 

[Pakistanian]

I think those in their mid 20s missed the boat the new champions are from this younger cohort

Male tennis players hit their prime in the mid 20s (24-26).

 

[Salma_T]

Male tennis players hit their prime in the mid 20s (24-26).

Still think there is a missing generation who didn't step up. The last 16 years the yr end number one have been Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray.

 

[Captain caveman]

Still think there is a missing generation who didn't step up. The last 16 years the yr end number one have been Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray.

You are correct, not every generation will produce top tier players and some generations will overproduce top tier players - federer, nadal and djokovic.

 

[Pakistanian]

Still think there is a missing generation who didn't step up. The last 16 years the yr end number one have been Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray.

a generation is bigger than just a couple years lol, Federer and Murray are like 6 years a part.