London's Calling

The top 8 players and teams have been finalised and they are heading to London for the ATP Tour World Finals and today the groups were announced. 

Group A                                                                                                                       Group B

Novak Djokovic                                                                                                             Rafael Nadal

Andy Murray                                                                                                                 Roger Federer

David Ferrer                                                                                                                  Jo Wilfred Tsonga

Thomas Berdych                                                                                                           Mardy Fish

I think the two that make it out of each group will depend on injuries.  It has been a long hard season for all 8 with Djokovic, Nadal and Fish all pulling out of last week’s Paris Masters so we will have to wait and see how ready they will be.  This is why I think Murray has a real chance to win this year as he has had a fantastic end to the season.  Even though he lost to Berdych in the Semis in Paris this will fire up his determination and remind him that he can be beaten by everybody in this final 8.  Tsonga could be the dark horse of the competition, he made it to the final in Paris with the help of the French crowed; but the English love him to with his magnificent showing at Queens adn Wimbledon this summer.  But again his progress through Group B could depend on any injuries that the players have sustained in the past few weeks.   

ATP Round Up

Neither Basel nor Valencia’s finals were completely as expected with the No. 1 seeds in both tournaments being knocked out.  In Basel Rodger Federer glided to victory over Kei Nishikori who had defeated Djokovic in the Semi-Finals, 6-1, 6-3.  In Valencia a tough match saw Marcel Granollers taking the title away from Juan Monaco 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(3).  

With Nadal already out of the Paris Masters and Djokovic not playing his best, could Murray be the No.1 seed and take another Masters series title?  This is the last tournament before ATP World Tour Finals in London so there will be other players looking to secure their place at the last tournament of the season.