Welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of theATP Finalsas the world top-ranked players battle it out for the final prize of the calendar year.
The tennis season’s grand finale returns to London for an 11 th straight year at the O2 Arena.
Five-time ATP Finals championNovak Djokovicis again the favorite, and the Serb got off to a fine start on Sunday with victory over Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in just over an hour.
Roger Federer, who is 11 / 1 to win a seventh ATP Finals crown, has not won the season finale since 2011, and opened his tournament with defeat against Dominic Thiem. He will look to bounce back today against Berrettini, with Djokovic due to face Thiem at 8pm.
We’ll bring you live coverage of today’s action, plus the results and schedule from the rest of the tournament
Live Updates
Djokovic beware as Thiem aims to repeat feat of clay
To call Dominic Thiem a giant-killer does a disservice to his current world ranking of No5 and to the five titles won in 2019.
Thiem has a growing reputation for unseating the big three. Roger Federer was vanquished in his opening match in London to take the Austrian’s career record to 5-2 against statistically the best player of all time.
He has won three of his last four meetings against Novak Djokovic and has been one of the few players to be competitive against Rafa Nadal on clay, as he was in the final of this year French Open.
Like Nadal, Thiem has had to shake off a reputation for being a clay-court specialist, finally dispelled after three of those five title wins came on hard courts.
Despite having made Federer look on decidedly shaky ground, Thiem believes Djokovic stands a class apart from the rest of the world at present.
“I think he ‘ s the best right now, ”said the 26 – year-old ahead of tonight’s meeting. “He proved that also in Bercy, where he didn’t play his best tennis but still won the title pretty easy, so that’s how good his level is.”
In London, Djokovic is motivated by the big stage – and the prospect of equalling Federer’s tally of six ATP Finals wins this year. Back in Paris for his last encounter with Thiem, he had half an eye on a clean sweep of Grand Slam titles in a season, a target that was comfortably quashed by the Austrian in their French Open semi-final.
Despite the change of footing, Thiem said he would channel the spirit of Roland Garros in a bid to pick up a second upset of his personal ATP Finals campaign.
“I will watch that match in Roland Garros a little bit, ”he admitted after defeating Federer and looking ahead to his second round-robin match. “It was very good, of course. It was also, most of the time, the right tactics I played. Of course, it’s not the same here. It was clay outdoor back then and now indoor, but some things I can use, for sure. But it’s the probably right now the biggest challenge you can face, to play Novak. ”
Djokovic now finds himself in the driving seat for the end-of-year world No1 spot on the evidence of Nadal’s straight-sets loss to Alexander Zverev. The Spaniard is clearly not fully fit following an abdominal injury, although he made no excuses following his 6-2, 6-4 defeat.
“It was not a problem with the abdominal at all, I did not feel pain at all,” said the current world No1 (above, dejected after his match). “Sascha [Zverev] played well and I played bad. I needed my best competitive spirit and it was not there. ”
Djokovic, meanwhile , in swatting aside Matteo Berretini looks as fresh as ever. In explaining his ability to save himself for the season end, the Serbian said: “You are kind of obliged to draw that last drop of energy in order to finish the season in the best possible way.
“I push myself and try to create even more energy for these last couple of tournaments. Knowing I have done so well throughout my career on indoor courts, especially Bercy and London back to back, kind of every year gives me more motivation and confidence coming into these tournaments.
“Regardless of the fact it has been a long season, I still will find that necessary strength to play well.”
Today’s schedule
Center Court
12 PM:R Ram (US) & J Salisbury (GB) v I Dodig (Cro) & F Polasek (Slo)
2pm:R Federer (Sui) v M Berrettini (It)
6pm:L Kubot (Pol) & M Melo (Bra) v R Klaasen (SA) & M Venus (NZ)
8pm:N Djokovic (Srb) v D Th iem (Aut)
Welcome back toStandard Sport‘s LIVE coverage of the ATP Finals. Djokovic and Federer and back in action today, with Thiem chasing another scalp when he faces the Serb at 8pm.
ES COVERAGE
That’s all from us for tonight.
Join us tomorrow for more action from the ATP Finals here at the Arena.
ORDER OF PLAY
Confirmed order of play for Tuesday:
Play starts at 12 noon
R . Ram / J. Salisbury vs I. Dodig / F. Polasek
NB 2pm
R. Federer vs M. Berrettini
NB 6pm
L. Kubot / M. Melo vs R. Klaasen / M. Venus
NB 8pm
N. Djokovic vs D. Thiem
A question is put to Nadal about his marriage after recently tying the knot with his long-term
Nadal replies:“It doesn’t really matter or make much difference [to how you play] if you put a ring on your finger.”
A bizarre exchange in truth and, after that, Nadal decides not to take any more questions in English.
Nadal refuses to blame his performance on his recent injury …
“It was not a problem with the abdominal at all. I did not feel pain in the abdominal at all. No, just Sascha, well played, and me, badly played, honestly. We can find reasons or excuses, but at the end of the day, what all really matters is I need to play much better in two days after tomorrow. That’s the only thing. “
“We knew that going to be tough at beginning, because the period of time since the injury until today is very short, but we are here trying, and that’s it. “
” I stay positive. I stay competitive, something that today I was not. That’s the thing that I am more disappointed, because knowing that I will not be at my 100% in terms of feelings, in terms of movement, in terms of confidence or hitting the ball, I needed my best competitive spirit this afternoon, and I was not there in that way. So that’s the thing that I’m disappointed with. “
Nadal on his performance …
“I haven’t played well, I’m not happy about that. I have to improve a lot if I want to win the other match.
“I have no margin for error and I’m feeling bad because I lost a game I didn’t like. I accept the feeling that it was not good. “
Nadal has arrived for his post-match conference …
“I am not the kind of person that says why does this happen. I have to accept [the defeat] as I have done in my whole career. “
Zverev’s full on-court interview:
“It’s obviously great. how much I was struggling the whole season. This means so much, playing here again after winning my biggest title so far in my career here last year. This means everything to me and I was looking forward to this match.
“Thanks a lot for all the support, everybody who came out. This atmosphere is the reason why the goal at the beginning of the season to make London. Playing here, playing in front of you all guys, playing at the O2 is something we don’t have the whole year. This is so special, thank you very much. “
On his serve:
“Carrots, spinach, whatever was coming my way, whatever mum and everybody was giving me. That’s what I was doing this week, listening to my parents.
Obviously, just coming back here to practice Thursday, Friday and the rest of the days was amazing. Just being out here, being in the stadium was something that I wanted to do. This year again, it was a huge goal of mine, especially the way the season went. It was not always a lot of ups, so I hope I can play my best tennis this week and we’ll see how it goes. “
It will be interesting to hear Nadal’s thoughts after that.
Even when he found his level late in the second set, he was no match for Zverev. A display that certainly showed he can one day take that number one spot.
The shocks just keep coming, don’t they? Federer and Nadal beaten in their opening matches – who’d have thought it?
We’ll have all the reaction from both players’ press conferences shortly. So grab yourselves a cup of tea and get comfortable.
GAME, SET, MATCH
ZVEREV WINS!
He beats Nadal 6-2, 6-4!
An incredible display from the German and he’s finally beaten Nadal for the first time in his career.
The Spaniard’s awful start cost him and there will be question marks over whether he was struggling with fitness after that abdominal injury.
The world number one has it all to do, but few would bet against him still qualifying for the semis.
Nadal 2-6 4-5 Zverev
Nadal hangs on … for now. But Zverev hasn’t looked like being broken at any time today.
He’s serving for the match.
Nadal 2-6 3-5 Zverev
Zverev is partial to a wobble, as we’ve seen many times this season, but he’s staying focused and handling everything Nadal throws at him.
At 40 – 30 , Nadal sends a sublime cross-court backhand into the corner. Up against it, Zverev digs out a stunning flat shot down the line and it’s in.
He’s just one game away from a huge victory!
Nadal 2-6 3-4 Zverev
There are just a few signs that Nadal is getting back to his normal level on serve – and he’s even mixing up with a few serve and volleys .
Zverev keeps pulling him back though, and his forehand winner of the serve to make it 40 – 30 was mightily impressive.
Nadal aces him, Zverev challenges and it clipped the line. He’s hanging in there!
Nadal 2-6 2-4 Zverev
Ace, ace, forehand winner. It’s looking like a perfect service game for Zverev, who just isn’t showing any signs of letting up.
Nadal tries to disrupt his rhythm with a fantastic cross-court forehand, but Zverev gets the job done.
He’s just two games away from victory.
(Nadal 2-6 2-3 Zverev)
Oooooh my goodness! A simply outrageous piece of play from both players ends with Nadal somehow … SOMEHOW whipping a glorious backhand up the line. He could not have placed that any better.
And it was crucial too at 30 – 30. Zverev makes him sweat, bringing him to deuce, and just when Nadal thinks he’s got the adv., A challenge from Zverev proves his ace was out. They replay the point and Zverev knocks one down the line – another terrific shot.
Nadal is staring down the barrel at yet another break point, but recovers in true champion style taking the next three with an ace to finish – and it’s clear he’s taking the fight to Zverev now.
Nadal 2-6 1-3 Zverev
Nothing is going Nadal’s way so far tonight; every one of his challenges has failed by a matter of a quarter of an inch and everything Zverev hits looks like it was carved out of gold.
The German continues his impressive run of serving with a monster 141 mph fireball down the middle. Wow!
Nadal 2-6 1-2 Zverev
Nadal finally stops the rot, winning his first game in eight to stop Zverev from running off into the distance.
But it’s clear the 33 – year-old isn’t 100 per cent out there. There were concerns over his abdominal injury heading into the finals – is that the reason for his lack of consistency?
What cannot be ignored is how well Zverev has played. He is oozing with confidence out there.
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(Schedule and results)
Tuesday, November 12
Center Court
12 PM:R Ram (US) & J Salisbury (GB) v I Dodig (Cro) & F Polasek (Slo)
2pm:R Federer (Sui) v M Berrettini (It)
6pm:L Kubot (Pol) & M Melo (Bra) v R Klaasen (SA) & M Venus (NZ)
8pm:N Djokovic (Srb) v D Thiem (Aut)
Monday, November 11
Result:[3] K. Krawietz (GER) / A. Mies (GER) 7-6, 4-6, 10 – 6 *J. Rojer (NED) / H. Tecau (ROU) [6]* final set tiebreak
Result:[4] D. Medvedev (RUS)6-7, 4-6S. Tsitsipas (GRE) [6]
Result:[1] J. Cabal (COL) / R. Farah (COL)3-6, 5-7P. Herbert (FRA) / N. Mahut (FRA) [7]
Result:[1] R. Nadal (ESP)2-6, 4-6A. Zverev (GER) [7]
Sunday, November 10
Result:[4] R. Ram (USA) / J. Salisbury (GBR)3-6, 4-6R. Klaasen (RSA) / M. Venus (NZL) [5]
Result:[2] N. Djokovic (SRB)6-2, 6-1M. Berrettini (ITA) [8]
Result:[2] L. Kubot (POL) / M. Melo (BRA)4-6, 6-4, (- 5 ********************** (I. Dodig) CRO) / F. Polasek (SVK) [8]* final set tiebreak
Result:[3] R. Federer (SUI)5-7, 5-7D. Thiem (AUT) [5]
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