ATP Finals Groups: Lone Former Champion Federer Opens Play Sunday

Fed has a tough group – guys with big games. Sock should be coming in confident and Zverev and Cilic should be nightmares on this court.

Rafa couldn’t have handpicked a better group in my opinion. No one that can serve him off the court.

November 8th, 2017 at 10:53 am

This is probably the lowest quality WTF field in the tournaments history, or at least a decade. Still, its what we got. Hope there will be some good battles in there, but it just doesn’t feel like the groups of titans in past years (e.g. imagine this field but add novak instead of sock, murray instead of goffin, stan instead of thiem or dmitrov… a bit more exciting, no?)

November 8th, 2017 at 10:58 am

Beating top 10 players, repeatedly, on indoor hard courts is always a tall order for Nadal, healthy or otherwise. He couldn’t do it even in his prime. So why expect that now?

Fed should be coming in with a lot of confidence, having won 7 titles and lost only 4 matches all year – 2 of them pretty random matches (Dubai and Stuttgart), the other two he was clearly injured. Also having beaten Nadal 4 times this year, the last 3 in straight sets – IF they meet, Nadal is the one who will have more doubts now than Federer. I think the Nadal ghost is out of his system now.

November 8th, 2017 at 11:11 am

When fed loses “ he was clearly injured”! ROFL

November 8th, 2017 at 11:25 am

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November 8th, 2017 at 12:07 pm

Rafa: Got the toughest half — ah well!!!!

November 8th, 2017 at 1:27 pm

You don’t judge WTF draw as any other tournament draw because of different format. In this kind of format, round robin then knockout stage, it is much better to have opponents you don’t want to meet in SF in your group and that’s excatly what 36 years old got. No doubt he will be first in his gruop (even if he ends up second which is highly unlikely) and then he enters knockout stage against players he is toying with, laughing all the way to final.

November 8th, 2017 at 3:37 pm

Wog Boy: Yep – agree – but noted some “smug” earlier comments that irritated me.

November 8th, 2017 at 4:58 pm

JK,
My post wasn’t aimed ar you, on the contrary;)

November 8th, 2017 at 5:06 pm

Wog-Boy – And Yet…..see below:

http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/story/_/id/21337736/roger-federer-receives-tougher-atp-finals-draw-rafael-nadal

November 8th, 2017 at 5:07 pm

j-kath!
You are directly contradicting t4t’s claim of lucky fixed easy Fed draws.
What’s happening? ROFL.

November 8th, 2017 at 5:22 pm

Just heard on the radio that uncle Toni said Rafa is fit to play.

November 8th, 2017 at 5:22 pm

Skeezer: Not really – just playing the devil’s advocate.

November 8th, 2017 at 6:40 pm

Federer could go down to anyone in his RR Group. He is faced with big servers and heavy hitters, which apparently are the only types who can hurt him nowadays and ever since he got used to the bigger racket frame and started hitting that damn backhand instead of slicing it all the time .. http://www.138mph.com/tennis-will-federer-be-able-to-handle-the-lineup-of-heavy-hitters-in-his-round-robin-group-at-the-atp-finals-in-london/

November 9th, 2017 at 12:46 am

Moyá: “Rafa stopped (Paris) to take no riskss. Rafa will be competitive in London”

Rafa: “The knee is fine. I hope it’s okay. We’ll be in the O2 to see how it goes in these next few days.

I would not be lengthening the season if I did not think I could be competitive and be ready to play and try to win the tournament.

the important thing is to be happy doing what I do. This year I have been happy and I hope to continue doing it for a few more years. Of course, I don’t think it was the best season of my career”

vamoos!

November 9th, 2017 at 3:20 am

nice interview with Toni Nadal today on Marca,

t4t and Wogboy, about Masters and favor this one or another: “It also has influence the court and how is the ball bounce. IF THEY DECIDE that the court is very fast or less they know that they favor one or the other”

and this is good, too
“…I wish Rafa’s rivals the best, another thing is that I want them to lose. If I may have a good one in next round, I prefer that they lose.”

November 9th, 2017 at 6:56 am

Vamos Champ!
Wishing you all the best.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

November 9th, 2017 at 9:10 am

Ha ha ha! Fed fans trying to convince everybody that Fed has a tough group! ROFL!

November 9th, 2017 at 10:41 am

I am not sure Nadal is doing the wise thing. Unless he thinks he can win the whole thing, a champion of his caliber should not risk his next season. Last year he took part in Olympics although his wrist was not healed which then put paid to his chances at USO.

November 9th, 2017 at 11:11 am

t4t,

Guess ESPN doesn’t know what it is talking about. And you think you do. ROFL!!!
http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/story/_/id/21337736/roger-federer-receives-tougher-atp-finals-draw-rafael-nadal

November 9th, 2017 at 11:23 am

t4t. Do you think fed can find it in his heart to “ tank” and let Rafa win this should they both reach the final? It’s not as if he hasn’t tanked before!! 😎 Maybe if he wears a 👗? Lol

November 9th, 2017 at 12:01 pm

As a Fed fan, I don’t think he has a particularly difficult round robin group…certainly easier than some years past.

Cilic: yes, Cilic beat him. One time. At the US Open when he was on fire. They’ve had one or two close matches aside from that, so maybe he’s the toughest, though he lost to Benneteau last week, so I don’t exactly see his confidence brimming.

Zverev: he’s got a W over Federer this year, though an injured Federer. He also got a total spanking from Federer at Halle this summer and has gone 8-7 since Canada. Lots of losses to lower-ranked players, so I don’t exactly see his confidence sky-high either.

Sock: Sock is coming off of his career-best title run last week, where he beat one guy (Lucas Pouille) inside the top 20 and otherwise didn’t face anyone inside the top 35. He got it done, and he should have, but I think the WTF is going to be a different beast for him. He’s also 0-3 against Federer, with all 3 losses on hard courts.

Could any one of these matches go either way? Sure, but I give Federer the clear advantage in each case. If anyone beats him in the RR stage, I say it’s Cilic.

As for Nadal, he should also get through his group, perhaps with a loss to Dimitrov if anyone. Then again, his knees could give out at any time, it seems. His team says he’s healthy going in, so I don’t expect that to affect him throughout the tournament.

November 9th, 2017 at 1:18 pm

Think the groups are balanced. The players in Fed’s group have more firepower to trouble Nadal, but the ones Nadal got can extend the matches to the distance and griding. Dimi always plays Nadal tough and Thim can surprise.

OTOH Nadal can blow all on his group off the court, specially if Dimi is in choking mode and Thiem done (as seems the cas after August for him). The players on Fed’s side have more weapons, but the level Fe dplayed all year, he should´t be bothered much either.

Fed, Nadal, Dimi and Zverev to semis my two cnets, but don´t know the order yet, Fed 80% chance first in his group.

November 9th, 2017 at 2:13 pm

Fed, Nadal, Dimi and Zverev to semis my two cnets
—
Your two cnets are worth nothing.

November 9th, 2017 at 3:21 pm

^ …OK?

November 9th, 2017 at 8:07 pm

Watch out for Nadal ya all .. He will dismantle all on one knee at the ATP Finals. No prisoners this time for Nadal … http://www.138mph.com/tennis-analyzing-nadals-prospects-with-thiem-dimitrov-and-goffin-in-his-group-at-the-atp-finals/

November 10th, 2017 at 4:09 am

Federer also hasn’t won the Tour finals since 2011. Nadal’s and also Federer’s problem at WTF had been Novak who isn’t there this time. Fed a former champion is the favorite going in, but Nadal also has a good shot at winning it this time.

Also, I don’t get why Fed fans take Zverev lightly. He’s 2-2 with Federer in the head to head (3-2 with Hopman Cup). He’s one of the more difficult opponents for Roger.

November 10th, 2017 at 5:29 am

https://twitter.com/swiss_tennis/status/928863208244432896
The cult have voted!

November 10th, 2017 at 7:38 am

sportmanship… I still recall that volley on somebody’s body at Wimbledon… that moment Fed did not take prisoners

November 10th, 2017 at 7:56 am

The big Swiss Swiz !!

November 10th, 2017 at 8:06 am

(sorry I meant passing to the body, not volley)

November 10th, 2017 at 9:41 am

Hey Giles,
Looks like your version of the cult is the from all those “peers”, LMAO.

“Roger Federer also took victory for the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award & Comeback Player of the Year – both of which were voted for by their peers.”

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/877719/Roger-Federer-Rafael-Nadal-ATP-World-Tour-Awards

Congrats Maestro, a fantastic year for the record books! #1 all time ;)
——
@james the 1rst,
This is one Fed fan not taking it lightly, Fed has no easy draw with big guns on his side of the draw. Most of that kind of talk is from the haters.

November 10th, 2017 at 10:17 am

It is obvious the polls are rigged. Poor Fed and the cult. They dare not face a real poll. They would rather live in a make believe world.
#Pathetic

November 10th, 2017 at 10:42 am

“It is obvious the polls are rigged”.
I rest my case, lol.
haters gonna hate.

November 10th, 2017 at 11:20 am

Thanks skeezer for agreeing the polls are rigged. You guys dare not face a real poll where the so-called haters ( objective fans, actually) would vote.

November 10th, 2017 at 11:23 am

Roger! A favorite among Fans and Peers. You make us proud.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/federer-atp-awards-2017

I think they should just rename it the Roger Federer Sportsmanship award and exclude Roger next year. Someone else needs to get in there.

November 10th, 2017 at 11:34 am

@11:23 post
No way I was agreeing, you mis read it……as usual.
“You guys dare not face a real poll where the so-called haters ( objective fans, actually) would vote.
This is wrong on many levels.
First, apparently you did not research ( nothing new here ) that 2 out of the 3 awards were voted by his “peers”, not Fed fans or any fans. People on the tour, fellow players, workers, coaches,etc.
Secondly, the poll was not only for fed fans, but was available for all fans to vote on the ATP site. Apparently your 1 vote( you did vote didn’t you? ) wasn’t enough to turn the tide against the guy you hate. Everyone had a chance to vote who is a fan of tennis. Sorry it did not work out for you,

Congrats again Maestro! You painted another masterpiece this year 🏆

November 10th, 2017 at 11:36 am

https://twitter.com/vivafernando/status/928996948203524097
Hahahahaha

November 10th, 2017 at 11:39 am

I want to count the votes. Is this available? I guess not!
#Swindle

November 10th, 2017 at 11:41 am

Giles @ 11:41 am
Completely agree!
#Swindle

November 10th, 2017 at 12:05 pm

Giles,
Knowing you are a twit driller I don’t find that surprising. Sounds like one b#tt hurt fan to me who voted for the wrong guy. Hahahahaha

November 10th, 2017 at 12:06 pm

Leo
ATP will definitely name some award after Federer. Maybe ATP itself can be renamed the Roger Federer Tennis tour? That is what it is actually.
#Pathetic

November 10th, 2017 at 12:09 pm

Or better still ATP can be renamed Association of Fed worshippers?

November 10th, 2017 at 12:10 pm

For those asking I will be guaranteed to be fit, know that I am not an iphone. I come with no guarantees.

You get me as I am, Humble and simple. Whether I win the WTF or say WTF at the end, it doesn’t matter as long as I hold true to my value of humility and simplicity.

November 10th, 2017 at 2:09 pm

Giles: you were so scathing about the tennistv commentators, but look! They were right1

November 11th, 2017 at 3:20 am

Margot. Sorry, you’ve lost me. What u talkin about?

November 11th, 2017 at 6:04 am

Andy Murray on court at the O2 as practice partner for Thiem!
Don’t overdo it Andy.

November 11th, 2017 at 6:56 am

Giles: A couple of weeks ago the commentators on tennistv said that Rafa would be at the 02. I asked you if you’d heard anything and you said the commies on tennistv were “liars” and the only ones you listened to were on SKY.

November 11th, 2017 at 8:59 am

Margot. Lololol. Show me my post. I do not recall any such comments.

November 11th, 2017 at 9:10 am

http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2017-11-03/27280.p
Margot. Here’s the thread with my comment. At what point did I call them “ liars”, eh?
You’re exaggerating much. Read my post AGAIN.

November 11th, 2017 at 9:19 am

Giles: error 404. So what did you say about tennistv commentators?
I remember you gave me a very dusty answer anyway. And they were right.

November 11th, 2017 at 10:49 am

MargotI said the news was untrue.

November 11th, 2017 at 10:53 am

Margot. Here’s my post verbatim :
“ I don’t watch Tennis TV , I watch Sky Sports. Their news is untrue. We don’t know for certain but the chances are that he will not play”.
And you consider this “ a very dusty answer”??
Wow!
You used the word “ scathing” as well!! Lol
Are you feeling ok?

November 11th, 2017 at 11:06 am

Thank you for asking, fine.:)
Well I did actually because I was genuinely interest in whether Rafa would play or not.
Hmm… untrue = lie, doesn’t it?
Anyway, enough! I’m glad he’s playing and I hope he does really well.

November 11th, 2017 at 12:06 pm

Margot: BBC2 showing the Tennis from 2.00pm – 4.30pm Sunday – time of Roger’s match . However, Rafa’s first match is 8.00pm Monday but BBC2 still presenting the tennis at 2.00pm until 4.45pm.

Am a bit peeed-off.

I seem to recall all Nole’s matches were prime time as he went in as No.1 (although I think Andy was leading him by a handful of points at the time – but the schedule had been set by then).

I’ll stop being disgruntled if we get “Red Button” access.

November 11th, 2017 at 12:55 pm

Kath: I’ve taken a cunning one month sub to tennistv that gets in the O2. You can get heaps of tennis if you pick the right month/months. And NO Bouncy CASTLE! yay!!!

November 11th, 2017 at 1:24 pm

I think Rafa is perfectly okay. He played that one match at Paris Masters just to stamp the No. 1 ranking for the year. And then he left the tournament to take good rest and prepare for WTF, which has more importance and priority to team Nadal.

November 11th, 2017 at 2:17 pm

Roger should win his match on Sunday. The one between Zverev and Cilic could be a cracker because Cilic hasn’t beaten Zverev since 2015 and Zverev is going through a lump lately … http://www.138mph.com/tennis-federer-versus-sock-and-cilic-versus-zverev-at-the-atp-finals-and-the-us-versus-belarus-in-the-fed-cup-final-this-weekend/

November 11th, 2017 at 3:34 pm