Semi-finals day at the ATP World Tour Finals has the potential to be one of the greatest in history. With the world’s best players battling for the final title of the season, a series of historic accomplishments could also be achieved in London.
The number one race
The race between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic to finish the year at the top of the Emirates rankings are approaching an exciting climax. With current world No.1 Murray set to lose 275 points on November 28th from the 2015 Davis Cup final, he narrowly leads his Serbian rival by just 130 points (11,510 to 11,380).
As a consequence, both of their semifinals encounters at the O2 Arena are critical. If one of them fail to progress to the final, the other will secure the top year-end ranking position. This year Murray is bidding to win his first ATP Finals title, whilst Djokovic will be targeting his sixth.
If both men reach the final, it will be the first time that the number one position will be decided in the final of the year-end event since points were first awarded in 1990.
Kei Nishikori Targets Raonic’s third spot
Milos Raonic is on the verge of his ending his season in the world’s top three for the first time in his career. The Canadian heads into Saturday’s semifinals with a 545-point lead over fifth placed Kei Nishikori. The only way Raonic can lose his year-end position is if Nishikori stuns Djokovic and goes on to win the title.
Any other scenario will guarantee Raonic the third position.
The winning-streak dilemma
In both semifinal matches at the O2 Arena, one player has dominated the other in recent times. First of all top seed Murray hasn’t lost to Raonic since the 2014 BNP Paribas Open. Since then he has enjoyed a seven-match winning streak against the 25-year-old, including five this season.
Djokovic is also in a similar scenario. Facing Nishikori, he has won their nine previous encounters since the 2014 Tour Finals. Furthermore, the defending champion has only lost three sets in those nine meetings.
The Murray brothers historic bid
Never before have a British player reached the final of the year-end tournament since it’s creation in 1970. Saturday could see that change with two British men playing for a place in Sunday’s final. Besides Andy’s highly publicised London test, his brother also aims to get his name in the record books.
Guaranteed to end the season as part of the best doubles team in the world (along with Brazil’s Bruno Soares), Jamie Murray could create further history on Saturday. A win over Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram will make him the first British man to reach the final of the year-end doubles tournament.
Bruno Soares targets the top
It isn’t just the singles event where the number one position is up for grabs. It can also occur in the doubles. Bruno Soares is already part of the year-end best doubles team, but he is also just two wins away from becoming the best individual doubles player.
A title this week would secure his year-end position at the top and make him only the second Brazilian to achieve the milestone after Marcello Melo (2015).
