Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2014

[Kieran]

Here's the 8 players:


1 Novak Djokovic
2 Roger Federer
3 Stan Wawrinka
4 Kei Nishikori
5 Andy Murray
6 Tomas Berdych
7 Milos Raonic
8 Marin Cilic

Tournament takes place from November 9-16.

David Ferrer is the first alternate. Grigor has refused to be an alternate, and the next man on the list is Tsonga, who's up to his knees in clay.

Anybody know when the draw takes place?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

It is official. David Ferrer is the first alternate and Deliciano Lopez is the second alternate.

After Grigor refused, Tsonga was next in line. He did not want to do it as he is busy preparing for DCF. Next up in line was Gulbis who is suffering from shoulder injury and so did not want to go there. Next up was F. Lopez who accepted the offer.

However, since the inception of the WTF in its current form (from 2000), no second alternate has
ever actually got a chance to play. The first alternate has got chances to play three times.

The alternates get paid $85,000 for just hanging around. If they get to play a match,
they don't get anything extra for playing the match. But, they get $155,000 if they win the
match and they also get 200 points for winning the match.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Here is info on Points and Prize Money from the tournament site.

The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals is one of the world's most prestigious tournaments and is the biggest indoor tennis event on the planet, attracting more than 260,000 fans a year. The season finale also offers one of the biggest paydays in tennis, with a $2m purse awaiting an undefeated singles champion. Below is the points and prize money breakdown for the 2014 event.


Emirates ATP Rankings Points (Singles & Doubles)

Round-robin match win 200
Semi-final win 400
Final win 500
Undefeated champion 1500

Singles Prize Money

Alternate $85,000
Participation Fee $155,000
Round-robin match win $155,000
Semi-final match win $475,000
Final win $980,000
Undefeated champion $2,075,000


Doubles Prize Money

Alternate $30,000
Participation Fee $76,000
Round-robin match win $30,000
Semi-final match win $76,000
Final win $150,000
Undefeated champion $392,000

 

[GameSetAndMath]

There are only four players common to the current bunch and last year's bunch. That is a huge
change in the landscape.

 

[Kieran]

Yeah, I thought this looked suspect but injury to Andy last year, and Rafa this year skipping to have his op (tomorrow, by the way), means it's true. Good spot. If Cilic withdraws then it'll be back up to five same players, but even then, 3 rookies would be a lot. 4 is crazy. It can affect those newbies in various ways...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

There are only 3 rookies, but Andy is being counted in the 4 new folks in comparison to last year,
as he did not play last year.

 

[Kieran]

Of course. I said before that stats aren't my strong point... :snigger

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Draw ceremony will be at 15:00 GMT on Monday. Hardly, 16 hours to go.

Let us hope that Kei, Cilic and Berdych all end up in Novak's Group.

 

[Iona16]

"If I go, it is because I deserved to be there, not hope someone gets hurt so I get to play," he told L'Equipe. "So no, I don't think it's my thing."

Very poor from Dimitrov. It is unlikely he would get to play BUT it's ONE week. He experiences the event and he hits with the best 8 players in the world. I can't say I'm too impressed with his attitude.

 

[Billie]

Such a disappointing attitude from Dimitrov.:nono

I remember few years ago they were looking for an alternate (lots of players were banged up) and Stepanek accepted to come to WTF in Asia and cut his holiday short. He didn't even have his equipment at all (used Nole's racquet for one match) until his equipment arrived. And he was honored to be there even under such circumstances.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

If I go, it is because I deserved to be there, not hope someone gets hurt so I get to play," he told L'Equipe. "So no, I don't think it's my thing."

Very poor from Dimitrov. It is unlikely he would get to play BUT it's ONE week. He experiences the event and he hits with the best 8 players in the world. I can't say I'm too impressed with his attitude.

Horribly wrong attitude indeed. Nobody said he had to "hope" for injury. He is there "in case" an injury happens, and it has , in the past. This is the end of the season. Everyone is hurting.

He is missing out on a good opportunity.:nono

 

[Iona16]

Such a disappointing attitude from Dimitrov.:nono

I remember few years ago they were looking for an alternate (lots of players were banged up) and Stepanek accepted to come to WTF in Asia and cut his holiday short. He didn't even have his equipment at all (used Nole's racquet for one match) until his equipment arrived. And he was honored to be there even under such circumstances.

I think Stepanek was something like 26th in the world when that happened. I remember Murray being interviewed on Sky Sports and they asked him about it. I'm sure he said Stepanek had to ask all the players for clothes and equipment as there was a problem at the airport with his luggage.

The event will still be in London next year. Dimitrov should have went to experience the event. I can understand Tsonga turning it down as he obviously wants to concentrate on Davis Cup.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

In 2011, Tipsy served as an alternate (he actually played a match as a sub for AndY0
and that provided him motivation and he went on to get a regular spot in 2012.

Just last year, Milos served as a second alternate (the very same spot that Grigor is rejecting now)
and now, guess what Milos is there as a regular guy there.

History is full of alternates making it as a regular guy the next year or following year.

 

[Billie]

Such a disappointing attitude from Dimitrov.:nono

I remember few years ago they were looking for an alternate (lots of players were banged up) and Stepanek accepted to come to WTF in Asia and cut his holiday short. He didn't even have his equipment at all (used Nole's racquet for one match) until his equipment arrived. And he was honored to be there even under such circumstances.

I think Stepanek was something like 26th in the world when that happened. I remember Murray being interviewed on Sky Sports and they asked him about it. I'm sure he said Stepanek had to ask all the players for clothes and equipment as there was a problem at the airport with his luggage.

The event will still be in London next year. Dimitrov should have went to experience the event. I can understand Tsonga turning it down as he obviously wants to concentrate on Davis Cup.

Yeah, I think Andy gave his socks to Radek. I remember them interviewing Stepanek before his match and him explaining it.

Tsonga turning it down completely makes sense as they want to win DC. Dimitrov just has poor attitude towards it, nothing else.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

It is not like they are asking him to be there as a standby for free. They are paying him $85,000 for being ready to step in, in case his services are needed.

We can compare this to our salaried, but that would be meaningless and pointless. To put it in perspective, this is of the order of the prize money given to the winner in a typical ATP 250 tournament. For example, Winston-Salem tourney paid $80,280 to the winner.

Also, I think the top players playing in the tourney seek out these alternates for their
practice sessions and this would only help the alternates in improving their game.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

According to the tournament website of Bercy, since 2012, they have ensured that their surface is identical to that of WTF.

Apparently, they have ensured that the paint colors and balls are such that the viewing of the tourney and following the ball becomes easier for the viewers. Perhaps, this may be why it appeared slower to us.

Anyway, I don't know what is the truth. But, they claim it boldly.

 

[DarthFed]

^ I know London does not play substantially different than this past Paris tournament but I do think it is quicker. Still, it is definitely a great surface for Nole and he will be the big favorite going into the event. But assuming it plays a little bit faster than Paris it should also be a good surface for Roger. Fed would prefer it quicker of course but a medium/slow court with a low bounce isn't bad for him.

 

[masterclass]

Lower bounce would be better for Federer, one handers, and smaller players like Nishikori and Ferrer, higher bounce good for the taller players, and two handers. Paris was the highest bouncing I've seen it, and this made it better for the tallest players, big hitters who don't move as well, and made the natural defenders almost impregnable except perhaps on opponents serve or unforced errors. I couldn't believe how some of the second serves especially were kicking up and away and over players heads.

Let's see how the O2 plays this year. It had been medium-slow but relatively lower bouncing until last year, when I thought the bounce looked somewhat higher than it had in the past (but not as high as Paris this year). Of course, each year they can (or do) resurface the court, so they can tinker with the courts as they want.

Respectfully,
masterclass

 

[Kieran]

Draw ceremony will be at 15:00 GMT on Monday. Hardly, 16 hours to go.

Let us hope that Kei, Cilic and Berdych all end up in Novak's Group.

2 out of 3 ain't bad.

Group A:

Djokovic, Wawrinka, Berdych, Cilic

Group B:

Federer, Nishikori, Murray, Raonic.

Interesting times ahead...

 

[Billie]

^^ You beat me to it, Kieran.:ras:

Good groups, even, I think.