Battle for ATP Year-End Number One

[Andy22]

Newsflash, he hasn't beaten Nadal either but that last match was damn close. He has the level to beat ANYONE.

I just said Medvedev could beat Federer dumb ass, don't need to copy me? Also saying he's never beaten Federer or Nadal is just a fact get over it.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I grossly underestimated this battle, basically relying on Novak's shoulder. Now that Novak has won Tokyo, Rafa's lead in the race rankings (the one that really matters in determining YE #1) has shrunk to 1450. If Novak manages to win Shanghai (but I don't think he will), the lead of Rafa will come down to 450. Considering Rafa will play just Bercy and WTF, Novak has more than a good shot provided his shoulders are really good to face elite players.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

I grossly underestimated this battle, basically relying on Novak's shoulder. Now that Novak has won Tokyo, Rafa's lead in the race rankings (the one that really matters in determining YE #1) has shrunk to 1450. If Novak manages to win Shanghai (but I don't think he will), the lead of Rafa will come down to 450. Considering Rafa will play just Bercy and WTF, Novak has more than a good shot provided his shoulders are really good to face elite players.

What is Novak playing for the rest of the year, Shanghai, Bercy and WTF? Is there something additional? If not, then basically after Shanghai both of them will only be playing Bercy/WTF. The question will be by how many points Nadal will be leading before those last 2 tournaments... If Djokovic wins Shanghai then I think he will be in a good position and very motivated, but if he doesn't then Nadal will still have a substantial lead with only 2 tournaments left.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

What is Novak playing for the rest of the year, Shanghai, Bercy and WTF? Is there something additional? If not, then basically after Shanghai both of them will only be playing Bercy/WTF. The question will be by how many points Nadal will be leading before those last 2 tournaments... If Djokovic wins Shanghai then I think he will be in a good position and very motivated, but if he doesn't then Nadal will still have a substantial lead with only 2 tournaments left.

There are two ATP 500 indoor tourneys before Bercy, Basel and Vienna. In case Novak does not do well in Shanghai, he can go to Vienna and vulture another 500 points as the field there is typically weak, probably weaker than Tokyo.

 

[Fiero425]

There are two ATP 500 indoor tourneys before Bercy, Basel and Vienna. In case Novak does not do well in Shanghai, he can go to Vienna and vulture another 500 points as the field there is typically weak, probably weaker than Tokyo.

That's what Murray did to steal the #1 ranking at the end of 2016! Nole won 2 majors, in the final of another, and took 4 Masters! Murray w/ 1 Majora and 2 finals, but scraped together points at those 500's to overtake Nole by winning the YEC! It came down to that final match of the season! It cost Murray who hasn't been the same since! That style's bound to kill him! :whistle:

 

[Moxie]

That's what Murray did to steal the #1 ranking at the end of 2016! Nole won 2 majors, in the final of another, and took 4 Masters! Murray w/ 1 Majora and 2 finals, but scraped together points at those 500's to overtake Nole by winning the YEC! It came down to that final match of the season! It cost Murray who hasn't been the same since! That style's bound to kill him! :whistle:

Murray didn't "steal" anything, he won it. IIRC, Novak was also a bit lesser at the end of that year. And most agree that a deteriorating hip doesn't happen in a 2-month span.

There are two ATP 500 indoor tourneys before Bercy, Basel and Vienna. In case Novak does not do well in Shanghai, he can go to Vienna and vulture another 500 points as the field there is typically weak, probably weaker than Tokyo.

I've said before that I rather hope he does push that hard for it...because he would be dangerously risking that shoulder and his AO. I'll be curious to see how Fiero feels about that, if Novak risks the AO to "steal" the YE#1. B-)

 

[rafanoy1992]

With Djokovic losing to Tsitsipas at the Shanghai Masters QF, Nadal's lead over Djokovic is 1,280 points going to the latter stages of the 2019 season. Technically, Djokovic can still finish 2019 as YE#1 however, he literally has to win BOTH Paris-Bercy AND World Tour Finals (he has to go undefeated here). If Djokovic can not find the pre 2016 level, then Nadal will take home the YE#1 ranking for 5th time of his career.

As for Nadal, he is confirmed to play both Paris-Bercy and World Tour Finals so he will only add to his lead. I would say he will play a couple of matches in Paris and then he will really focus on World Tour Finals.