4 bold predictions for the ATP Finals post-US Open ft. Novak Djokovic not qualifying for year-end championship
Novak Djokovic has a tough task if he wishes to qualify for the ATP Finals at the end of the year. He currently sits in ninth place behind Alex De Minaur with only the top eight earning a ticket to Turin in November.
Djokovic has won the ATP Finals seven times in his career and is also the defending champion for the upcoming edition. He has entered the semifinals 12 times out of his last 16 appearances and has a remarkable 73% win ratio at the event.
With all four Majors coming to a close this year, players will be keen to perform well in the upcoming hardcourt swing in Asia. The top 15 in the world can push to earn valuable points in the race to Turin and make the most out of significant events (four ATP 500 events and two Masters 1000 events) remaining until November.
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Alexander Zverev have already qualified for the ATP Finals. World No. 5 Daniil Medvedev is also close to securing his spot but will need close to 1300 points in the upcoming months.
On that note, let's look at four predictions that could shape the ATP Finals this year.
1) Grigor Dimitrov could enter the ATP Finals for the first time in seven years
World No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov has a great chance to secure his spot in the ATP Finals.
The Bulgarian has been one of the most consistent players on tour this year. After a runner-up finish in the 2023 Paris Masters, he made a perfect start to the season by winning the Brisbane International. He also reached the finals of the Open Su De France and the Miami Open but came up shy of lifting the title.
Dimitrov has registered 19 wins from 25 matches this year on hard courts. He has a great chance to continue his formidable run on the surface during the upcoming events. The 33-year-old currently holds the 10th place in the race to Turin, but a few clinical results can boost his chances of making the final cut.
2) Alex De Minaur may lose his spot due to fitness concerns
World No. 11 Alex De Minuar is currently 2,275 points away from sealing his spot in the ATP Finals. He has been exceptional this year by amassing title-winning runs in the Mexican Open and the Libema Open. He also reached the quarterfinals of the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open Championships in New York.
Despite solid results throughout the year, De Minaur may lose his spot due to fitness concerns. He suffered a hip injury at Wimbledon and was forced to withdraw from his quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic. The 25-year-old returned to action in New York and chalked up an inspiring quarterfinal run, but struggled to compete at a high intensity.
With the competition only going to get tougher in the upcoming events, it could be a struggle for De Minaur to retain his spot and enter the ATP Finals this year.
3) Defending champion Novak Djokovic may not qualify for the ATP Finals this year
Novak Djokovic started at the top of the ATP Rankings this year by claiming three out of four Major titles in 2023. However, he has struggled to follow up with another commanding year on tour. Apart from a gold medal finish in the Paris Olympics, Djokovic has failed to capture any title this year. He is currently outside the top three in the ATP Rankings and 2320 points away from qualification for the ATP Finals.
The Serb recently competed in the Davis Cup Finals for Serbia and said that the year-end championships were no longer a priority. Djokovic wished to prepare himself for major events on tour and represent his country whenever he got the chance to do so.
"I am not chasing a place on the ATP list, nor the Final Masters. Those are not my goals, honestly. As for me, I finished my career in other tournaments. I don't know if I will play them in the future or this year," Djokovic told the media.
"My priorities are playing for the national team and grand slams, everything else is less important. Now I need a physical, mental, and emotional rest in order to decide what and how to proceed, how much and where," Djokovic added.
Even though there are plenty of points on offer until November, Djokovic will most likely not participate in most of the events. He may come up short this year and not qualify for the ATP Finals.
1) Taylor Fritz will qualify for his second ATP Finals this year
Lastly, World No. 7 Taylor Fritz has a great chance to secure his spot in the ATP Finals. He's been one of the stand-out performers on tour this year and currently holds the fifth spot in the race to Turin.
After a quarterfinal run in Melbourne, Fritz defended his title in Delray Beach and clinched the 2024 Eastbourne International. He rose to the occasion in the US Open by reaching his first Grand Slam final on tour, but couldn't make his mark and lift the title.
Nevertheless, Fritz has been moving in the right direction and is close to making the headlines for the right reasons. With the Asian hardcourt swing on the horizon, Fritz will likely perform to his full potential and qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin. He will be expected to feature at the Laver Cup next week and represent Team World at the iconic event.