After a brilliant 2013, what will the tennis world offer us in 2014?

Novak Djokovic

The year-end ATP tennis tournament ended in London with fireworks from the rackets of its participants. Novak Djokovic retained the title to provide delight to his fans the world over.

It was no surprise to see the top two seeds meet in the final. The final was played in a belligerent mood. The point that Novak won in order to break Nadal in the 8th game of the first set will always be remembered. Ultimately, the better player on the day prevailed.

This year-end festival came into existence in a new avatar as late as in the year 2000. Its inaugural edition took place at Lisbon where ‘Guga’ emerged as the winner. Since then the trophy has travelled to Sydney, Shanghai and Houston. From 2005 to 2008 it rested at Shanghai and since 2009, it has settled at the O2 arena of London.

The arena at London remained jam-packed right from the first match. The crowd was intelligent enough to notice all the moves and reacted with cheers and jeers in equal measures. They supported all the players and provoked the fighters to provide longer entertainment. Many a famous personality graced the occasion.

What makes this tournament so unique is its format. The top 8 players of the world are divided into two equally tough groups. This is the only ATP tournament where all the players fight against each other in both groups in round robin format and qualify for the semifinal and eventually the final. The chase for eligibility runs throughout the year and goes right up to the last Masters event at Paris.

This tournament has thrown some unexpected champions and matches. David Nalbandian has won one ATP year-end final, and that too in the most awkward of the circumstances. In the final at Shanghai in 2005, he defeated the then-invincible Federer from two sets to love down. Federer was running on a winning streak of 24 finals victories but the Argentine defied all the odds and won the trophy.

In 2009, del Potro displayed magical tennis in the last group match to qualify for the semifinal. In that group match, he handed the Swiss maestro a second straight loss after the 2009 US Open final. In the same year, Devydenko was 13th time lucky in beating Federer in the semifinal, to reach the final against del Potro. Davydenko eventually won the ‘Cup of his life.’

David Ferrer and James Blake have also each played a final at this tournament.

This tournament is a perfect recipe for tennis lovers. It provides a guarantee that all the top players face off against each other. The champion has to play five matches and win at least four, or in some extraordinary cases, three, to lift the cup. A player has a chance to prove himself, even after a hiccup.

It’s interesting to note where the players have finished the year. The second half of the year witnessed Nadal emerge as the king of hardcourts as he conquered the North American Masters double and the US Open. He will surely try to prove that he is still the man to beat on the surface that was earlier considered to be his Achilles’ heel.

The first Grand Slam of the year will be a hardcourt event. Federer has proved his competitiveness by reaching the semifinal and by defeating his recent nemesis del Potro. In all the three sets in that game, he came from behind, winning the last two. He is not finished yet.

The year has ended with display of fabulous tennis. So it’s goodbye 2013 and a look ahead to tennis in 2014.