London ATP World Tour Finals 2015: Novak Djokovic starts as favourite
World number 1 Novak Djokovic will start off as the favourite to win yet another ATP tournament, when the London leg of the ATP World Tour Finals begins on Sunday. The defending champion is drawn in the same group as his rival Roger Federer, who looks to finish off his season on a winning note.
The two rivals are drawn in the Group named Stan Smith, which also features Japanese number 1 Kei Nishikori and Czech tennis star Tomas Berdych. The other group, which is named Ilie Nastase consists of World number 2 Andy Murray with Spaniards Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer along with Swiss number 2 Stan Wawrinka.
Djokovic eyes to clinch his fifth title of the season after four consecutive titles at the New York(US Open), Beijing, Shanghai and Paris. Home favourite Andy Murray will be looking to win his first title in London, having failing to cross the semi-final stage on three previous occasions.
Nadal, on the other hand, has had a forgettable season after consecutive failures in all major tournaments in the past few months and will look for some consolation in London. The Spaniard faces Stan Wawrinka in the first match on Monday.
The groups are named after two former tennis legends who dominated the game in the 70’s.
American Stan Smith, who was world number 1 in 1972, won two Grand Slam singles titles. The US player earned more fame due to his success in the doubles format, having won 5 major doubles titles in the span of a decade.
Romanian Ilie Nastase, also a former world number 1, isalso the winner of two Grand Slam singles titles in the early 1970’s. He was one of five players in history to have won more than 100 ATP professional titles. The Army Major-General also won three major men's doubles titles and two in mixed doubles in his decorated tennis career.
| Group Stan Smith | Group Ilie Nastase |
| Novak Djokovic | Andy Murray |
| Roger Federer | Rafeal Nadal |
| Kei Nishikori | David Ferrer |
| Tomas Berdych | Stan Wawrinka |
Schedule for Sunday, 15th November 2015:
Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs Kei Nishikori (JPN)
Roger Federer (SUI) vs Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Schedule for Monday, 16th November 2015:
Andy Murray (GBR) vs David Ferrer (ESP)
Stan Wawrinka (SUI) vs Rafael Nadal (ESP)