Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are set to battle in numerous teams of the spherical robin portion on the 2022 ATP Finals in Turin, Italy. This glitzy event dangles a number of golden nuggets. The year-end primary rating is inside attain for Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas. An undefeated champion has the potential to take house 1,500 factors and over 4.7 million {dollars} in prize cash.
ATP Finals Draw
Under are the 2 teams on the 2022 ATP Finals.
Inexperienced Group:
Rafael Nadal
Casper Ruud
Felix Auger-Aliassime
Taylor Fritz
Pink Group:
Novak Djokovic
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Daniil Medvedev
Andrey Rublev
Notably, World Quantity One Carlos Alcaraz is absent from the ATP Finals attributable to an belly damage. Which means the year-end number one is attainable for Tsitsipas, who can seize the highest spot if he finishes this event an undefeated 5-0. If Tsitsipas loses, nevertheless, Nadal can doubtlessly seize the year-end primary if he wins all three of his spherical robin matches and advances so far as the ultimate. If neither state of affairs occurs, Alcaraz would retain the highest spot.
Some analyses of the 2022 ATP Finals draw have claimed the teams are “uneven” with Djokovic drawing what’s, on paper, a harder group. Primarily based on latest occasions, the groups are more balanced than meets the eye. In reality, these are eight of the elite gamers in all of males’s tennis. There isn’t any simple out.
ATP Finals Evaluation: Inexperienced Group
The Nitto ATP Finals opens Sunday with the Inexperienced Group. The Pink Group begins motion on Monday.
The next is an evaluation of every match.
Casper Ruud versus Felix Auger-Aliassime (Ruud leads head-to-head 2-1) The floor velocity in Turin is quick, if last year is any indication. Ruud’s true wheelhouse is a slower floor like clay the place he can extra successfully defend together with his topspin backhand. His forehand is potent on any floor and might attain speeds as much as 100 mph. Nonetheless, he barely favors his forehand when it comes to restoration place, so gamers who can unfold the courtroom do effectively towards him. Auger Aliassime has been enjoying brilliantly on this space, having crushed Holger Rune to win the Swiss Indoors a number of weeks in the past. Watch: FAA
Rafael Nadal versus Taylor Fritz (Nadal leads head-to-head 2-1) Nadal has not emphasised a need to achieve year-end primary, and he’s rusty, having misplaced his opening spherical match to Tommy Paul on the Paris Masters final week. In the meantime Fritz misplaced in irritating trend to Gilles Simon in a spherical of 32 match. Fritz undoubtedly has the firepower on this floor to avenge his thrilling 5-set loss to Rafa at Wimbledon earlier this 12 months. Don’t overlook the Fritz overcome Rafa at Indian Wells this 12 months to assert the American’s first Masters 1000 title. Rafa is weak in the intervening time on his least-preferred floor. Watch: Fritz
Nadal versus Ruud (Nadal leads head-to-head 1-0) Although Ruud idolizes Nadal, has skilled on the Spaniard’s academy and the 2 have practiced numerous instances, these gamers have solely met as soon as. Nadal memorably crushed Ruud within the last of this 12 months’s French Open. With related video games, Rafa merely does the whole lot a bit higher, most notably on the internet. Ruud has appeared intimidated by the left-handed legend. Watch: Nadal
Fritz versus Auger-Aliassime (Fritz leads 1-0) The younger, marketable North American superstars have solely met as soon as– on onerous courtroom at this 12 months’s ATP Cup in Australia. Fritz received a really shut match in 3 units. Each serve exceptionally. Each are tall but elegant movers. Each have rocket forehands. It’s an actual tossup match, however FAA might need just a little extra momentum and confidence in the intervening time. His internet play may also have a slight edge. Watch: Auger-Aliassime
Nadal versus Auger-Aliassime (Nadal leads 2-0) The one conferences between these two partaking gamers have been outdoor on clay. FAA famously took Rafa the gap this 12 months at Roland Garros in a match many followers wished had been the ultimate. These are far totally different circumstances. Anticipate FAA to be hungrier for a victory than new dad Nadal. With youthful legs and faster reflexes on a speedy courtroom, search for Auger-Aliassime to impose his will utilizing his serve plus one forehand. Watch: Auger-Aliassime
Ruud versus Fritz (0-0 head-to-head) These two younger dudes have by no means performed. This shall be a enjoyable experiment. Whereas each have highly effective, heavy forehands, Fritz has the peak and the flatter backhand to fare effectively on a quick, indoor courtroom. The topspin backhand of Ruud will sit proper up into Taylor’s strike zone. Might be ugly, however for Casper’s defensive abilities. Watch: Fritz
ATP Finals Evaluation: Pink Group
Djokovic versus Tsitsipas (Djokovic leads head-to-head 9-2) An enormous physique of labor, a lot of it latest, exists between these two rivals. Novak lately beat Stef once more on the Paris Masters in what the narrative says was the closest the Greek has gotten to beating the legend shortly. Nonetheless, Tsitsipas has many roads to journey to determine Djokovic. The margins are typically small, however Djokovic at all times appears to neutralize the Tsitsipas serve together with his sensible return recreation. Notably, he can typically make good points on Stef’s first serve. Djokovic also knows how to draw errors from the Tsitispas forehand. A sooner courtroom at all times favors the onerous courtroom goat. Watch: Djokovic
Medvedev versus Rublev (Medvedev leads 4-1) On this tumultuous 12 months for the Russians, the countrymen conflict in a rivalry that has been dominated by Medvedev. All 5 of their official conferences have been on onerous courtroom. That stated, they final performed in 2021, and it was Rublev who obtained the most effective of Meddy in 3 units in Cincinnati. This can be a powerful one, however since Medvedev has had an off 12 months and lately turned a father, it would tip to a extra rested Rublev. Medvedev ought to pounce on Rublev’s second serve, however the ginger has the superior forehand. Watch: Rublev
Djokovic versus Medvedev (Djokovic leads head-to-head 7-4) Right here’s the place issues get good. These two had been engaged in a compelling contest in Astana final month when the Russian was pressured to retire with an damage. Beforehand, Djokovic avenged the 2021 US Open last loss to Medvedev with a win in Paris. This can be a powerful one to name, however Medvedev has appeared uneven, and Djokovic has displayed good type regardless of dropping in Paris to Rune. The backhand-to-backhand battles are at all times enjoyable. Watch: Djokovic
Tsitsipas versus Rublev (Tsitsipas leads head-to-head 6-4) Stefanos leads the head-to-head on this one for one motive: Higher internet abilities. You’ll assume quick courtroom circumstances in Turin on the 2022 ATP Finals would give the sting to Rublev, however of their 5 conferences on indoor onerous courts, Tsitsipas leads the rivalry 3-2. Stefanos beat Andrey in Astana a number of weeks in the past. He did it by attacking the slower Rublev second serve and profitable extra of his personal second serve factors. Watch: Tsitsipas
Djokovic versus Rublev (Head-to-head tied 1-1) Djokovic simply dealt with the Russian on the 2021 ATP Finals within the spherical robin portion of the occasion. Don’t anticipate a lot has modified. As soon as the legend figures out a profitable method towards an easy participant like Rublev, he doesn’t let up. Whereas Andrey was in a position to nab Novak within the last of Belgrade this 12 months on clay, that was a stretch of the 12 months that Djokovic was nonetheless mentally recovering from the debacle on the Australian Open. This matchup favors Djokovic, who brings far more selection and handles onerous courts incrementally higher than even Rublev. Watch: Djokovic
Medvedev versus Tsitsipas (Medvedev leads 7-3) That is higher generally known as the “small cat rivalry” after a phrase Meddy coined when imploring a chair umpire to penalize the Greek. Medvedev and Tsitsipas don’t like one another. That often causes Meddy to deliver his very best, together with attacking the one-handed Tsitsipas backhand to nice impact. Medvedev blisters serves to that aspect, making it tough for Stef to make headway in these video games. In these circumstances, the Russian most likely has the sting. Watch: Medvedev
For the reason that margins between these elite eight gamers are so razor skinny, circumstances ought to be the figuring out consider who emerges from the teams. Past that, solely two gamers have the added incentive of a shot at year-end primary. The cash at stake will encourage the younger guys. Djokovic has the chance to place a definitive mark on a 12 months he was stored from a number of tournaments. That’s incentive sufficient. Participant to look at within the last: Djokovic.
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