The O2 in south east London has become used to playing host to the world’s best tennis players at the end of the ATP season. The ATP World Tour Finals will be taking place at the O2 for the ninth year in a row but it’s fair to say the star power for the 2017 finals is a little weaker than usual.
Those who pay top dollar for a seat are used to seeing Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka strutting their stuff on the O2’s hard courts but those three have already brought their seasons to an end due injuries and will be big misses this coming week. Still, we’ve still got Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Grigor Dimitrov to enjoy in what is always an exciting week of tennis.
Who Will Win Outright?
Unlike the vast majority of top class tennis players, the ATP World Tour Finals don’t operate simply on a knockout basis. The eight players who have qualified for the tournament thanks to points accrued throughout the year are separated into two groups. After each of the four players have faced off in three tie break sets, the top two will go through to the semis before the season is brought to an end with a heavyweight clash in the final.
Unsurprisingly, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal are the top two in the betting. The two men shared 2017’s four Grand Slams while Nadal is guaranteed to finish the year as the number one ranked player in the world as Federer pulled out of last week’s Paris Masters. The seeding system has kept them apart in the two groups (which, incidentally are named after tennis legends Pete Sampras and Boris Becker) and there is every chance that they won’t meet until the final.
Favourite backers may be a little twitchy about backing Federer at a best price of 4/6 with Ladbrokes given that he pulled out last week but careful scheduling has become the norm for the Swiss superstar. After a few years in which injuries have posed problems for Federer, he’s done everything in his power to turn up to events in full fitness and that dedication has worked out with an incredible year at the age of 36.
Nadal, too, has returned to his best tennis after years of injury problems. He won an astonishing 10th title at Roland Garros as well as the U.S. Open and will be confident about his chances of winning the ATP World Tour Finals for the first time. However, he is struggling with a knee problem at the moment which forced him to pull out of Paris ahead of the quarter finals. Federer is in better shape at the moment and has won this tournament six times (including twice at the O2). With three further finals in London he is the man to back here, even if the odds may seem short.
Betting Tip – Roger Federer at 4/6 with Ladbrokes
Outsiders & Each Way Tips
The absence of so many big names at the ATP World Tour Finals does, of course, open up opportunities for some of tennis’ lesser lights. Jack Sock became the first man to win his place at the finals with victory in the final event of the year, the Paris Masters. The American will be on a high thanks to that win but there is no chance of him winning at the O2. In fact, it’s bordering on crazy that you can get Dominic Thiem at a bigger price than the American.
The hard court at the O2 may look too fast for Thiem, who is generally at his best on the clay courts, but previous years have shown that the court at London is more medium than fast. That will give Thiem time to fashion shots from the baseline before taking opportunities to put points away. He’s been drawn in Nadal’s group alongside Grigor Dimitrov and David Goffin so should be able to build up a head of steam which makes Thiem a tempting dark horse at 25/1 with Betfred. The Austrian is certainly worth an each way bet at those healthy odds.