ATP Finals: Race for qualification heats up as Daniil Medvedev claims the fourth spot
The race for Nitto ATP Finals qualification is heating up with just three weeks left for players to lock in their spots. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev have already booked their berths in the upcoming edition. Now, Daniil Medvedev, currently placed fifth in the ATP rankings, has qualified for the ATP Finals. The qualification leaves just four spots open for the rest of the players to vie for the year-end tournament. The 24-time Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic, is reportedly out of the qualification race. Djokovic, who recently played a memorable game against Rafael Nadal at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Riyadh, has pulled out of the Paris Masters tournament.
Daniil Medvedev qualifies for the Nitto ATP Finals
Daniil Medvedev has qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals for the sixth consecutive time. The seasoned Russian ace didn’t win any major titles on the ATP Tour this season. However, he reached the final of a Grand Slam event for the fourth consecutive season when he set up the Australian Open final against Jannik Sinner this year. While Sinner beat him 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 to take the Grand Slam title, Medvedev avenged the loss later by beating Sinner to secure a semi-final spot at the Wimbledon Open. Most recently, Daniil Medvedev made it to the semi-finals of the China Open and the quarter-finals at the Shanghai Masters. Moreover, his final appearances this season include the ATP Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells and the BNP Paribas Open.
Daniil Medvedev has registered a 45-18 record this season on the ATP Tour and has comfortably cleared the cut-off points required for the Finals. The cut-off for the Nitto ATP Finals is 4,830, and Sinner, with 10,330 points, comfortably earned his qualification this season. Next up, his partner in pocketing all the Grand Slam titles this season, Carlos Alcaraz, took the second spot with 6,710 points. Following that, Alexander Zverev, with a 59-19 record this season, cemented his position in the ATP Finals with 6,215 points. Now, Medvedev, who continues his hustle for a title win this year, has made it into the marquee event with a chance to emerge as the victor there.
ATP Finals qualification race picks pace with Novak Djokovic out of the equation
Novak Djokovic is being counted out of contention for the Nitto ATP Finals this season. The Serbian had a sparkling year as he fulfilled his long-awaited dream of winning an Olympic gold medal. The seasoned player beat Carlos Alcaraz, who had earlier defeated him to claim the Wimbledon title, in the final at the Paris Olympics to secure the gold. The Serb continued his season with appearances at the China Open and subsequently the Shanghai Masters, where he narrowly missed out on the title win against Jannik Sinner.
However, it seems like Novak Djokovic has already wrapped up his season following his clash with Rafael Nadal at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh. The Serbian is currently placed fourth in the ATP rankings with 6,210 points to his name. However, with his withdrawal from the upcoming Paris Masters event, the spot is likely open for the likes of Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud to vie for ATP Finals qualification.
With Daniil Medvedev’s qualification confirmed, only four spots are left to fill for the Nitto ATP Finals draw this season. Andrey Rublev, meanwhile, is emerging as the next eligible pick for the year-end event. Rublev started off at the Basel Open on Monday with a commanding win. The current World No. 7 beat Portugal’s Nuno Borges 6-3, 6-2 to boost his chances of entering the ATP Finals.
Andrey Rublev, if manages to make the cut this time, will play in the ATP Finals for the fifth consecutive season. The tussle for the last remaining spots in the ATP Finals is most thrilling between Rublev, Casper Ruud, and Alex de Minaur. Rublev, with his latest win, edged past Ruud with a 260-point difference between them. Alex de Minaur, meanwhile, is trying his luck at the Vienna Open.
