The 2016 ATP World Tour season couldn’t be heading for a better finale as it heads into the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London with a stellar field in place and even more significantly, a brand new World No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings with Andy Murray leading the year’s superstars into the final showdown.
The 29-year-old Murray, who is well-known and admired for his dedication and persistence as well as his talent, became the second oldest first-time No. 1 in ATP history after passing Novak Djokovic by reaching the final of the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris, a tournament he went on to win with a celebratory victory over John Isner.
Only Aussie legend John Newcombe was older when first reaching the coveted No. 1 spot, achieving the milestone as a 30-year-old in 1974.
Murray became the last member of the ‘Big Four’ to secure the top ranking, joining Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic in the history books as standout tennis leaders of an amazing era in the game. Murray becomes the 26th player to hold the top ranking and is the first player from Great Britain to achieve the feat.
Victories in the China Open in Beijing, the Shanghai Rolex Masters and the Erste Bank Open 500 in Vienna propelled Murray to within striking range of the top ranking and it makes him the form player heading into the Finals at The O2 later this week.
Murray’s late season wins were part of an exciting climax to the 2016 season with perhaps the most sentimental win coming at the Stockholm Open for the ever popular Juan Martin del Potro. The Argentinian’s long struggles with wrist injuries are well known and to see him post another win on the ATP World Tour in Sweden was heart-warming and a testament to his resilience in the face of great adversity.
Frenchman Lucas Pouille further confirmed he is a player to watch with his home country win at the Moselle Open in Metz. Teenager Alexander Zverev had a week to remember at the St. Petersburg Open as he claimed victory to further enhance his reputation as a serious contender on Tour.
Another teenager, Karen Khachanov of Russia served notice that he is an up-and-coming player to watch after he established himself in the Top 100 with a breakthrough Tour victory at the Chengdu Open in China. The always competitive Tomas Berdych also won in China, claiming the Shenzen Open and the raw talent of Nick Kyrgios was again apparent as he won the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo.
With the regular season now over, attention turns to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals which will feature the top eight singles players and doubles teams in another spectacular finish to the year. Eight different countries will be represented in the singles, a glowing testament to the global success of tennis.
Murray heads the field and he is joined by four time defending champion and 2008 titlist Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland, Kei Nishikori of Japan, Milos Raonic from Canada, Marin Cilic from Croatia and debutants Gael Monfils from France and Dominic Thiem from Austria.
With all eight players having tasted success during the year, the battle for the title promises to be as exciting as ever and there is no doubt the amazing atmosphere generated in the magnificent O2 arena pushes the players to produce their very best as they seek to end the season on a high note.
The eight-team doubles event also represents the diverse nature of the game with Jamie Murray hoping to join brother Andy in making the season finale at The O2 a family celebration as he chases victory with teammate Bruno Soares. They join Pierre-Hughes Hebert/Nicolas Mahut, the Bryan Brothers Bob and Mike, Feliciano Lopez/Marc Lopez, Ivan Dodig/Marcelo Melo, Raven Klaasen/Rajeev Ram, Henri Kontinen/John Peers and Treat Huey/Max Mirnyi in the elite field.
With the year-end No. 1 ranking set to go down to the wire in both singles and doubles, we are set for a thrilling finale.
After a very popular debut last year, the Finals Club makes a welcome return to the tournament
this year. The concept celebrates the past champions and the heritage of the season-ending tournament since its inception in 1970.
This year players from the 1980s will be honoured and fittingly the group names will feature players who enjoyed remarkable success at the season ending finale during that decade.
In singles, Group A will be named in honour of John McEnroe who ruled in 1978, 1983 and 1984. Group B will be named after Ivan Lendl who won five titles from nine straight finals (1980 — 1988). In doubles, Group A will be named Fleming/McEnroe after that team won seven straight titles (1978 — 84) and Group B will be named Edberg/Jarryd after the Swedish duo that won in 1985 and 1986.
With all that talent on show it is hard to imagine a more spectacular way to say farewell to what has been a dramatic and exciting season in 2016.
— By Chris Kermode, Special to Gulf News