Tennis great talks about the chances of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic ahead of the ATP Finals
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal
London gears up for the year-ending Nitto ATP Finals one last time as a well reduced ATP season comes to a close. The tournament shifts to Turin next year.
The ATP Finals features the top eight players of the year which naturally include the top competitors who need no introduction – Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem to name a few.
Former World No.4, Greg Rusedski recently gave his bits about the tournament and highlighted the chances of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal winning in particular.
Rafael Nadal can be dangerous: Rusedski
The former British player strongly backed the Spaniard ahead of the ATP Finals despite the fact that the World No.2 has been struggling to win since his first indoor hard-court surface title back in 2005.
“I still think he can be dangerous but I think it will be a big ask for him (Rafael Nadal) to win,” Rusedski said, as quoted by SportsKeeda.
The speed of the court makes it difficult for Nadal to generate the same spin and velocity on the ball that he otherwise achieves to do on other surfaces.
“I think the court speed and the balls are just a little bit too quick and the other guys are playing better than him indoors. It is still a big ask to beat Rafael Nadal,” Rusedski added.
The ATP Crown is the most coveted one outside the Grand Slams and is the only big title that has eluded the 20 time Grand Slam Champion so far despite reaching the finals twice.
Novak Djokovic hoping to equal Roger Federer on six ATP Finals titles
The 17 time Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic created history after he recently achieved the year end World No.1 ranking for a record-equaling sixth time alongside American legend, Pete Sampras.
“To get six year-end number ones is a phenomenal accomplishment, only Pete Sampras has done that. Pete’s accomplishment is still ahead of Novak’s because Pete did it six years in a row,” the former World No. 4 went on.
Novak Djokovic has 5 ATP Finals to his name after winning it first back in 2008. The Serb must be eyeing to equal Roger Federer with six ATP Finals titles and even go past him as the player to retain the World No. 1 spot for the most number of weeks, which currently stands at 294 weeks.
However, should Djokovic stay on top until mid-march, he shall usurp the Swiss as the men’s player with the most weeks spent as World No. 1.
Also Read: Nitto ATP Finals: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction
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