Davis Cup Final - France v Croatia

The curtain will be drawn on this tennis season with the final of the 2018 Davis Cup in France this week.

France (1) v Croatia (4)

Dates: 23-25 November 2018.

Venue: Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille, France

Surface: Clay - Red Clay, Indoor

Teams

France

Captain: Yannick Noah

• Lucas Pouille - singles ranked 32, doubles ranked 215
• Jeremy Chardy - singles ranked 40, doubles ranked 138
• Pierre-Hugues Herbert - singles ranked 55, doubles ranked 12
• Nicolas Mahut - singles ranked 201, doubles ranked 11
• Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - singles ranked 259

Croatia 

Captain: Zeljko Krajan

• Marin Cilic - singles ranked 7
• Borna Coric - singles ranked 12, doubles ranked eq 778
• Franko Skugor - singles ranked 492, doubles ranked 28
• Mate Pavic - doubles ranked 4
• Ivan Dodig - doubles ranked 35

2017 Champion France is missing its three highest ranked singles players - Richard Gasquet, Gaël Monfils and Gilles Simon, so is starting behind the eight ball in this contest, especially with 2016 runner up Croatia having its top two players available.

However the home court advantage cannot be discounted, and Lucas Pouille is a quality player whose ranking belies his true capacity - he was in the top ten in March this year.

Zverev triumphs in the ATP Finals

The final of the Nitto ATP Finals in London was played on Day Eight.

Novak Djokovic (1) v Sascha Zverev (3)

Against all the evidence, and in particular the way Djokovic handled Zverev in the round robin match, the German young gun produced his finest tennis when it mattered most to upset the world number one and capture the biggest title of his career.

Sascha served magnificently in the first set, not allowing Djokovic to rule the court with his outstanding returning.

It was the pressure towards the end of set one, where Zverev was able to return the Serb serve so effectively that swung the match.

Down break points only twice before in the tournament, Djokovic faced another in the ninth game, and Zverev converted it, breaking the previously unshakable number one.

The set was Zverev’s a game later.

Set two began with three more service breaks, including two more of the Djokovic delivery, and Zverev remained composed for the remainder of the match.

He saved a break point in the sixth game, Novak’s last gasp effort, and won convincingly 6-4 6-3, breaking the Djokovic serve for the fourth time of the match, in the final game.

In set two, Zverev shattered the Djokovic second serve, winning 11 of the 13 points on it.

10 aces to 1 for the match, and six break points created, compared to just one, are a couple of key stats which helped Zverev realise his triumph.

To win the tournament, having beaten second seed Federer in the semis and top seed Djokovic in the final, says so much about the performance of Sascha Zverev, who is now the youngest ever winner of the ATP Finals.

The 2019 ATP year now has even more to offer, with real challenges to the usual suspects come the majors.

Djokovic to play Zverev in London final

Semi finals day was Day Seven of the Nitto ATP Finals in London.

Group Guga Kuerten

1. Novak Djokovic (1) 3-0 600 points
2. Sascha Zverev (3) 2-1 400 points
3. Marin Cilic (5) 1-2 200 points 
4. John Isner (8) 0-3 0 points 

Group Lleyton Hewitt 

1. Roger Federer (2) 2-1 400 points 
2. Kevin Anderson (4) 2-1 400 points 
3. Dominic Thiem (6) 1-2 200 points 
4. Kei Nishikori (7) 1-2 200 points 

Semi Final One:

Roger Federer (2) v Sascha Zverev (3)

The opening set was a solid close fought affair, with no break points given away for eleven games. Federer had been relying a bit more on his second serve, but no concerns until Zverev hit him with a series of deep returns at 5-6.  Federer was put off balance and eventually broken, handing the set to Zverev 7-5.

Severely hurt by the loss, Federer struck back in the third game of set two, converting a break point with a winning backhand.

Zverev, at 21 the youngest player left in the tournament, 16 years the junior of Federer, immediately rectified things by cracking open the Swiss serve the very next game.  Pinning Federer to the baseline with a carefully planned ground stroke offensive, the German was displaying a maturity which had enabled him to secure 56 match wins to date in 2018.  His only down side was his average return from Grand Slam tournaments.

For the remainder of the set it was quality serving, Federer winning over 80% of points on his delivery, Zverev an impressive over 90%.

The tie break was an extension of the server domination for 9 points, but Federer, on the tenth, ran to the net and failed to put his forehand volley over the barrier.  6-4 Zverev and two match points.  One saved with a great forehand and follow up volley put away by Federer.

However Zverev’s delightful backhand volley on the next point won him the tie break and the match 7-5 7-6(5).

A top class win in a high class contest.

A big finish for Sascha Zverev in 2018, whatever the outcome in the final - he is the first player from Germany to reach the finale since Boris Becker in 1996, and the youngest since Juan Martin del Potro in 2009.

Semi Final Two:

Novak Djokovic (1) v Kevin Anderson (4)

Kevin Anderson relies heavily on his serve, especially the first delivery, and Novak Djokovic managed to break the South African in the first game of the opening set, a signal of what was to come.

Anderson was low on first serve percentage and Djokovic was having a hearty meal on the second serve from the fourth seed.

A wayward Anderson forehand contributed a second break of serve to the Serb, and he proceeded to win the set 6-2 in 39 minutes.

Djokovic won 75% of points on his second serve, and Anderson won just 31% on his.

Set two began in the same manner as the first, with Djokovic cracking open the Anderson serve, and the ultimate damage came in the fifth game, sealed with a Djokovic cross court forehand from behind the baseline.  He led 4-1 with serve to come.

While that forehand was incredible for most players to envisage playing, it has become standard for the world number one, as too have all the winners flowing from a backhand which is one of the best ever seen.

Novak allowed Kevin the privilege of holding his final service game for the year, before nonchalantly serving out the semi final 6-2 6-2 in an hour and fifteen minutes of immaculate tennis. A stinging stat showed Djokovic serving more aces than Anderson.

Anderson completed a fine 2018, his best season yet.  A Wimbledon final, including epic wins over Federer and Isner, a career high ranking of five in July, and career best year end ranking of six.

Novak Djokovic defeated Sascha Zverev in a round robin match just a few days ago, surrendering a mere five games.  It will be a more competitive contest in the final, but to expect anything but a Djokovic win would to be ignore his unbeaten run to this stage, no sets lost and service held throughout, only two break points faced and saved.

Young guns exciting men’s tennis

The future of men’s tennis is promising just looking at where things stand at the end of 2018.

At long last there is a growing list of young players making sufficient inroads to give tennis followers hope that the transition from the ‘Big Four’ dominance of the major tournaments may not be too far away.

Of course the ‘Big Four’ notation is being challenged by a ‘Big One’ just for now, but circumstances could invalidate that too as Novak found in 2016.  Nothing is guaranteed secure.

The following players ended 2018 with career high rankings:

11. Karen Khachanov, aged 22,  ranked 45 at start of 2018
12. Borna Coric, aged 22, ranked 48 at start of 2018
13. Fabio Fognini, aged 31, ranked 27 at start of 2018
14. Kyle Edmund, aged 23, ranked 50 at start of 2018
15. Stefanos Tsitsipas, aged 20, ranked 91 at start of 2018
16. Daniil Medvedev, aged 22, ranked 65 at start of 2018

Apart from Fabio Fognini, who had previously reached #13 in March 2014, the other 5 climbed to their current ranking through their 2018 exploits.

Because of the ages of those five young guns (add 19 year old Alex de Minaur who moved from 208 to 31 in 2018) there is likely to be an excitement generated in men’s tennis in 2019 to match that which is already apparent on the women’s tour.  A changing of the guard beginning, at least at the edges, Sascha Zverev already mixing it in the top five at 21, Dominic Thiem solidly in the top ten and still only 25.

Djokovic, Zverev complete London semis

The final day of round robin matches was Day Six of the Nitto ATP Finals in London.

It would decide the final semi finalist - the second in Group Guga Kuerten

Already from Group Lleyton Hewitt, the semi finalists are:

1. Roger Federer (2)
2. Kevin Anderson (4)

Group Guga Kuerten

Novak Djokovic (1)

Sascha Zverev (3)

Marin Cilic (5)

John Isner (8)

Group Lleyton Hewitt 

Roger Federer (2)

Kevin Anderson (4)

Dominic Thiem (6)

Kei Nishikori (7)

Day Six round robin matches

Sascha Zverev (3) v John Isner (8)

To make it through to the semi finals, Isner needed to win in straight sets, and have Djokovic defeat Cilic. Then the American would break a tie between he, Zverev and Cilic on ratio of sets won (3-4, 2-4, 2-5 or 3-5).

Isner began in fine fashion, holding serve with ease, and never allowing Zverev to take him to deuce.  The German, on just one occasion, was taken for a brief journey to that feared place.

No service break though for the first eleven games.

Isner created a chance when Zverev served at 5-6, after a hot forehand winner.  Zverev shut it down with an ace, and followed up with solid play to force a tie break.

Isner, with a forehand error at 4-4 in the tie break, was given a brief reprieve by Zverev, but at 5-6, Isner repeated his mistake and the set was over, as was the tournament for him.

Zverev led 7-6(5), but more importantly had qualified as the second semi finalist in Group Guga Kuerten, and booked a meeting with Roger Federer.

Set two was much easier for Zverev, and possibly because its result no more had any effect on the outcome of the tournament.

The first break point arrived when Isner was serving at 3-4, the American pushed beyond the baseline and out of play.  Isner came to the net behind his serve in an attempt to save the break point, but the return from Zverev was low, enabling him to rush to the net in turn, and shoot a forehand past a stranded Isner.

Having converted the break point, Zverev served out the match 7-6(5) 6-3.

He now moves past the injured del Potro and will finish the year as world number four.

Novak Djokovic (1) v Marin Cilic (5)

The first set was close to the best piece of tennis seen all tournament, and credit to both players, especially Cilic, who was only playing for pride.

Serves were held with ease, only one break point appearing, quickly squashed by Cilic, and a tie break was the obvious decider.

Fourteen straight points were won on serve, such was the quality displayed by both players at the line.  Djokovic, under the most pressure he’d felt for the week, managed to pull the shots out when it mattered and pushed ahead 8-7, with serve to come.

The top seed won the set 7-6(7).

Djokovic moved up a gear, as he is so often able to do, and produced a break opportunity in the opening game of set two.  Cilic extinguished this one, and held serve, taking the lead for the first time in the match.  Djokovic replied with a love service game, which meant that he had won 31 successive points on his serve.  With his delivery from the line now a strength in the overall arsenal, players are doubly in trouble against Novak, renowned already as one of the greatest returners of serve in history.

Ciclic responded well to pressure in the third game to lead again 2-1, but was unable to repeat the dose, and Djokovic ran out the match, breaking Cilic twice to win 7-6(7) 6-2.

The semi finals line up has gone as per the seedlings:

Semi Final 1:

Roger Federer (2) v Sascha Zverev (3)

Semi Final 2:

Novak Djokovic (1) v Kevin Anderson (4)

Federer, Anderson in London semis

Day Five of the Nitto ATP Finals in London featured the final series of round robin matches from Group Lleyton Hewitt, and determined the group’s two semi finalists.

Group Guga Kuerten

Novak Djokovic (1)

Sascha Zverev (3)

Marin Cilic (5)

John Isner (8)

Group Lleyton Hewitt 

Roger Federer (2)

Kevin Anderson (4)

Dominic Thiem (6)

Kei Nishikori (7)

Day Five round robin matches

Dominic Thiem (6) defeated Kei Nishikori (7)

A Kei Nishikori victory was necessary for him to remain in contention for a semi final spot.  Thiem needed to win decisively in two sets, and hope for a Federer loss to Anderson in straight, without taking many games of the South African.

Well the Austrian began smartly, breaking Nishikori in the second game of the opening set, with backhand depth and a confident forehand producing a number of Japanese errors.

Nishikori’s inability to convert four break points in the set, and his poor percentage of points won on serve, made the job of Thiem much easier and the sixth seed took out the set 6-1

Nishikori played some excellent net tennis to avoid being broken early in set two, but errors ultimately brought Thiem a chance to crack open the set, and a backhand down the line achieved a crucial break in the seventh game.

Nishikori forced Thiem to serve out the match, which he duly did 6-1 6-4

Kei Nishikori was eliminated from the tournament as a result.

Dominic Thiem was still alive, but only mathematically.

All Roger Federer needed to do was win five games against Kevin Anderson in the final round robin match, and Thiem would meet the same fate as Nishikori.

Roger Federer (2) defeated Kevin Anderson (4) 6-4 6-3

The pair exchanged service breaks in the first two games of the match, but beyond that Federer controlled everything, especially using his backhand slice to full effect.

Federer was damaging when returning the tall South African second serve, winning seven of eleven points.  Two break points came the Swiss master’s way, and he ate them up with relish.

The set was wrapped up and locked securely in Roger’s Swiss bank account 6-4.

Set two was bubbling along through six games, without threatening to boil over, but Federer turned the heat up in game seven, and Anderson melted on the break point.

Federer, facing no break challenges, won the final three games of the set and match to triumph 6-4 6-3, and top Group Lleyton Hewitt.

Kevin Anderson finished second in the group, after being the front runner.  Federer came back strongly following a poor showing on Day One.

Day 4 London: Djokovic, Cilic win

Day Four of the Nitto ATP Finals in London featured the second series of round robin matches from Group Guga Kuerten, and nothing surprising occurred.

Group Guga Kuerten

Novak Djokovic (1)

Sascha Zverev (3)

Marin Cilic (5)

John Isner (8)

Group Lleyton Hewitt 

Roger Federer (2)

Kevin Anderson (4)

Dominic Thiem (6)

Kei Nishikori (7)

Day Four round robin matches

Novak Djokovic (1) defeated Sascha Zverev (3)

The two winners from Day Two weren’t displaying that level of tennis in the opening set, but it was still a good enough contest, and serves were held without too much stress throughout the first eight games.

The pair proved about equal with points won on first serve, but Djokovic was superior when it came to second serve.

However, it was Zverev who achieved the first break points of the set in the ninth game - two of them.

Djokovic avoided the danger and proceeded to cash in on Zverev errors in the following game which created three set points.

A double fault on the second of these donated the set to the top seed who led 6-4.

Sadly for the German young gun, he offered little resistance in set two after sharing in the first two games.

Consistent play from Djokovic, shots hitting the mark with depth and precision, worried Zverev into an increased error count, and a dropped serve in the fourth game.  A second service break in the sixth game, sealed with a forehand pass, put Djokovic ahead 5-1, and he served for the match.

Novak eased to his second win of the tournament 6-4 6-1, and would reach the semi finals should Isner defeat Cilic, or Cilic defeat Isner (but in three sets).  Of course the fate of Djokovic was in own hands in any case, with a third round robin match to come.  He only would need to win one set in that match to reach the final four, if other clashes don’t already see him through.

Marin Cilic (5) defeated John Isner (8) 6-7(2) 6-3 6-4

In an outstanding opening set for the server, each player fended off break points - Isner one and Cilic three - before an inevitable tie break, where Isner was on song, winning seven points to two.

Cilic rebounded, and although Isner saved four more break points, he failed when 3-4, with a double fault granting Cilic the advantage.  The Croatian served out the set 6-3.  He had won 20 of 24 points on serve, and returned the big American serve efficiently, especially the second delivery, taking 70% of points when it was required.

Set three saw Cilic drop serve early, but Isner did so twice, and the fifth seed was otherwise rock solid from the line, winning all points on his first serve, and taking nine of 21 from Isner’s.

17 double faults for the match, a number at critical moments, crippled Isner, and assisted Marin Cilic to win his first match in the tournament 6-7(2) 6-3 6-4.

This was the first match, out of eight so far, to go the distance, and it also meant that Novak Djokovic qualified for the semi finals, irrespective of remaining results.