Federer outlasts Zverev in London

The third day/night of the ATP Finals produced two three set thrillers and included a broken record.

First it was fifth seed Marin Cilic (5) against Jack Sock (8), both coming off losses in their opening matches.

It was Cilic who began best, winning 63% of points on his second serve in the first set compared to 25% for Sock.

Service was broken twice by Cilic and once by Sock, enabling the Croatian to take the lead 7-5.

Sock struck back hard, reversing the trend with points won on second serve, 64% to 23%.

Two breaks to none and the match was level.

An even third set, with a break each, meant that a tie break would determine the result.

Cilic led 4-2 but some aggressive and outstanding shotmaking from Sock saw him rattle off five straight points to steal the match 5-7 6-2 7-6(4).

Alexander Zverev (3) served it up to Roger Federer (2) after surrendering the close opening set to the Swiss star in a tie break 8 points to 6.

In set two the German young gun converted two of seven break chances , while Federer broke just once from two chances.

Federer was clearly angry and blasted Zverev off the court in set three 6-1, remaining undefeated and taking a spot in the semi finals.

31 points to 17 in the decider and Federer will compete in the semi finals at the season ending tournament for the 14th time in 15 appearances. He now has broken the record of Tiger Woods in terms of career prize money.

Nadal withdraws from ATP Finals

In London at the ATP Finals, Alexander Zverev (3) finished the opening night by recovering from a break down in the deciding third set to defeat Marin Cilic (5) 6-4 3-6 6-4.

The second day/night saw two matches from the Pete Sampras Group.

First up, Grigor Dimitrov (6) played Dominic Thiem (4).

In set one, both were terrific on first serves, Thiem winning 10 of 11 points, and Dimitrov 16 of 18.

However, Thiem could only manage a terrible 37% of first serves into play, and enabled Dimitrov to have a go at three break points, one of which was converted.

The Bulgarian faced no break points and won the set 6-3.

Set two was somewhat a reversal, with Dimitrov poorer on first serve percentage and winning far less points overall.

This time the only break point converted was initiated by Thiem who levelled the match 3-6 7-5.

Points won on second serve determined how the third set was won. Dimitrov won 69% of points on his second delivery, while Thiem won 44% on his.

Break points were created more at will for the sixth seed and he just required one to be converted and the match was his 6-3 5-7 7-5.

David Goffin (7) picked up the biggest win of his career when he toppled Rafa Nadal (1).

After taking set one in a tie break, Goffin would have been concerned when Nadal levelled by winning set two, also in a tie break.

From five chances, though, Goffin broke twice in the decider to shock the top seed 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-4.

A bigger shock came after the match with Nadal’s withdrawal from the tournament through injury.

Fellow Spaniard, Pablo Carreno Busta, is the replacement for Nadal.

ATP Finals underway

The year end ATP Finals have commenced in London and the two groups consist of four players each - the top eight ranked in the world have qualified although seventh ranked Stan Wawrinka is injured and unable to compete. His spot is taken by ninth ranked Jack Sock.

Group Pete Sampras

Rafael Nadal (seeded 1)

Dominic Thiem (4)

Grigor Dimitrov (6)

David Goffin (7)

Group Boris Becker

Roger Federer (2)

Alexander Zverev (3)

Marin Cilic (5)

Jack Sock (8)

Roger Federer opened proceedings by defeating Jack Sock in straight sets 6-4 7-6(4)

Not much separated the two in set one with the only break point being pounced on by Federer, effectively deciding things.

The pressure of the Swiss first serve winning 16 of 18 points was an important factor.

Despite again dominating on his first serve - winning 20 of 22 points - and creating 5 break points, Federer could not pierce the Sock serve in set two.

It took a tie break, in which Federer has proved a master, to force the issue. Roger predictably won it and the match.

Currently Zverev and Cilic are battling each other in the second round robin match on opening night with the two swapping sets and Cilic achieving an early break in set three.

Sock and Goerges score big

Jack Sock recovered from losing the opening set and won the Paris Masters 1000 final against qualifier Filip Krajinovic.

The American 16th seed has suddenly leapt 13 rungs into the world top ten, grabbing the number nine spot.

Serbia’s Krajinovic sits at 33, only nine spots below Milos Raonic, whose absence has cost him a drop of 12 places this week.

Long term injuries are costly - Nishikori has finally slipped from a solid top ten ranking to 22. Number ones from 2016, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, are now 12 and 16 respectively. Murray dropped 13 places after missing Paris.

Only Stan Wawrinka, of the players injured and out for the last part of 2017, has held onto a top ten ranking (7).

The two ‘comeback kids’ are up and away from the rest of the field:

1 Nadal 10,645 points

2 Federer 9,005 points

3 A Zverev 4,410 points

Zhuhai saw the completion of the WTA tour with the final of the Hengqin Life WTA Elite Trophy held.

Seventh seed Julia Goerges won her second title in a fortnight, following Moscow, by proving too strong for Coco Vandeweghe in straight sets 7-5 6-1.

This was after being down 2-5 in the first set.

Julia lost the first set she played in the tournament, and proceeded to win every set henceforth.

End of year rankings are such:

1. Simona Halep 6175 points (ended 2016 at 4)

2. Garbine Muguruza 6135 (7)

3. Caroline Wozniacki 6015 (19)

4. Karolina Pliskova 5730 (6)

5. Venus Williams 5597 (17)

6. Elina Svitolina 5500 (14)

7. Jelena Ostapenko 5010 (44)

8. Caroline Garcia 4420 (24)

9. Johanna Konta 3610 (10)

10. Coco Vandeweghe 3258 (36)

Those tumbling from the top ten at end of 2016:

1 Angie Kerber (now 21)

2 Serena Williams (22) good excuse !

3 Aga Radwanska (28)

5 Dominika Cibulkova (26)

8 Madison Keys (19)

9 Sveta Kuznetsova (12)

Qualifier Krajinovic in Paris final

The Paris Masters 1000 final match up is something no one would ever have predicted.

Jack Sock, seeded 16, is potentially good enough to make the final, but let’s be truthful his path was cleared by:

Roger Federer withdrawing and Lucas Pouille (17) taking that place in the draw. Sock played Pouille in the second round instead of a likely more potent Swiss foe.

The dismissal of Marin Cilic (3) and David Goffin (7) by unseeded Julien Benneteau.

The ousting of Dominic Thiem (5) by unseeded Fernando Verdasco.

This meant that Sock avoided playing any seeds after he’d beaten Pouille.

He knocked over Verdasco in the quarters and Benneteau in the semis.

And who does he face in the final ? A qualifier !

Yes, Filip Krajinovic, given a walkover by Nadal in the quarters, defeated the big serving ninth seed, John Isner in the semis.

How Isner lost is a mystery - 31 aces, 85% of points won on first serve, five break points created on his opponents serve, only one on his.

It came down to break point conversion. Isner failed to convert any of his five chances, whereas Krajinovic snapped up his one opportunity.

With tie breaks shared, that meant exit for Isner, the scoreline 6-4 6-7(2) 7-6(5)

Krajinovic, by making the final, has jumped from 77 to 33 in the rankings. If he wins, 25 will be his spot.

A victory for Sock will rocket him into the top ten at 9, five better than his current career high, and placing him as the US number one.

With Djokovic and Murray losing lots of points, a number of players have moved up the rankings to career highs:

Alexander Zverev is number 3 (previous high 4)

Dominic Thiem is number 4 (6)

Grigor Dimitrov is number 6 (8)

David Goffin is number 8 (10)

Pablo Carreno Busta is number 9 (10) but will revert to 10 should Jack Sock win Paris

The Zhuhai final will be fought between Coco Vandeweghe and Julia Goerges, after both won in convincing style against Ash Barty and Anastasija Sevastova respectively.  

Each semi final was won 6-3 6-3, meaning Barty finishes the year ranked 17. Sevastova will finish 14 if Vandeweghe wins the title, 15 if Goerges prevails.

Goerges ends up 14 should she win, 16 if she loses.

Coco is number 10 whatever.

Nadal injured in Paris

The semi finals in Zhuhai have been determined and the four women were undefeated in each of their respective groups.

Coco Vandeveghe (2) will play Ash Barty (9) in one semi final and Anastasija Sevastova (5) battles Julia Goerges (7) in the other.

Vandeweghe will gain a season ending ranking of 10, irrespective of what happens from now in the tournament, and this is a career high for the American who is only behind Venus Williams of US players in the charts.

Sevastova will jump to 11 if she wins the tournament, a career high, beating her previous best of 15.  

However, if Ash Barty wins the title, the Aussie will move to 14, a career high, and Sevastova will finish at 15.

Julia Goerges winning the title would mean Ash Barty finishing at 17 and Sevastova at 15. Goerges would sit at 14 - a new career high.

So, many possibilities are available with the semis upon us, and the matches are mouth watering.

Vandeweghe and Barty have never played each other, while Goerges leads Sevastova 3-2 head to head.

However, the 3 wins for Goerges were 2011-2013 and the latest match between the two was in Mallorca this year with victory to Sevastova, albeit on grass.

Paris has seen most of the top men’s seeds say goodbye.

Top seed Rafa Nadal gave qualifier Filip Krajinovic a walkover into the semi finals, citing a knee injury. This puts doubt into the world number ones participation in the ATP Finals.

Other considered serious Paris contenders to fall by the wayside included:

Marin Cilic (3) in a quarter final to unseeded Julien Benneteau

Benneteau had previously knocked out eleventh seed Tsonga in the second round and seventh seed David Goffin in the third round.

Dominic Thiem (5) in the third round in straight sets to Fernando Verdasco

Grigor Dimitrov (6) in the third round to John Isner (9)

Isner proceeded to defeat an in form del Potro in a quarter final 

Barty top Aussie

The ATP Tour has rolled into Paris for the latest Masters 1000 event - Roger Federer is the biggest name to not be competing.

Just beginning third round matches, there have been some upsets already.

Sam Querrey (10) was ousted by Serbian qualifier Filip Krajinovic and veteran Nicolas Mahut defeated Pablo Carreno Busta (8), both in second round matches after first round byes.

All seeds had byes before their first matches.

Another Pablo was more successful - Pablo Cuevas - who beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas (15).

Robin Haase dumped fourth seed Alexander Zverev while Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (11) lost to fellow Frenchman Julien Benneteau. US Open finalist Kevin Anderson (12) has not managed to keep his New York form and departed Paris at the hands of Fernando Verdasco.

Other players expected to do well have done the job required early in the tournament, including Rafa Nadal (1), Marin Cilic (3), Dominic Thiem (5), Grigor Dimitrov (6) and David Goffin (7). All are through to the third round.

Juan Martin del Potro (13) is the first to make it to the round of sixteen, halting the run of Robin Haase.

The top eight women have only just completed the WTA Finals in Singapore, and this week it is the turn of the next tier of women to compete in a similar tournament to complete their year.

Held in Zhuhai, 12 women were seeded, Kristina Mladenovic the number one, down to Shuai Peng at 12, and then split into four groups of three for round robin matches.

To date, the players with two wins and no losses are Anastasija Sevastova (5), Coco Vandeweghe (2), and Ash Barty.(9).

With the points from those wins, the live WTA rankings have Sevastova sitting at a potential career high 14 and Barty a career high 16.

Elena Vesnina (6) and Magdalena Rybarikova (10) have matches in hand which could take Barty back to 18 in the world which would still be a career high.

However, if the Aussie keeps winning, and she is in a semi final, her ranking could end up better than 16, Already she is guaranteed to be the top ranked Australian female player at the end of 2017 - remarkable since she began the year ranked 271.