Only two singles spots remain at the Nitto ATP Finals, with a four-way battle at this week’s Rolex Paris Masters deciding who among Felix Auger-Aliassime, Andrey Rublev, Taylor Fritz and Hubert Hurkacz will earn a place in Turin.
Felix AA and Rublev are in pole position to qualify for the season finale, which will take place from 13-20 November. But Fritz and Hurkacz, who are in eighth and ninth in the race, still have an opportunity to get there.
Fritz and Hurkacz need to make at least the final to have a chance to earn their spot in Turin. But since Fritz could play Auger-Aliassime in the third round and Hurkacz could face Rublev, they have an opportunity to knock out the contenders ahead of them in the Live Race.
Sixth-placed Auger-Aliassime, who has won titles in Florence, Antwerp and Basel over the past three weeks is in great form. Before his 13-match winning streak, the Canadian had won only one title in his career. He has 3,635 points in the Live Race, putting him 725 points clear of eighth-placed Fritz.
The only way Auger-Aliassime will not make it to the year-end championships, even if he loses his opening match in Paris, is if Fritz wins the title and defeats Rublev in the semi-finals, so Felix looks likely to be there.
It's more complicated for Rublev, since he is in the final qualifying spot. If Fritz lifts the title, Rublev must advance to the semi-finals, where he would face the American.
If Hurkacz lifts the trophy, Rublev would not be able to move past the third round as they would clash in that round. That would eliminate the two-time qualifier Rublev from contention if Hurkacz continued on to take the title.
The two players who make it will join Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Novak Djokovic, and Daniil Medvedev. in the field.
Apart from the players' efforts to reach the ATP finals there are so many interesting matches to see today, but the one I am most keen to see is Nadal v Tommy Paul tonight at 630pm which will give us an indication of where Nadal is in physical terms. I am also curious to see how Paul, the young American, matches up to the great Rafa and my feeling is that he will do well. It's so good to see Stan the Man back in the frame as he is still one of the most fluent and interesting players to watch!
Felix AA and Rublev are in pole position to qualify for the season finale, which will take place from 13-20 November. But Fritz and Hurkacz, who are in eighth and ninth in the race, still have an opportunity to get there.
Fritz and Hurkacz need to make at least the final to have a chance to earn their spot in Turin. But since Fritz could play Auger-Aliassime in the third round and Hurkacz could face Rublev, they have an opportunity to knock out the contenders ahead of them in the Live Race.
Sixth-placed Auger-Aliassime, who has won titles in Florence, Antwerp and Basel over the past three weeks is in great form. Before his 13-match winning streak, the Canadian had won only one title in his career. He has 3,635 points in the Live Race, putting him 725 points clear of eighth-placed Fritz.
The only way Auger-Aliassime will not make it to the year-end championships, even if he loses his opening match in Paris, is if Fritz wins the title and defeats Rublev in the semi-finals, so Felix looks likely to be there.
It's more complicated for Rublev, since he is in the final qualifying spot. If Fritz lifts the title, Rublev must advance to the semi-finals, where he would face the American.
If Hurkacz lifts the trophy, Rublev would not be able to move past the third round as they would clash in that round. That would eliminate the two-time qualifier Rublev from contention if Hurkacz continued on to take the title.
The two players who make it will join Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Novak Djokovic, and Daniil Medvedev. in the field.
Apart from the players' efforts to reach the ATP finals there are so many interesting matches to see today, but the one I am most keen to see is Nadal v Tommy Paul tonight at 630pm which will give us an indication of where Nadal is in physical terms. I am also curious to see how Paul, the young American, matches up to the great Rafa and my feeling is that he will do well. It's so good to see Stan the Man back in the frame as he is still one of the most fluent and interesting players to watch!
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