Novak Djokovic unstoppable at the ATP World Tour Finals? Sky Bet's Tim Clement provides his preview
Saturday 14 November 2015 15:35, UK
Novak Djokovic heads into the ATP World Tour Finals as the shortest-priced favourite ever as he looks to cap off a remarkable campaign.
The 28-year-old is just 1/2 with Sky Bet to win the event for a fourth successive time, odds which are hard to argue with when you consider his dominance of the game in 2015.
While the elusive Grand Slam of winning all four majors in a calendar year proved beyond him, the world No 1 has enjoyed a career-best campaign, reflected by the fact that he has nearly twice the ranking points of any of his rivals.
Indeed, his grasp of top spot has never been stronger, taking a 22-match winning streak into his opener with Kei Nishikori, while the indoors environment is his greatest stronghold, boasting an unbeaten record stretching back to 2012.
His dominance indoors has never been greater, losing just two sets from his last three events in the environment, a record which is all the more impressive when you consider the majority of those matches have been against top-10 opponents.
The Serb has won 10 of the 17 events he has entered in 2015 and can reach a career-best tally of 11 titles by successfully defending his title at the O2 Arena again, while it will also leave him just one behind Federer's record tally of six.
Indeed, more and more of the Swiss star's records are coming into sight for Djokovic, although that surely also serves as a great motivation for the 34-year-old.
The pair have been placed together in Group Stan Smith along with Tomas Berdych and Kei Nishikori, who both face an uphill task to reach the knockout stages.
Federer is rated the most capable of halting Djokovic's dominance, with Sky Bet making him a 7/2 second favourite while Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka follow at 12/1 apiece.
Murray and Wawrinka are joined by Spanish duo Rafael Nadal (14/1) and David Ferrer (80/1) in the less predictable Group Ilie Nastase.
Sky Bet are at odds over who will triumph from the seemingly weaker pool, with Murray and Nadal rated 2/1 chances followed by Wawrinka (5/2) and Ferrer (6/1).
With the Davis Cup final looming large for Murray, who spent much of his preparation period practising on clay ahead of the Belgium showdown, Wawrinka could well prove a wise pick to win the group, having won his most recently encounters with all three.
The world No 4 can also take encouragement from ending Djokovic's run of winning 28 successive sets as he reached the semi-finals at the Paris Masters last week.
However, it looks a big ask for whoever progresses to go beyond the semi-finals, where they will likely face Djokovic and Federer.
Indeed, the like-minded who fail to set past upsets might want to look towards Sky Bet's 5/2 Price Boost for Djokovic to beat Federer in the final, concluding the most dominant campaign ever posted on the ATP Tour.
