Five talking points ahead of ATP World Tour Finals
Wednesday 11 November 2015 14:51, UK
Ahead of the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals, Barry Cowan answers five key questions about the thrilling season finale at The O2.
Andy Murray will be joined by world No 1 Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in an elite eight-man line-up in the capital.
The ATP World Tour Finals is live on Sky Sports between November 15-22 so what does Cowan expect?
Can Murray take positives from the Paris Masters?
Andy Murray meeting Novak Djokovic in the final was a bit predictable, but it's up to the rest to improve. I think we've seen Andy improve this year, while Roger Federer has been more aggressive.
I think for Andy, he needs to play Djokovic as many times as he can - and beat him. Anyone who is going to win a Grand Slam has to beat Djokovic, because he's head and shoulders above everyone else.
Live Tennis: ATP World Tour Finals
He knows he can beat him - we saw that at the Montreal Masters final - but the longer he goes without a win against Djokovic, the bigger the barrier. He's overcome that, but clearly needs a little more self-belief to find the formula on a consistent basis.
Has Murray got one eye on the Davis Cup final?
I think it's the perfect preparation. He can't just focus on the Davis Cup. He needs matches. Clearly some psychological damage would have been done to David Goffin with that straight-sets win in Paris.
I think Andy is such a winner and he's not played his best tennis in previous years at The O2. The spotlight is on British tennis for two weeks, with The O2 and the Davis Cup final.
It seems as though Andy is clear in his mind how he wants to prepare for the Davis Cup and that's play The O2, but also practice on clay.
Unless anything happens with his back or another part of his body, if he goes to The O2 then he will commit.
What would be the perfect draw for Murray?
Stan Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych, and I would say Kei Nishikori, because he's not fit. Ideally Nishikori first match.
They met last year, but a lot has changed since then for both. Andy is playing a lot better now, 100 percent fit, confidence is sky high, whereas Nishikori has had a really difficult year. He started the year well, but it's injury after injury at the moment.
Did Rafael Nadal's resurgence lose momentum in Paris?
He won't worry about that loss to Wawrinka in the quarter-final. He made errors that you wouldn't expect him to make. That forehand when he was serving for the set... the smash, which was just unbelievable because he's got such a great smash.
But where he has come from, where he was two months ago, where he was before Paris, where he was after... In that match against Kevin Anderson, his level of tennis was high.
He's never won Paris before, so it's not like it was a disaster losing in the quarter-finals. So losing to Wawrinka - who's won a Grand Slam - is not too worrying.
Who will take the title at The O2?
Djokovic is clearly the favourite and you must look to Federer, but I think Rafa will be there or thereabouts. I think Andy will play even better, but maybe the Davis Cup final will be a factor.
I think it helps when players know it's the last tournament of the year, because it's five matches against the very best, and if you look at the Paris Masters, Novak has been cruising.
You go in right from the word go against someone from the top eight, which is the only time it happens in the year. That also changes the dynamic.
As things stand, indoors at The O2 with those conditions, I would have Djokovic, Federer and Rafa as three.
Watch the ATP World Tour Finals, live on Sky Sports between November 15-22. Or watch without a contract on NOW TV
