Shanghai Rolex Masters are in play right now; this tournament its one of the last chances that players at the ATP could use to gather some points and qualifies for the World Tour Finals. The other opportunities these athletes have are the one in Paris on November, and the two ATP 500 tournaments in Valencia and Basel plus a few ATP 250 tournaments to fill the cup.
But are the big four or those close enough to take them down ready to face the challenge to come? In the last months the world of tennis has experienced a few turns and has changed a lot, so the results could be unexpected. Let's start pointing some of these amazing changes.
Only the big four are already inside the tournament at London, the rumors say many things about how they will develop on court and the possible outcomes. Is expected that Rafael Nadal will try to figure out the challenge that Novak Djokovic presents, meanwhile the Serbian will try to get his record-breaking season a spectacular ending. Roger Federer will try to take over and atone for the worst season on his career since 2002 and becoming the first man to win 6 trophies at the season final. Andy Murray has been playing with more strength and passion lately, he is already qualified and with his last results on Cincinnati and Japan, he is on route to win a big trophy to add on his career records.
But not only the big four are getting ready to face each other on the court, many are aiming to their heads and they are quite capable to make it. These challengers stalk the quartet closely, and they also have their spot already secured.
David Ferrer has (3,700) points this year, and is at the 5th place, with Mardy Fish (2,865) and Tomas Berdych (2,850) following very closely. Also Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (2,780) is competing at Shanghai, what could give him some boost points to secure his entrance at the Barclays. While these three titans increase their advantage, other competitors expected like Robin Soderling (2,080), Juan Martin Del Potro (2,050), Gael Monfils (1,765) and Richard Gasquet (1,675) are not present.
The difference gap between Tsonga and the next group of challengers it's of 500 to 700 points approximately; Nicolas Almagro (2,280) is behind the French, but his results hasn't been very fructuous and is not a hard court player, however his draw is not so bad so he may get to the quarters and kept inside the top ten.
Other players of great renown like Marin Cilic Andy Roddick and Alexandr Dolgopolov are so far in the ranks; even behind the small group closest to the big four, which they would need to win at least a master to have a chance to reach a place in the World Tour Finals. Del Potro is one who still could make it, but he skipped the Asian tour and seems to be focusing his energies on the Davis Cup in December.
You can start imaging the level of play that the World Tour Finals will provide; the matches will be exciting for sure; Djokovic, Nadal, Ferrer, Murray, Ferrer, Tsonga an other great and most talented tennis players in the globe ready to give the best of their efforts to prove who the ruler of the court is.