10 questions about the 2020 Nitto ATP Finals – Dates, schedule, qualified players, protocols
The Nitto ATP Tour finals will round off 2020 on the ATP Tour. Here’s all the information you need about the season-ending event.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is presented with the single ATP Finals trophy
London will host the Nitto ATP Finals for the 12th and final time this month, with the world’s best players descending on the English capital before the ATP’s flagship event moves to Turin, Italy in 2021 for the first of at least five years. Here are 10 things you might like to know about the Nitto ATP Finals.
When will the tournament be played?
This year’s tournament will be played across eight days in London, from Sunday November 15 to Sunday November 22, at the O2 Arena.
Who has qualified in 2020?
The eight singles players are decided; Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev and Diego Schwartzman have qualified. Roger Federer, who also qualified, will not play due to injury.
The eight doubles teams are as follows: Rajeev Ram/Joe Salisbury, Mate Pavic/Bruno Soares, Kevin Krawietz/Andreas Mies, Horacio Zeballos/Marcel Granollers, Wesley Koolhof/Nikola Mektic, John Peers/Michael Venus, Lukasz Kubot/Marcelo Melo and Jurgen Melzer/Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
What is the format at the Nitto ATP Finals?
Each match will be the best of three sets, with a tiebreak in the final set. The top eight-ranked players in singles and top eight-ranked pairs in doubles qualify for the event. Each player or team is placed into one of two round-robin groups, with the top two players in each group qualifying for the semi-finals.
Is there a draw?
Yes, the draw for the Nitto ATP Finals was made on Thursday November 12. At the draw ceremony, the players were placed into two groups. In the singles, these will be called Group Tokyo 1970 and Group London 2020, in recognition of the 50-year history of the event. The doubles groups will be called Group Bob Bryan and Group Mike Bryan, in recognition of the career of the former world No 1-ranked brothers, who retired this year.
In Group Tokyo 1970, world No 1 Novak Djokovic will face Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev and Diego Schwartzman.
In Group London 2020, last year’s champion Stefanos Tsitsipas will take on Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem and Andrey Rublev.
The alternates are Matteo Berrettini and Denis Shapovalov.
Who are the defending champions?
Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Dominic Thiem in the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals to become the year-end champion in singles. In doubles, the winners were Nicolas Mahut & Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who defeated Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus 6-3, 6-4 in the final.
Who has won the most matches at the Nitto ATP Finals?
Roger Federer‘s 59 victories are 20 more than anyone else at the ATP Finals. The Swiss has compiled a 59-17 record in his 17 appearances.
Who has made the most ATP Finals appearances?
That would be Roger Federer as well. Federer’s 17 appearances are two more than Rafael Nadal’s 15, and three more than Andre Agassi’s 14. Novak Djokovic and Ivan Lendl (12) are tied for fourth on the list.
Who owns the most titles at the ATP Finals?
Roger Federer has won six year-end finals (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011). Novak Djokovic, Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl each own five titles at the ATP Finals.
What time do matches start at the Nitto ATP Finals?
- Monday to Thursday: Singles: 2pm and 8pm; Doubles: 12pm and 6pm
- Friday: Singles 2pm and 8pm; Doubles 5.45pm and 7.45pm
- Saturday semi-finals: Singles 2pm and 8pm; Doubles 6pm and 8pm
- Sunday 25th: Doubles final: 3.30pm; Singles final: 6pm
What Covid-19 protocols are in place at the ATP Finals?
- Due to Covid-19 restrictions (London is currently on a second lockdown), no fans will be allowed into the event in 2020.
- The players must all stay in one hotel
- On arrival, all players will be tested and must remain in the hotel until they receive a negative result.
- Players will be tested every four days, on average.
- If any player breaks the bubble without a valid reason, they will be defaulted.
- There will be no linesmen or women. Instead, Hawk-Eye Live will be in operation, calling all the lines.
Official website: You can see the official Nitto ATP Finals website here – https://www.nittoatpfinals.com/en
