ATP Finals preview: Roger Federer leads unfamiliar cast as Rafael Nadal sweats over injury

The huge hoardings around the O2 Arena promoting the season-ending ATP Finals will get some quizzical looks this year with several familiar faces conspicuous by their absence.

Home favourite Andy Murray, who memorably won the 2016 title to end the year ranked number one, three-times London champion Novak Djokovic, who Murray beat, pugnacious Swiss Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori, along with his Japanese fan club, are all absent after succumbing to injuries.

Even a mouthwatering battle for the world number one ranking between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer has been scotched with Spaniard Nadal having taken an unassailable points lead.

Nadal’s participation is also clouded by a knee injury which hardly augurs well for the 31-year-old claiming the only big prize to elude him. He practised on Friday but was less than positive about his chances of being 100 percent fit.

Should Nadal pull out, and the organisers will be crossing their fingers that he doesn’t, the path would seemingly be clear for Federer, although anyone assuming the Swiss will claim the title for a seventh time is discounting the dangers that lurk.

Germany’s Alexander Zverev, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, Belgian David Goffin and American Jack Sock — all first-time qualifiers — are not second-rate stand-ins.

Zverev, …read more