Ahead of the ATP World Tour Finals in London, The National's sports desk provide their predictions for the season-ending tournament. To read the next prediction, click on the red arrows in the bottom right corner of the image, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.
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JON TURNER — ONLINE SPORTS EDITOR
Final: Andy Murray v Marin Cilic
After years of tireless work and unshakeable self-belief, Andy Murray is now the world No 1. His reward? Being handed undoubtedly the tougher of the two groups at this year’s ATP World Tour Finals. However, let’s be clear: Stan Wawrinka, Marin Cilic, and Kei Nishikori will be a lot more afraid of Murray than he will be of them. Given his immense form at present — 20 straight wins and four titles — Murray should top the group with few problems. Cilic, who beat Nishikori in the Swiss Indoors final last month, is primed to take the runner-up spot. The Croatian will then face Novak Djokovic in the semi-final where he will replicate his impressive win from the Paris Masters semi-final and once again defeat the recently-dethroned world No 1.
Final prediction: Murray in three. One win each this season (Murray at Queen's, Cilic in Cincinnati), Murray will prevail after three tightly-contested sets to cap his remarkable season.
Disappointment: Stan Wawrinka. Considering the strength of opposition in his group, Wawrinka is simply not in good enough form to progress. Wawrinka's last three events: a first round defeat in Paris to world No 91 Jan-Lennard Struff, a quarter-final loss in Basel to world No 72 Mishca Zverev, and a third round loss to Gilles Simon in Shanghai. Hardly the results to set the foundation for a title-winning campaign in London.
GRAHAM CAYGILL — SPORTS EDITOR
Final: Andy Murray v Milos Raonic
Andy Murray is in the form of his life, having won his past four tournaments, a run that earned him the No 1 spot in the world rankings. What has been most impressive is that he continues to show his fighting spirit, such as coming from 6-1 down in a tie-break against Tomas Berdych in Paris last week. He has a difficult task in the John McEnroe Group but expect him and Marin Cilic to get through. Providing he is fully fit, Raonic has the form and power to surprise Novak Djokovic and win the Ivan Lendl Group. The Canadian will have too much for Cilic in the semi-finals, while Murray will beat Djokovic in their showdown.
Final prediction: Murray in straight sets. The Briton's excellent returning will give him chances against Raonic's big serve and he will finish off 2016 in style.
Disappointment: Novak Djokovic. Given he has won it the past four years and if this forecast is right he will not make the final, this will sum up a poor second half of 2016 for the Serbian. For the first time in a long while he looks mortal on court, and when you look at who he has lost to in recent months (Sam Querrey, Juan Marin del Potro, Roberto Bautista Agut and Marin Cilic) he looks very beatable. Whether this is a blip or his game is suddenly in decline is going to be a fascinating narrative for 2017 and he is unlikely to head into next season on a winning note.
CHITRABHANU KADALAYIL — SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
Final: Andy Murray v Novak Djokovic
Even though Murray rose to the top of the rankings only last Saturday, his consistency throughout the year proves he has been the best player in the world for a lot longer than one week. The Briton has been drawn in the more difficult of the two groups at the tournament, but based on recent form he will make it to the final where he will meet the man he deposed from the No 1 position — Novak Djokovic. The Serb, not at the top of his game lately, has a comparatively easy group and will likely be spurred by the chance to make history (no one has won the year-ending title five successive times) as well as the prospect of wresting the top spot back.
Final prediction: Murray in three. The two players have not met since the French Open final, which Djokovic won, and the Serb has a superior head-to-head record (24-10). But Murray's recent form and his incredible motivation — "I want to do myself justice" by ending the year as No 1 — will prove too much for Djokovic to handle.
Disappointment: Kei Nishikori. One of the criticisms against the Japanese No 1 has been his not-so-good head-to-head record against the world's fellow top players. He trails 7-2 to Andy Murray and 4-2 to Stan Wawrinka. Although he leads 7-5 against Marin Cilic, he has not beaten the Croat in either of their meetings this year. Wawrinka has blown hot-and-cold since winning the US Open, but the Swiss is unpredictable and has the game to overwhelm Nishikori. Asia's best player could well lose all his matches.
AHMED RIZVI — REPORTER
Final: Andy Murray v Novak Djokovic
Drawn in the tougher of the two groups, Murray will probably get a tougher workout in the group stages than Djokovic, but the world No 1 should still sail through without much concern. The Scot has a positive head-to-head record against all three of his Group John McEnroe opponents — he is 9-7 against Stan Wawrinka, 7-2 against Kei Nishikori and 11-3 against Marin Cilic — and, as his recent results and rise to No 1 prove, Murray is playing better than he has ever done in his life. Gael Monfils looks his most likely in the semis, and Murray is 4-2 against the Frenchman, winning three of their last four duels. Deposed from the No 1 spot after a reign of 122 consecutive weeks, Djokovic has clearly not been at the peak of his powers since his French Open triumph. But the favourable draw should assuage any concerns. Djokovic’s collective record against his three group opponents is an impeccable 23-0 — 7-0 against Milos Raonic, 13-0 against Monfils and 3-0 against Dominic Thiem. Djokovic’s semi-final opponent could be Cilic, the man who got his first win in 15 matches against the then No 1 at the Paris Masters earlier this month, and Djokovic should be keen for revenge.
Final prediction: Murray wins in two
Disappointment: Milos Raonic. The world No 4 from Canada withdrew from the Paris Masters ahead of his semi-final clash against Murray due to a tear in his right thigh, and initial reports had suggested he could miss the Finals. But Raonic has been training well in London and, according to media reports, the injury has not been hampering him. So he is keen to play, but not being at his peak, physically, at an elite tournament like this will definitely reflect in his results.
