Atp tour
Djokovic says future of men's tennis in good hands
With the big three getting older, 17-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic said it was good to see the next generation performing well.
The Russian fourth seed was second best for large periods at the empty O2 Arena but found a way back into the contest and prevailed 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.
The Serbian top seed, who was beaten comprehensively by Daniil Medvedev in his second round-robin match, was again below his best in London but did enough to win 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).
The 34-year-old has qualified for the ATP Finals for a record 16 consecutive years but has been forced to withdraw on six occasions.
The Russian fourth seed went toe-to-toe with the world number one, winning 6-3, 6-3 in an absorbing, energy-sapping contest at London's empty O2 Arena.
The world number one crushed Argentine eighth seed Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-2 in the opening round-robin match in Group Tokyo 1970 before Russia's Medvedev triumphed 6-3, 6-4.
Nadal, who claimed his 1,000th career victory by beating Feliciano Lopez on Wednesday, is bidding for a first Paris indoors triumph which would draw him level with Novak Djokovic on a record 36 Masters titles.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion, back in the French capital less than a month after winning his 13th Roland Garros title, edged out his fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.
Tsitsipas will next defend his ATP Tour Finals title in London at the season-ending tournament which gets underway on 15 November.
World number one Novak Djokovic beat Argentine Schwartzman 7-5, 6-3 in Monday's final to win a fifth Rome title, and a record 36th Masters crown to move one better than Rafael Nadal.
From a tournament normally played in Cincinnati but moved to New York because of the coronavirus pandemic to masked ball boys and girls, there was very little normal about the return of professional men’s tennis.
Kyrgios said Thiem wasn't on the same 'intellectual level' after the Austrian called his criticism 'cheap' and claimed it was 'bad luck' that Zverev was caught partying after promising to self-isolate.
Djokovic, Coric, Grigor Dimitrov and Viktor Troicki all tested positive for COVID-19 after playing in the event in Serbia and Croatia, which drew big crowds and saw the players pose for pictures together.
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam event to have been played so far this year. The French Open has been moved to September and is due to start one week after the scheduled U.S. Open men’s final, while Wimbledon has been cancelled.
World number two Rafael Nadal, who captured a fourth US Open and 19th major in New York last year, said the coronavirus pandemic still casts huge doubts over the tennis calendar which has been suspended since mid-March.
The pandemic has led to the cancellation of Wimbledon and the postponement of the French Open to September, while the status of the U.S. Open, scheduled to take place as usual in late August, is still unclear.
The Spanish government has extended the country's state of alarm until May 9, with the entire population confined to their homes except a small number working in specific sectors, leaving Nadal perplexed as to why he can't train.
Novak Djokovic said on Saturday that the 'Big Three' - himself, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal - were organising aid for lower-ranked players who have no income while the sport is suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Last month, former world number one Amelie Mauresmo said the rest of the 2020 tennis season might be wiped out, saying that action should not resume before players can get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.