Novak Djokovic learns ATP Finals fate but Serb may withdraw as spot still vacant | Tennis | Sport

The draw for the ATP Finals has been made – but there is still plenty of uncertainty. Novak Djokovic, who is the No. 4 seed at this year’s season-ending championships, has yet to commit to the tournament despite qualifying and being included in the draw.

The Serbian superstar is currently in action at the ATP 250 event in Athens and said he would make a decision on his participation once his run in Greece is over. Djokovic has, however, been drawn in the Jimmy Connors Group with No. 1 seed Carlos Alcaraz, plus Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur.

Meanwhile, the eighth and final spot in the ATP Finals field has yet to be determined. Felix Auger-Aliassime and Lorenzo Musetti are battling it out to get into the draw. Auger-Aliassime is currently eighth in the race, but Musetti can surpass him and qualify by winning the Athens title on Saturday.

Before the draw was made in Turin on Thursday, ATP Tour supervisor Gerry Armstrong clarified that the eighth position was still up in the air. “We are waiting on the identity of our eighth player. By way of explanation, we have Lorenzo Musetti, who will qualify if he wins the current event in Athens. Anything less and the position will go to Felix Auger-Aliassime,” he said.

The seedings for the ATP Finals draw are based on the race rankings – not on this week’s current ATP rankings. The race rankings also reflect the rankings that will apply from Monday, November 10. These have last year’s ATP Finals points removed.

This means that, even though Jannik Sinner is currently the world No. 1, Alcaraz is actually the top seed, and Sinner is the No. 2 seed. Defending champion Sinner heads up the Bjorn Borg group, which also includes Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton. The eighth-place player – either Auger-Aliassime or Musetti – will also be part of this group.

Each player contests three round-robin matches against the other players in their groups. The two group winners advance to the knockout semi-finals.

However, things could become even more complicated if Djokovic decides to withdraw. If the seven-time ATP Finals champion decides not to head to Turin for the year-end championships, it is assumed that either Auger-Aliassime or Musetti – whomever does not directly qualify in eighth place – will take his place in the draw as the first alternate.

The president of the Italian tennis federation, Angelo Binaghi, recently said he had received “confirmation” that Djokovic would play in the ATP Finals.

However, after winning his opening match in Athens, the 38-year-old said: “I don’t know where (Binaghi) got this information, certainly not from me or my team. I will decide at the end of this tournament.”

Djokovic also skipped the 2024 ATP Finals and has been selective with his schedule in recent years. The Serbian superstar is currently through to the quarter-finals in Athens, where he faces Nuno Borges.

Musetti is also through to the Athens quarter-finals and takes on Alexandre Muller on Thursday. If the Italian fails to lift the title, Auger-Aliassime will get the eighth place at the ATP Finals in the Bjorn Borg Group with Sinner and co. Musetti would then be the first alternate.

The doubles draw has also been made. British duo Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash are the No. 1 seeds and they head up the Peter Fleming Group, which also includes Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos; Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz; and Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori.

The John McEnroe group includes Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten; Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic; Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury; and Christian Harrison and Evan King.