The 3rd edition of the ATP Finals in Milan is about to start and it seems as there are 3 favorites: Frances Tiafoe, Alex De Minaur, and home favorite Jannik Sinner.
Unfortunately, the competition had a big blow with the retirement of 3 of top ranked players such as Stefanos Tsitsipas (he will play in the ATP Finals), Denis Shapovalov (fatigue), and Felix Auger-Aliassime (injury). However, there are still some interesting and exciting players around that will give a good boost to the event.
The rules
These Finals are well-known for introducing new innovative concepts and using unique rules. Here the summary.
The format
The matches will be played with the rule of First to Four games sets (Tie-Break at 3-All), Best-of-Five sets, with No-Ad scoring.
Wearable Technology In-Competition
Players can use wearable technology to improve their performance on quantitative data.
Warm-ups
Warm-ups will be shorter as the matches begin precisely 4 minutes from the second player walk-on.
Shot Clock
This is not a “real innovation” as many tournaments now use the shot clock. However, the Nextgen Finals were extremely eager to employ it from the very beginning.
Player Coaching
Player coaching is not allowed on the ATP tour. However, this controversial practice will be allowed during the NextGen Finals to give some interesting insights to the viewers.
Medical Time Out
Players can have only 1 medical time out per match.
Free Movement
Spectators can move freely during the matches with the exception of the baselines. This will help to provide a more relaxed atmosphere.
Video Review
Chair Umpire may also use video reviews for further judgments.
Towel racks
ballboys will not carry the towels for the players that have to collect them from designed racks during the matches.
In the past, the event was adopting the no-let rule (that means that the point was played even if the serve touches the net). However, the players didn’t like it at all, and therefore, this rule was suppressed.
The Groups
The first 2 players of 2 groups will qualify for the semifinals. Here the composition of these groups.
Group A
Alex De Minaur
Casper Ruud
Miomir Kecmanovic
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Group B
Frances Tiafoe
Ugo Humbert
Mikael Ymer
Jannik Sinner
The past champions are Hyeon Chung (2017) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (2018).
Jannik Sinner’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.93 (career-high), Jannik played his last match on the 24th of October when he surrendered to Gael Monfils 6-3 7-68 in the 2nd round in Vienna.
This year the Italian has a 38-19 win-loss record. The Italian clinched 2 titles in 2019 in the Bergamo Challenger and in the Lexington Challenger. The Italian was the finalist in the Ostrava Challenger.
Frances Tiafoe’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.46, Francis played his last match on the 29th of October when he had to surrender to Taylor Harry Fritz 7-66 3-6 6-4 in the 1st round in Paris.
Jannik Sinner and Frances Tiafoe played each other 1 time. The head to head is 1-0 for Sinner.
The last time that they fought against each other, Jannik Sinner won 6-4 3-6 6-3 in the quarter in Antwerp on the 18th of October 2019.
