2018 Nitto ATP Finals: Marin Čilić finds out group opponents, Borna Ćorić on standby
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
(Photo: ATP Nitto Finals)
The draw ceremony for the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals, to be held at The O2 in London from 11-18 November, was made on The One Show, live on BBC One, on Monday night. Boris Becker, the 1998, 1992 and 1995 champion, took part in the draw.
Singles – Group Kuerten
[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB)
[3] Alexander Zverev (GER)
[5] Marin Cilic (CRO)
[8] John Isner (USA)
Singles – Group Lleyton Hewitt
[2] Roger Federer (SUI)
[4] Kevin Anderson (RSA)
[6] Dominic Thiem (AUT)
[7] Kei Nishikori (JPN)
Djokovic, a five-time year-end No. 1, leads Group Guga Kuerten alongside Alexander Zverev (1-1 FedEx ATP Head2Head record), Marin Cilic (Djokovic leads 16-2) and John Isner (Djokovic leads 8-2). Djokovic, who has a 49-11 match record in 2018, including a 31-2 mark since the start of Wimbledon, has qualified for the season finale for the 11th time (2007-16), highlighted by five title runs in 2008 (d. Davydenko), 2012 (d. Federer), 2013 (d. Nadal) and 2014-15 (d. Federer both times).
Federer, a six-time former champion at the prestigious event, has compiled a 46-8 match record in 2018, including four titles. The Swiss has been drawn in the Group Lleyton Hewitt with Kevin Anderson (4-1 FedEx ATP Head2Head record), Dominic Thiem (Thiem leads 2-1) and Kei Nishikori (Federer leads 7-2).
Marin Čilić (Photo: Mario Ćužić/HTS)
Eight different countries are represented in the elite eight-man singles field for the third consecutive year. Gustavo Kuerten won the 2000 season finale, when the event was held in Lisbon, while Lleyton Hewitt won two titles in 2001 (in Sydney) and 2002 (in Shanghai).
Karen Khachanov, who beat Djokovic for his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title on Sunday at the Rolex Paris Masters, and Borna Coric are first and second alternates respectively in the singles field. Tickets here.
The singles draw for the #NittoATPFinals is complete! 🙌
The match up I am most excited to watch is ___ 🆚 ___ #ATP pic.twitter.com/0cjM6K1mwZ— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) November 5, 2018
