KAZAN, November 12, Andrey Simonenko. Tennis Players Association Final — professionals (ATP) starts on Sunday in Turin, Italy. Two Russian tennis players who were capable of competing for victory were selected for it — Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, both of whom ended up in the red group according to the results of the draw.
The final tournament of the season, in which the strongest tennis players in the world participate, has been held since 1970. It was originally called the «Grand Prix Masters» and was the final stage of the «Grand Prize» series. After 20 years, the structure in men's tennis changed, the ATP was organized, which began to hold this tournament under the name «ATP World Championship». It was from this moment that rating points began to be awarded at the final tournament.
Subsequently, the tournament was also called the “Masters Cup”, “ATP World Tour Final”, and in 2017 it acquired its current name. Since 2021, the ATP Finals have been held in Turin, Italy, in the country's largest indoor sports complex, the Palassport Olimpico, which was used to host hockey matches during the 2006 Games.
By tradition, the competition involves the eight strongest tennis players in the world in singles and the eight best pairs, who are selected for the final championship through their performances at season tournaments. Medvedev secured his participation in the ATP Finals during the US Open in early September, or rather, after reaching the quarterfinals. As for Rublev, he qualified for the final tournament of the year at the end of October, when he won the second round of the competition in Vienna.
Medvedev (third seed) and Rublev (5) in the red group will play with Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (2) and Alexander Zverev (Germany, 7). The green group was led by the strongest tennis player on the planet, Serb Novak Djokovic, who will be accompanied by Italian Jannik Sinner (4), Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece, 6) and Dane Holger Rune (8).
Two tennis players from each group will advance to the semifinals. Medvedev's chances that he will be able to continue fighting in the decisive stage of the tournament are quite high. He has a positive balance of personal meetings with both Rublev and Zverev. As for Alcaraz, the best tennis players of Russia and Spain beat each other twice. Their last memorable match took place in the semifinals of the US Open, where the Russian won a dramatic victory. Rublev has not yet met Alcaraz on the ATP Tour; he lost to Zverev and Medvedev more often than he won against them.
The absolute favorite of the ATP Final is Djokovic. The Serbian has won this tournament six times, including last year. Novak shares this record with the Swiss Roger Federer, and if successful this year he will become the sole leader. Medvedev won the final championship of the season once — in 2020. Another Russian tennis player, Nikolai Davydenko (2009), also achieved success at this tournament.
Participants in the ATP Finals in 2023 will compete for a record prize fund of $15 million. If the champion manages to go the distance of the tournament without defeat in the group stage, he will earn $4.8 million. This is also a record amount, which is more than the prize money Djokovic received last year ($4,740,300). No champion has ever earned more at any tennis tournament. However, a worthy jackpot awaits everyone in the ATP Finals. Even if the tennis player loses all three matches in the group stage, he will leave Turin with more than a million dollars.
The ATP Finals will begin on Sunday. On the first day, players from the green group will play their matches. Sinner will first face Tsitsipas, and then Djokovic will play Rune. The Reds, including two Russians, will enter the fight on Monday.
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