This is how the fight will be in Paris to qualify for the ATP Finals 2024

Mónica Barberán Munera | 27 Oct 2024 | 11.50

Novak Djokovic 2024. Photo: Getty

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Fourteen days. Exactly fourteen days remain for the spotlight to fall on the ATP Finals 2024, the biggest year-end event in tennis alongside the Davis Cup. The event will bring together the top eight players of the season, and two weeks before its start, the players who will make up the roster are still unclear. Only Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev have secured their tickets to Turin. However, tomorrow marks the beginning of the final Masters 1000 event of the season, the ATP Rolex Paris Masters, which will be the last chance to not be left out.

- Fritz and Ruud, close to qualifying with Djokovic out of the game

The ATP Race is heating up, especially now with an event where Casper Ruud and company can gather the necessary points to make it among the qualifiers. In any case, Taylor Fritz is most likely to be the next in line for the ATP Finals, holding the fifth position, and it is practically impossible for four players to surpass him. Now let's talk about Novak Djokovic, sixth in the Race. The Serbian will not attend to Paris to defend his title, freezing his place, presumably for the rest of the year. It seems that Nole has no intention of going to Turin, as reflected in his decision to skip the last Masters 1000 of the year. It is not beyond the realm of possibility for him to qualify, but he could be left out depending on the performances of others in the Parisian city.

To begin with, Ruud is very close to surpassing Djokovic, as a single victory in the French capital would elevate him to the sixth position. The Norwegian will have a good chance to qualify for Turin if he can find his form, something that has been quite challenging for him in this final stretch of the season where he doesn't perform as well on indoor hard courts. He couldn't accumulate valuable points in Basel that would have helped him arrive in Paris with less pressure, but that's how things stand. He must stay focused, as he will have Andrey Rublev and Alex de Miñaur right on his heels.

- Intense battle for the remaining spots

The Russian is also lacking enough confidence at the moment, losing in the quarterfinals of Basel. He remains in the eighth position of the Race as the last qualifier, but nothing guarantees he will stay there. Several of his pursuers could push him out if he makes a misstep in Paris, especially De Miñaur, who is only 165 points behind him. Therefore, a defeat for Ruud would be a blessing for Rublev, at least gaining one spot. Other players with still a chance to earn a ticket to Turin are Grigor Dimitrov, Tommy Paul, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

They will all depend on themselves to make their way, as along with De Miñaur, they are currently outside the Masters tournament. The Greek would need to win the title in Paris, and Dimitrov and Paul to reach at least the semifinals (also depending on the points earned by those above them). In summary, Paris will once again be the almost final opportunity for them to earn their place in Turin. However, participation in the preceding week's tournaments in Metz and Belgrade for further point accumulation cannot be ruled out. Who do you think will join Sinner and his team?

- Current ATP Race standings as of October 27, 2024