By Contributor Helen Jackson
The season-ending men’s tennis tournament, which takes place at the O2 Arena in London each November, is contended by the top 8 singles players and top 8 doubles teams in the world. This year Britain was fortunate enough to have 2 representatives, one in singles and one in doubles, brothers Andy and Jamie Murray.
Andy went into the tournament as the World Number 1 – a ranking he’d never before achieved! The question was, could he hold off the Serbian Novak Djokovic and hang onto his place until the end of the season? Jamie and his doubles partner Bruno Soares, from Brazil (pictured below left), were currently ranked No. 2 in the world but they also had a great chance of moving back up to the very top of the game. The stage was set for a thrilling tournament!
I was lucky enough to have tickets for Mon-Thurs this year. The days are split into 2 parts, with separate afternoon and evening sessions, each containing 1 doubles and 1 singles match. It’s possible to buy full day tickets like I did if you book early, but you have to have a good head for heights as these tend to be in the upper bowl of the arena and it’s a really long way down from there!
The matches are not as long as at Wimbledon as they are only the best of 3 sets. The doubles matches in particular are shortened down as if the score reaches deuce (40-40) then they just play one more point to decide the game. Also, if the score reaches 1 set all, they just play a tiebreak to decide the match. However you’re guaranteed to see the very best men’s tennis players in the world as only the top 8 qualify so each match is effectively the equivalent of a major quarterfinal. The tournament is set to remain in London until at least 2018. I’m really hoping that the deal gets extended again as I’ve loved attending the event since it moved to the UK in 2009.
On our first day at the tournament this year, we saw Andy Murray take on Marin Cilic, in his first match as World Number 1. The cheers from the crowd as he took to the court were enough to give you goosebumps. Andy was on a 19 match winning streak – impressively not even the longest winning streak of his year, after his incredible summer. He took the match comfortably 6-3 6-2 against a top player and former grand slam champion.
On the Tuesday afternoon we were incredibly fortunate to be offered a free seat upgrade, getting us much closer to the action. From our new courtside position, just behind the players’ box we witnessed a great doubles match between Murray/Soares and the Bryan brothers, which the British/Brazilian pair won in straight sets. Then we were treated to a match between the entertaining Frenchman Gael Monfils and the up and coming Austrian star Dominic Thiem. Unfortunately, it soon became clear that Monfils was carrying an injury, but he managed to battle on and take the match into a final set. Ultimately Thiem, who has an incredible one-handed backhand, proved too strong. He is definitely a player to watch out for next year as he is shooting up the rankings really fast!
On arrival we were given light up wristbands which flashed blue lights. They looked really effective in the dark as there were so many of them. Many people don’t realise that the ATP World Tour Finals are actually organised by the All England Club (Wimbledon), as the staging is extremely different with flashing lights, smoke, music and fireworks. I have to admit I found the intro a bit amusing as there was a video rendition of Dylan Thomas’ poem ‘Do not go gently into that good night’ before each match, which seemed a little over the top as fortunately they don’t actually play to the death!!
While you’re at the O2 you can also check out the Fan Zone, where you’ll find the practice court, as well as stalls selling tennis equipment and refreshments and games and competitions where you can try your luck to win some great prizes
At the ATP World Tour Finals the top 8 players are split into 2 groups and they play everyone in their group in a Round Robin stage before the top 2 from each group qualify for the semi-finals. As we were there for more than one day of the Round Robin, I got to see all of the players.
On Thursday Monfils had to pull out ahead of his match against Novak Djokovic but we got to see the alternate David Goffin (who you may remember from last year’s Davis Cup final) although he couldn’t really make much of an impact against Djokovic. The other match I saw Djokovic play was much closer, as his match against 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic went to two tiebreaks although again Novak won through. His brilliant performances throughout the tournament made Andy Murray’s victory over him in the final incredibly impressive! Andy managed to defeat him in straight sets 6-3 6-4 and hold onto the Number 1 ranking.
You can imagine there will be celebrations in the Murray household this Christmas as both brothers are currently World Number 1s! Jamie and Bruno managed to regain their number 1 ranking during the course of the ATP World Tour Finals. It’s an amazing achievement and definitely one to savour for British tennis. The brothers have claimed 3 grand slams and an Olympic gold medal between them this year. Andy claimed his 2nd Wimbledon and Jamie won at the Australian and US opens. Andy ended the season on an amazing 24 match winning streak! It’s exciting to see what the next season will bring. I for one can’t wait!