ATP Race to London: Novak Djokovic reigns ahead of Rafael Nadal. Roger Federer..

MARCH 6, 2020 17:10

The opening two months of the new season are behind us and the battle for the place at the ATP Finals is already up and running. At the end of 2019, only seven players had more than 3000 points on their tallies and world no.

1 Novak Djokovic has already passed that number, winning all 18 matches so far in 2020 and gathering massive 3165 points to lead the ATP Race, ready to clinch the London berth as soon as possible. Novak claimed his 79th ATP title in Dubai, adding 500 points to his account and leaving all the rivals far behind ahead of Indian Wells and Miami.

The Australian Open finalist Dominic Thiem is still second despite barely accumulating any points outside Melbourne, staying 200 points ahead of Gael Monfils who had a massive chance to move ahead of him head he converted any of three break chances against Novak Djokovic in the semi-final in Dubai.

Rafael Nadal earned the 85th ATP title in Acapulco, winning all five matches in straight sets to follow Djokovic's pace and gain four places on the list with those 500 points, moving 35 points behind the Frenchman. The young Russian Andrey Rublev is off to a great start as well, delivering 15 triumphs in 18 matches to stand on 860 points after claiming two ATP titles, having a slim 20 points advantage over Rio de Janeiro winner Cristian Garin.

Alexander Zverev stayed seventh despite a poor Acapulco run, just five points ahead of the reigning ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas who reached the final in Dubai for the second straight year, earning enough points to pass Roger Federer and push the Swiss to ninth place.

Roger will miss all the action until June and the rivals behind him should move in front after Indian Wells and Miami, with Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniel Evans, Stan Wawrinka and Casper Ruud all trailing less than 200 points behind the 20-time Major champion.

Daniil Medvedev is now 15th, unable to find the form after the ATP Cup loss to Novak Djokovic and hoping to bounce back at the first Masters 1000 events of the season, together with Milos Raonic, Diego Schwartzman, David Goffin and Roberto Bautista Agut who are yet to show their best tennis this year and chase some bigger points.