The ATP Finals, known for sponsorship reasons as the Nitto ATP Finals, is the season-ending championship of the ATP Tour. It is the most significant tennis event in the men’s annual calendar after the four Grand Slams, as it features the top eight singles players and top eight doubles teams based on their results throughout the season. The eighth spot is reserved, if needed, for a player or team who won a major in the current year and are ranked from ninth to twentieth.
A History of Excellence
ATP Finals Trophy
The ATP Finals is the fifth iteration of a championship which began in 1970. It was originally known as the Masters Grand Prix and was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit. It was organised by the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) and ran alongside the competing WCT Finals from 1971 to 1989. The Masters was a year-end showpiece event between the best players on the men’s tour, but did not count for any world ranking points. In 1990, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) took over the running of the men’s tour and replaced the Masters with the “ATP Tour World Championships”.
A Format for the Elite
The ATP Finals group stage has a round-robin format, with eight players/teams divided into two groups of four and each player/team in a group playing the other three in the group. The eight seeds were determined by the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and ATP Doubles Team Rankings on the Monday after the last ATP Tour tournament of the calendar year. All singles matches, including the final, were best of three sets with tie-breaks in each set including the third. All doubles matches were two sets (no ad) and a Match Tie-break. In deciding placement within a group, the following criteria were used, in order:
- Most wins.
- Head-to-head record.
- Set percentage.
- Game percentage.
- A coin toss if necessary.
The top two players/teams from each group advanced to the semi-finals, with the winners of the semi-finals advancing to the final.
A Showcase of the Best in Men’s Tennis
The ATP Finals has been won by some of the greatest tennis players of all time, including Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Pete Sampras. The tournament has also been a launching pad for the careers of many young stars, including Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev.
A Must-See Event for Tennis Fans
The ATP Finals is a must-see event for tennis fans of all ages. It is a chance to see the best players in the world compete for the biggest prize in men’s tennis. The tournament is also a great way to experience the excitement and atmosphere of a major sporting event.