Kei Nishikori and David Ferrer may not have played this week, but both are now confirmed as having qualified for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals.
Richard Gasquet’s defeat to Rafael Nadal in the Basel semi-final means that no set of circumstances can see him overtake Ferrer or Nishikori in the final Masters event in Paris-Bercy.
Ferrer and Nishikori will now join six other players vying for the year-end crown.
- Novak Djokovic: A scintillating year for the World No.1 that has seen him claim three Grand Slam titles and five Masters 1000 titles. Making his ninth appearance and has four titles 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014.
- Andy Murray: Another strong year for the Briton, but no Grand Slam title, falling to Djokovic in Australia. Two Masters and a career season on clay. Making his seventh appearance (has qualified eight times). Best finish semi-finals, 2008, 2010, 2012.
- Roger Federer: Two finals, but like Murray thwarted by Djokovic at Wimbledon and the US Open. Five titles on the year including a Masters 1000, and Dubai, where he defeated Djokovic for the only time this year. Making his fourteenth appearance and has six titles 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011.
- Stan Wawrinka: Another Grand Slam title, and the only one to deny Djokovic the Calendar Year Slam by winning Roland Garros. Further titles in Chennai, Rotterdam, and Tokyo. Making his third appearance. Best finish semi finals 2013, 2014.
- Tomas Berdych: A solid year, but only got past the Round of Sixteen in Grand Slams in Australia. Two titles in Shenzhen and Stockholm. Sixth appearance. Best result semi-finals 2011.
- Rafael Nadal: The King of Clay failed to retain Roland Garros for only the second time. Regaining form as the season draws to a close. Eleventh qualification( absent for four). Best finish runner-up 2010, 2013.
- David Ferrer: Missed a significant chunk of season due to injury. Returns after serving as an alternate last year. Seventh appearance (served as an alternate in 2014). Best finish runner-up 2007.
- Kei Nishikori: A solid year but disrupted by injury. Poor in the last two Slams, but has still taken titles in Memphis, Barcelona, and Washington DC. Second appearance. Best finish semi-final 2014.
Though the players have been confirmed, the seedings have not been in some cases. The positions from Berdych in fifth to Nishikori/Ferrer tied for seventh/eighth are all interchangeable in Paris. Stan Wawrinka could also overtake Roger Federer for third if he wins Paris and Federer loses early.
There could yet be some French involvement, as Richard Gasquet and Jo Wilfried Tsonga are currently the first two alternates, with a week still to go on the main tour. With concern over David Ferrer’s recent elbow injury, and Kei Nishikori’s troubles this season, there is a possibility that one or both of them will see some match play. Both have participated at the year-end finals before.
