O2 not so new

Unless there's some kind of tennis miracle and Gasquet finally lives up to his talent, we're going to have O2 finals where no less than six of them will be making their sixth appearance or better. Hilariously, there's likely to be a Masters worth of points between them and the rest, by the end of the year

Christ! This even includes Berdych, who will now have been to the finals more times the Goran, Carlos Moya and Davydenko

No débutantes and the youngest member is arguably in decline

In fairness this could be testament to just how good these six have been or as some would have it a reflection of how poor the current 'up and comings' are

Worse, there seems to be no sign that it will be much different next year. OK - maybe Ferrer won't be around, but you wouldn't bet against him been replaced by Tsonga or Richard!!

The fact that Nadal this year and Murray last, can just breeze into London having played their worst tennis of their careers, just labours the point, so I'll stop ranting now

No, keep ranting - the article says it all. It saves me the typing.

I wouldn't rule out Ferrer getting there again. He's looked in reasonable form recently. I saw a stat that he had picked up more than half his points from 500/250's. He's good at beating the players he's supposed to beat.

Also he was injured for quite a while this season and is still comfortably top eight. Expect by the end of the clay season next year that he will be as good as qualified again.

I am going to the O2 this year - am hoping for a group of; Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Nishikori. Maybe even get to see a Fedal match live.

I think Murray "breezing" to the WTF last year is something of a falsehood . My recollection is of him killing himself to get there playing all sorts of nothing events.

Fair point though - if Nish were to not recover from his shoulder issue, Novak will be the youngest player at the finals.

Born Slippy wrote:I think Murray "breezing" to the WTF last year is something of a falsehood . My recollection is of him killing himself to get there playing all sorts of nothing events.

Fair point though - if Nish were to not recover from his shoulder issue, Novak will be the youngest player at the finals.

"Breezing" was an abuse of my artistic license But once Murray has his even just his B+ game back he was way too much for for everyone other than the usual suspects. Of course Ferrer beating him during this run, gives more evidence to the problem. We'd expect the dependable Spaniard to beat any of of the Top 4 if they were sub-standard (OK perhaps not ) question is why couldn't the young pretenders

I think peak age is changing, with Wawrinka doing what he's doing, Federer and Ferrer still going strong it just might mean youngsters are further behind than they used to be as they can't get by on a big forehand and big serve on a fast court like you used to.

Even Berdych who is 30 didn't really become consistent top 10 player til he was 25.

That's why I agree with Nishikori at 26 is still 'young' in today's terms and in mine and manys opinion still the most likely to break through, he's a mini Novak but is actually a little more attractive to watch imo

All you can do is give them credit. They are there so often because they are almost always the most consistent players of the year. It's not always pretty but those 6 are a cut above the rest and deserve to be. Fed snuck in once playing like tripe as did Andy and as will rafa, it's because their worst is still better than others best

I think petch mentioned it once. He felt that other young guys were watching these top 4 play their finals and they just go "nope" no way I can do that. It's like how a lot of white athletes are told to go away from sprinting athletics, they don't think they can compete, and therefore don't

Maybe we really have to wait for that generation consisting of Kygrios, A.Zverev, Coric, Kokkinakis and Thiem? Maybe two to three years more?