This image is a derivative of Djokovic by Yann Caradec (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The race to London is heating up.

The ATP's top eight players from 2019 will get the chance to lift the Nitto ATP Tour Finals trophy in a season-ending showdown. 

We look at all the contenders and their quest towards greatness.

In what will be the last tournament before the ATP Finals, the Paris Masters will bring out the best of those still battling to make the race. The seventh and eighth position are still undecided with seven players outside the current top eight still eligible to make the cut. 

Rafael Nadal 

ATP Race to London Rank: 1st

Points: 9225 (Qualified)

Next Tournament: Paris Masters 1000 

Rafa Nadal is in battle with Novak Djokovic for the year end number one ranking. Nadal has the edge and will be looking to put the race to bed with a strong showing in Paris.

Nadal has drawn the fierce Stan Wawrinka in a potential round of 16 clash. Nadal has an insane 18-3 record against Stan the Man with the Spaniards last loss coming in 2015 at this very event. Matteo Berrettini should be waiting for a rematch after Nadal sent him packing in straight sets in this years US Open.

Rafa could play ATP finals hopefuls Alexander Zverev or Gael Monfils in the semi finals. Nadal has the more favourable draw where he will not see Djokovic or Daniil Medvedev until the final.

NADAL KEY STATS:

Nadal has never won the ATP Paris Masters. His last final in Paris came in 2007 where he lost in straight sets to David Nalbandian.

Novak Djokovic

ATP Race to London Rank: 2nd

Points: 7945 (Qualified)

Next Tournament: Paris Masters

I expect Novak to come out firing after his defeat against Stefanos Tsitsipas in his previous tournament.

The number one seed will wipe out Diego Schwarzmen in the round of 16 before a showdown against Tsitsipas in the quarter finals. I fully expect Novak to show all his class here and wipe out the Greek in straight sets before a huge semi against Medvedev. These mouth-watering affairs will give us a taste of what is to come in the Nitto ATP Finals.

DJOKOVIC KEY STATS:

Novak has won the ATP Paris Masters on four occasions with the last one coming in 2015.

Roger Federer

ATP Race to London Rank: 4th

Points: 6190

Next Tournament: Nitto ATP Finals. 

Federer showed all class in his 10th title in Basel. The Swiss Maestro looked in no doubt as he annihilated the field enroute to a 6-2 6-2 victory in the final.

Federer has pulled the pin on the Paris Masters and will get ready for the ATP showdown in London.

FEDERER KEY STATS:

Federer has only won the Paris Maters once back in 2011.

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Daniil Medvedev

ATP Race to London Rank: 3rd

Points: 5695 (Qualified)

Next Tournament: NA

After a great year so far, Medvedev has crashed out of the Paris Masters after losing to Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in a three-setter.

KEY STATS:

Stats Insider's World Rankings has Medvedev ranked second in the world on hardcourts. 

Dominic Thiem

ATP Race to London Rank: 5th

Points: 4935 (qualified)

Next Tournament: Paris Masters

Thiem looks to build on his final win in Vienna and storm the field in a tough Paris draw.

He will first up play the inconsistent Milos Raonic who will be a threat in the indoors with that mammoth serve and a 2-1 record against Thiem. A round of 16 match will be huge against David Goffin who is looking to jump into the eight place this week. Goffin holds a surprising 7-3 record against the Austrian and this is where I believe his run will end.

KEY STATS:

Stats Insider's World Rankings has Thiem ranked sixth in the world on hardcourts after his impressive display in Vienna.

Stefanos Tsitsipas

ATP Race to London Rank: 6th

Points: 3820 (Qualified)

Next Tournament: Paris Masters 

Tsitsipas produced a gallant effort in his loss to hometown hero Roger Federer in Basel.

Tsitipas should have Roberto Bautista Agut waiting in the round of 16 where he holds a 1-0 record over the Spaniard coming in this years Australian Open. A tough draw sees him play Novak in the semis where I see the Serb turning it around after the result in Shanghai.

KEY STATS:

Stats Insider's World Rankings has Stefanos the eighth ranked player in the world on hardcourts.

Alexander Zverev

ATP Race to London Rank: 7th

Points: 2855 

Next Tournament: Paris Masters

Zverev will need to improve on his first round exit in Basel if we wants to keep his spot in the eight. If Zverev can make the final in Paris he will qualify outright. Depending on other results Zverev should be comfortable making the Race to London if he makes the quarters or better.

Zverev has drawn a never aging Fernando Verdasco in his first match where he has a 1-2 losing record against the Spaniard.

I expect Zverev to move on to the round of 16 where London hopeful Fabio Fognini should be waiting. Zverev holds a strong 3-1 record and should win this one in straight sets. If he meets Nadal in the semi this is where his run will come to an abrupt end as Nadal holds a strong 5-0 advantage.

KEY STATS:

Stats Insider's World Rankings has Zverev the tenth ranked player in the world on hardcourts.

Matteo Berrettini

ATP Race to London Rank: 8th

Points: 2660

Next Tournament: Paris Masters

Berrittini will qualify for the Race to London outright if he also makes the final in Paris. Berrettini will need to make it past the quarters to keep him in the hunt with strong competition on his tail.

Berrittini should play another youngster Karen Khachanov who is the reigning champion at Paris, in the round of 16 where he holds a superb 3-0 advantage. I feel an upset brewing as Khachanov is to good of a player to lose four straight against the Italian.

If Berettini does make it to the quarters Nadal will be waiting to feast. 

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KEY STATS:

Stats Insider's World Rankings has Berrettini the 30th ranked player on hardcourts which has climbed up and u since the US Open.

Roberto Bautista Agut

ATP Race to London Rank: 9th

Points: 2530

Next Tournament: Swiss Basel Indoors

Bautista Agut can qualify for London outright if he wins the Paris Masters. Otherwise he will need results to swing his way.

I don’t believe this will be the Spaniards year. He has a potential tough first round match against Basel finalist Alex De Minaur. Alex defeated Bautista Agut 6-2 6-2 only a month ago in China. If Bautista Agut survives, Tsitsipas and Novak will be standing in his path. Although Bautista Agut steps up and plays Djokovic well winning two of the past three matches, Novak should prove to strong this time around.  

KEY STATS:

Stats Insider's World Rankings has Bautista Agut the 15th best player on hardcourts in the world.

Gael Monfils

ATP Race to London Rank: 10th

Points: 2350

Next Tournament: Paris Masters 

Monfils finally had a good run last week in Vienna with a semi final result boosting him back into contention. 

Monfils has pulled a favourable draw where two lucky losers have appeared. One of those will be in place of Roger Federer who he was meant to play in the round of 16. 

Hopefully Monfils sees this as his chance and can make a quarter final against Zverev. Monfils 3-0 record against Zverev proves he will be a strong candidate to make the semi finals and if other results go his way that could mean sneaking into the top eight! This would be a massive result for the Frenchmen as the last month has been a stinker.

KEY STATS:

Stats Insider's World Rankings has Monfils the 12th best player in the world on hardcourts. 

David Goffin

ATP Race to London Rank: 11th

Points: 2325

Next Tournament: Paris Masters

Goffin needs to win the tournament outright to play in London otherwise he needs a strong result and hope for results to swing his way.

Goffin should have the inform Dominic Thiem waiting in the round of 16. His strong record suggests he could move on to the quarters where Medvedev should be waiting for him. They have played three time this year with Goffin only winning the one time. I can’t see him getting past two quality opponents in a row so Goffin will need to rely on other results if he wants to make the London cut.

KEY STATS:

Stats Insider's World Rankings has Goffin ranked 24th in the world on hardcourts behind both his grass and clay court ranking.

Fabio Fognini

ATP Race to London Rank: 12th

Points: 2280

Next Tournament: Paris Masters

Fognini also needs to win the tournament if he wants to qualify outright. Fognini will most likely need to put forward a strong showing and hope results swing his way.

Fognini should play Denis Shapovalov first up where he has lost the only encounter. With Fogninis up and down form this is a dangerous first up match where I can see the Italian choking and missing out on the opportunity to qualify for London.

A round of 16 match against Zverev also looks hard to get past as the German holds a scintillating 3-1 head to head record. 

Better luck next year Fabio! 

KEY STATS:

Stats Insider's World Rankings has Fognini ranked the 28th best player on hardcourts well behind his impressive 12th rank on clay.

STILL A SNEAKY CHANCE:

Kei Nishikori

ATP Race To London Rank: 13th (injured)

Points: 2170

DIEGO SCHWARTZMAN

ATP Race To London Rank:14th  

Points: 2115

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