You can’t have everything.
The ATP’s season-ending World Tour Finals is known for its star power: Only the best will do in London, and that typically includes every marquee name in the men’s game. That’s not quite as true in 2016; this edition of the WTF won’t feature the two biggest fan favorites of the last decade, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. While the tournament’s newcomers, Gael Monfils and Dominic Thiem, are terrific performers, they aren’t going to fill Rafa and Roger’s shoes any time soon.
What the WTF isn’t known for is a dramatic season-ending showdown for the No. 1 position. Usually, one player—i.e. either Roger, Rafa or Novak Djokovic—already has the top spot locked up, or is on the verge of locking it up. This time, things are different in that regard as well. This time, we’ll have a real, live, day-to-day duel for No. 1 between Djokovic and Andy Murray.
You can’t have everything, but we’ve got a good thing to watch next week. Here’s a look ahead at what Murray and Djokovic will face in their respective groups.