There is at least some semblance of good news for a struggling Rafael Nadal: the 2016 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals do not begin this week.
But what if they did?
Nadal, of course, would not make it. Not even close. Neither would Kei Nishikori, David Ferrer, or Tomas Berdych. Only half of 2015’s eight-man field would be the same, as Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, and Roger Federer are currently within the cut line. Federer is right on the number at No. 8 in the race to London, although he is certain to slip outside the top 10 after he misses Indian Wells and Miami.
Newcomers to the field would be Dominic Thiem, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Pablo Cuevas, while Milos Raonic would make his second appearance at the WTFs on the heels of his debut in 2014. Thiem, Bautista Agut, and Cuevas have all won two titles already this season. Djokovic and Wawrinka have done the same. Murray finished runner-up at the Australian Open, Raonic captured the Brisbane title and reached the Aussie Open semis, and Federer advanced to the Brisbane final prior to his semifinal performance in Melbourne.
Nishikori and Ferrer are not far behind at ninth and 10th in the race, respectively. You have to delve a little bit further down the list to find Berdych (No. 13), Nick Kyrgios (No. 17), Grigor Dimitrov (No. 18), and Nadal (No. 21). To say it is too early panic for anyone on the outside looking in, however, would be an understatement. Players have eight more months, three more Grand Slams, all nine Masters 1000 events, and the Olympics with which to make up ground.
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