2018 ATP Finals: Thursday’s order of play, draw, predictions, tickets, betting odds, TV

Roger Federer celebrates after beating Kevin Anderson at the ATP Finals

(Image credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

last updated 16 November 2018

2018 Nitto ATP Finals

What: men’s tennis season-ending event
When: 11-18 November
Where: The O2, London
Surface: hard court indoors
Prize money: $8.5m (£6.45m)
Tickets: axs.com
TV channels: Sky Sports and the BBC

2018 ATP Finals: Rafael Nadal ruled out of London event

Rafael Nadal won’t be competing in the UK capital owing to injury, but world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and 20-time grand slam winner Roger Federer are on the bill for the eight-player event. Also competing in the singles are Alexander Zverev, Kevin Anderson, Marin Cilic, Dominic Thiem, Kei Nishikori and John Isner.

Djokovic will be aiming to win a sixth ATP Finals, while Federer, who is already a record six-time winner of the event, is seeking a 100th career title.

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As well as the eight-man singles competition, the world’s leading men’s doubles pairings will also be in action.

Yesterday at the ATP Finals

Roger Federer qualified for the last four of the ATP Finals for the 15th time in his career with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Kevin Anderson. The 37-year-old’s victory means he tops the group with Anderson in second place.

Earlier, Dominic Thiem defeated Kei Nishikori but both have now been eliminated.

Federer, 37, said he was pleased to have qualified after losing his opening match against Nishikori. “I'm very happy, my first match was tough and I never got going, but with my back against the wall maybe it’s easier for me to play... These round-robin formats are not straightforward, we’re used to it being you lose, you leave, you don’t hang around.”

Jamie Murray and his doubles partner Bruno Soares continued their impressive campaign completing a clean sweep in their group, beating Henri Kontinen and John Peers 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 10-3.

Today at the ATP Finals

Group Guga Kuerten is nicely poised ahead of the final round of games today. Novak Djokovic is already through and plays Marin Cilic in the evening match-up. But Cilic, Alexander Zverev and John Isner, who meet earlier in the day, are all in with a shout of claiming the other semi-final berth.

Order of play at the ATP Finals

Friday 16 November order of play

12pm: Oliver Marach/Mate Pavic vs. Lukasz Kubot/Marcelo Melo
Not before 2pm: Alexander Zverev vs. John Isner
Not before 5.45pm: Mike Bryan/Jack Sock vs. Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut
Not before 8pm: Novak Djokovic vs. Marin Cilic

Saturday 17 November / Sunday 18 November

Semi-finals and finals: TBC

ATP Finals event guide

When does it take place?

The men’s tennis event is held from 11-18 November at The O2 in London.

How to buy tickets?

Tickets for the 2018 ATP Finals are available to buy online at axs.com.

How the tournament works

In the men’s singles, two groups of four players will compete for a place in the semi-finals. A round-robin format sees each player play three group matches. The top two from each group go through to the semi-finals, with the winners then competing in the final. The doubles tournament has a similar format.

Group matches will be played from 11-16 November, followed by the semi-finals on Saturday 17 November. The finals will take place on Sunday 18 November.

Who is playing in London?

Singles tournament

Group Guga Kuerten: Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Marin Cilic and John Isner
Group Lleyton Hewitt: Roger Federer, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem and Kei Nishikori

Doubles tournament

Group Knowles/Nestor: Oliver Marach/Mate Pavic; Lukasz Kubot/Marcelo Melo; Mike Bryan/Jack Sock; Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut
Group Llodra/Santoro: Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah; Jamie Murray/Bruno Soares; Raven Klaasen/Michael Venus; Nikola Mektic/Alexander Peya

ATP Finals TV schedule

Sky Sports and the BBC will broadcast live from The O2.

Sky Sports’s ATP Finals schedule

Thursday 15 November

12pm: live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Arena
6pm: live on Sky Sports Arena

Friday 16 November

12pm: live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Arena
5.45pm: live on Sky Sports Arena

Saturday 17 November

12pm: live on Sky Sports Arena
6pm: live on Sky Sports Arena

Sunday 18 November

3.30pm: live on Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports Arena

BBC’s ATP Finals schedule

Thursday 15 November

2pm-4.45pm: live coverage on BBC Two

Friday 16 November

2pm-4.45pm: live coverage on BBC Two

Saturday 17 November

2pm-4.30pm: semi-finals live coverage on BBC Two

Sunday 18 November

6pm-9pm: final live coverage on BBC Two

Predictions

Roger Federer believes Novak Djokovic is the man to beat. He said: “I prefer not to think about the 100th title before such a big tournament like London where players like Djokovic participate because he is the favourite.”

The Grandstand: “Djokovic and Federer are the obvious favourites based on current form and experience, but also watch out for Anderson and Isner in what seem like two relatively balanced groups on paper. Semi-finals: Djokovic over Federer in 2, Anderson over Isner in 3. Final: Djokovic over Anderson in 2.”

LiveTennis.com: “It’s a difficult task for the rest of the field as Djokovic and Federer have dominated this tournament since the turn of the decade, meeting in the final thrice in the last six years. Prediction: Djokovic to beat Federer in the final.”