It is inevitable to think whether the multiplicity of Masters 1000 champions that have occurred this season and the proliferation of surprises that have put Nadal and Novak Djokovic They are the sign that the circuito ATP heading for a new stage. However, what provokes the most debate is whether this new scenario can be considered a rise in the average level or a significant reduction in the game compared to other stages. A piece of data that can show useful information to discern the current competitiveness is the number of points that have been required to play the ATP Finals from 2009 to the present day. That year is marked as a reference since that is when the calendar began to be very similar to the current one, as well as the points at stake.
Once the regular season was over, it would be the Serb, ranked eighth, who would make the cut in qualifying, despite the special circumstance that if he had been between ninth and twentieth, he would have also competed. In addition, Alcaraz’s absence due to injury will allow Taylor Fritz be of the game in Turin. Despite this, the points billed by Djokovic in a truly atypical year are taken as a reference, with the non-distribution of points in Wimbledon, which could suggest a significant reduction in the locker of all tennis players. This fact is clearly appreciated in what refers to the number 1, since Carlos Alcaraz has finished with 6,820 points, a figure that stands at the lowest of this entire period, and by far.
Points with which the number 1 in the world has qualified for the ATP Finals (2009-2022)
- 2015 (Novak Djokovic): 15,285 puntos
- 2011 (Novak Djokovic): 13,475 puntos
- 2013 (Rafael Nadal): 11,760 points
- 2020 (Novak Djokovic): 11,630 points (ATP ranking as there was no Race due to the pandemic)
- 2010 (Rafael Nadal): 11,450 points
- 2012 (Novak Djokovic): 11,420 puntos
- 2016 (Andy Murray): 11.185 puntos
- 2017 (Rafael Nadal): 10,645 points
- 2009 (Roger Federer): 10,150 points
- 2014 (Novak Djokovic): 10,010 puntos
- 2019 (Rafael Nadal): 9,585 points
- 2021 (Novak Djokovic): 9,370 puntos
- 2018 (Novak Djokovic): 8,045 puntos
- 2022 (Carlos Alcaraz): 6,820 points
It is evident how the circuit has been homogenized, there has not been a blatant dominance of the best player in the world over the others and the cake of the big tournaments has been distributed among more diners than those who participated in previous years. The factor of non-distribution of points at Wimbledon has been noted, but it is not clearly appreciated when the object of study is the points needed to win a ticket to Turin, due to the aforementioned distribution of successes among numerous players. Thus, it can be said that the general level has risen, there is greater equality and it is not easy to dominate. Nadal’s seniority and his injuries, the fact that Djokovic has been deprived of competing in major tournaments and the rise of new stars have led to this situation.
Points needed to earn a place at the ATP Finals (2009-2022)
- 2014 (Milos Raonic): 4,440 points
- 2015 (Kei Nishikori): 4.035 puntos
- 2010 (Andy Roddick): 3,665 points
- 2020 (Diego Schwartzman): 3,440 points (ATP ranking as there was no Race due to the pandemic)
- 2022 (Novak Djokovic): 3,320 points (Fritz will play with 2,995 points due to Alcaraz’s loss)
- 2021 (Casper Ruud): 3,275 points
- 2016 (Dominic Thiem): 3,215 points
- 2013 (Richard Gasquet): 3,210 points
- 2018 (John Isner): 3.155 points
- 2009 (Robin Soderling): 3,000 points
- 2012 (Janko Tipsarevic): 2,990 points
- 2011 (Mardy Fish): 2,965 points
- 2017 (Jack Sock): 2.765 puntos
- 2019 (Matteo Berrettini): 2,670 points
