Breaking Down the Race to Qualify for the 2016 ATP World Tour Finals

Tennis superstars rarely run marathons (with the exception of Caroline Wozniacki), but it’s the most fitting sports parallel for the top men who endure the year-long race to qualify for the 2016 World Tour Finals.

They must grind from Australia’s summer heat in January to New York’s blazing nights in September, and along the way battle through Paris’ red clay and London’s slick grass.

By the time the U.S. Open ends in mid-September, tennis stars could be forgiven for hitting the proverbial wall, needing time to heal from injuries and the mental exhaustion of competing on the ATP tour.

In the 26.2 miles required to run a marathon, runners often meet their greatest trials of endurance in the final 6.2 miles where the difference between greatness and failure is measured. Willpower and training are most needed to push even the greatest competitors to the finish line.

Men’s tennis has now entered this home stretch, the race to place in the top eight of the rankings by early November—after the motivation of the Grand Slam season has been left in the dust—and the daunting distant travel to the Far East can take its toll.

Which of the top stars will be able to cruise to the tape, and which players must step faster to hold off the footsteps that are tramping closer behind?

Race to London

The ATP rankings feature the Race to London on the home menu of ATP World Tour.

Unlike the momentary rankings that calculate each player’s points for the previous calendar year, the Race to London adds the tournament points each player gains since the start of 2016, needing to be filled with however many tournaments are left until November’s WTF in the English capital.

Only the top eight players in the rankings are selected for London. Here are the current standings as compiled by ATP World Tour on Twitter:

.@Gael_Monfils is Mover of the Week in @emirates #ATP Race To London. View Full Standings: https://t.co/8sbzQC1q3R pic.twitter.com/lccKTeeCKo

— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) September 12, 2016

The results show that three stars have already crossed the finish line and can somewhat enjoy the recovery banquet and clap their hands for the next five elite.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has topped 10,000 points …

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