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Stefanos Tsitsipas is on course to qualify for the first time to the Nitto ATP Finals, six months on from capturing the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals title in Milan.

The charismatic Greek sits in fifth position in the 2019 ATP Race To London on 2,940 points, behind established stars: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem, in the quest to qualify for the season finale, to be held at The O2 in London from 10-17 November. He has a 1,230 points lead over sixth-placed Kei Nishikori.

Twelve months ago, Tsitsipas was in 25th position in the 2018 Race with a 20-15 match record. But six months into the 2019 season and the 20-year-old has compiled a 32-12 match record after becoming the youngest Australian Open semi-finalist since Andy Roddick (also 20) in 2003, and capturing two ATP Tour titles at the Open 13 Provence (d. Kukushkin) and the Millennium Estoril Open (d. Cuevas). Last week, Tsitsipas advanced to the Roland Garros fourth round for the first time .

Nadal, Djokovic and Federer hold down the Top 3 spots in the 2019 ATP Race To London for the first time since 2012 (and the fourth time overall, also 2009-10, '12), while the Top 5 contenders for a spot at the Nitto ATP Finals are also all separating themselves from the chasing pack.

Nadal has taken the lead in the 2019 ATP Race To London, supplanting Djokovic in top spot as a result of a strong end to the spring European clay-court swing. The Spaniard, who beat Djokovic for a ninth Internazionali BNL d'Italia title on 19 May, overcame Thiem on Sunday for an incredible 12th Roland Garros trophy and now has 5,505 points in the year-to-date standings.

Nadal, who trailed Djokovic by 900 points — 2,505 to 3,405 — prior to the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome, is now 780 points ahead following his historic win in Paris. The 33-year-old Nadal is attempting to qualify for the season finale for a 15th straight year (since 2005), while 32-year-old Djokovic, a five-time former titlist, bids to qualify for a 12th time (2007-2016, 2018).

Federer, a six-time champion at the season finale, competed on clay for the first time since 2016 and has 3,360 points, 55 points ahead of Dominic Thiem (3,305), the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell titlist and also Roland Garros runner-up. Tsitsipas trails Thiem by 365 points.

The Top 5 are setting the pace in the bid to qualify and fifth-placed Tsitsipas has a big lead over sixth-placed Nishikori, a two-spot riser after reaching the quarter-finals at the clay-court major championship. Russia’s Danill Medvedev (1,585), who has a 25-11 match record in 2019, is in seventh position, and Italy’s Fabio Fognini (1,550), victor at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters — his first ATP Masters 1000 crown — in April, sits in eighth, which is the final automatic qualification spot. Like Tsitsipas, both Medvedev and Fognini are attempting to qualify for the elite event for the first time.

Last year’s Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev, who advanced to the Roland Garros quarter-finals for the second consecutive year, has moved up one place to ninth on 1,490 points, just 60 points behind Fognini.

France’s Gael Monfils (1,320), who lifted the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament trophy in February, Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut (1,215) and Stan Wawrinka (1,130) make up the Top 12 in the year-to-date standings midway through 2019. Swiss Stan Wawrinka, a four-time Nitto ATP Finals qualifier (2013-16), is bouncing back from two knee surgeries in August 2017 and lost to Federer in an entertaining Roland Garros quarter-final. In the latest ATP Race To London standings, Wawrinka has soared 12 spots to 12th position, on 1,130 points.

The ATP and FedEx Corp (NYSE:FDX) are once again offering 30 children the chance to be Ball Kids at the Nitto ATP Finals in London, UK, this November as part of the FedEx ATP Ball Kids programme which aims to give aspiring youngsters the opportunity to develop new skills through teamwork, sportsmanship and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle.

This year’s collaboration follows the programme’s successful launch at the prestigious season-ending event last year and offers the opportunity for 24 talented UK-based youngsters and 6 international kids to be a part of the season finale at The O2 from November 10-17, 2019.

UK-based children aged from 12 to 16 can register to join the FedEx ATP Ball Kids Trial on June 30 at the Royal Berkshire Club (Bracknell, UK). This will be the occasion to select the 24 kids based on their attitude, dedication, abilities and skills which will then be improved during a five-day Training Camp later in October, where all ball kids will be invited to start bonding together as a team.

Kids must register here by Monday, 24 June 2019

Meanwhile four successful international FedEx Ball Kids have already been selected during two of the FedEx-sponsored tournaments earlier in the season.

Two talented 14-year-old girls residing in Dubai have been chosen at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships - Steffi Bojica from Romania and Coumba Ben from the Maldives.

A girl and a boy, both 14, have been selected for their outstanding abilities by the Rio Open presented by Claro - Raissa Martins Pereira and Joao Gabriel Felix Torres.

The final two international FedEx Ball Kids will be selected later this year during the Rolex Shanghai Masters in October. All six international ball kids will be flown to the Nitto ATP Finals in London in November.

Chris Kermode, ATP Executive Chairman and President, said: “After the outstanding success of the collaboration between the FedEx Ball Kids programme and the Nitto ATP Finals last year, it is exciting to see its return this year, bringing with it the opportunity for more talented youngsters to experience world-class tennis at the very heart of the action.”

Wouter Roels, Senior Vice President, International Marketing, FedEx Express, said: “We are delighted to continue our sponsorship of the FedEx ATP Ball Kids programme and once again create possibilities for a global team of Ball Kids to join together in London. Sport creates the opportunities to develop new skills, such as teamwork and sportsmanship. Alongside our continued sponsorship of professional ATP tournaments around the world, we are excited about delivering more opportunities for young people through tennis.”

Resale tickets for the ATP’s year-end showpiece at The O2 to be sold through AXS Official Resale

ATP has today announced that the resale of tickets for the 2019 and 2020 Nitto ATP Finals at The O2 in London will be through an exclusive partnership with AXS and its platform AXS Official Resale: strengthening the two companies’ long-standing relationship in the primary market.

AXS Official Resale is a new platform that incorporates state-of-the-art ticketing technology. Already launched in the UK and expanding to European markets, AXS Official Resale will provide tennis fans with the option to resell tickets at face value with a cap of no more than 10% above the price paid.

The ticketing solution allows fans to buy and then resell through the same platform. For the first time ever, all Nitto ATP Finals tickets for sale through AXS, including primary and secondary, will be visible to consumers at the point of purchase in real time.

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The move by the ATP to partner with AXS for resale at The O2 – one of Europe’s biggest and busiest entertainment venues – underlines a commitment to a fairer and more transparent experience for fans.

The method of delivery for AXS Official Resale - ‘Flash Mobile Delivery’ - is a mobile-friendly, identity-based system. Tickets are assigned directly to fans attending, replacing the standard PDF attached to an email. The fact the tickets are sold through AXS, The O2’s Official Ticketing Partner, will eliminate any purchase confusion and remove anxiety fans may have about whether their resale ticket is valid.

To alleviate the problems surrounding counterfeiting, all tickets are assigned to individuals via Flash Mobile Delivery’s unique digital ID technology. This includes a changing barcode system, which ensures that tickets cannot be copied or shared illegally - emphasising AXS’ ongoing commitment to combatting fraud.

By eliminating paper tickets, fans will have quicker and simpler access to the venue by simply scanning the app.

Commenting on the partnership, Adam Hogg, Event Director of the Nitto ATP Finals, said: “We have a great relationship with AXS as the Official Ticketing Partner of the Nitto ATP Finals and we’re looking forward to carrying this relationship over to the resale market. Our partnership with AXS and their resale platform enables tennis fans to buy and sell tickets at a fair price in a safe and secure environment. Our aim is for the Nitto ATP Finals to be accessible to everyone and this partnership helps deliver that."

Robert Byrne, Managing Director of AXS Europe said: “AXS is proud to provide the iconic Nitto ATP Finals with a fully integrated platform across both the primary and resale markets - selling 100% of the ticket only allocation and giving everyone the opportunity to purchase and sell tickets at a capped, fair price. AXS Official Resale is already in place for events at The O2 and The SSE Arena, Wembley and the system is already exceeding expectations. We can’t wait to go live for the Nitto ATP Finals and give fans the opportunity to use it."

Secures spot for record 15th straight season
Rafael Nadal is set to return to London later this year after becoming the first player to clinch a spot at the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals, to be held from 10-17 November at The O2. The Spaniard qualified for a record 15th straight season on Wednesday following his quarter-final win over Sam Querrey at The Championships, Wimbledon.

Nadal, who is attempting to become year-end ATP Tour No. 1 for a fifth time (2008, ’10, ’13, ‘17), will be looking to add The Brad Drewett Trophy to an impressive collection of 82 career titles, which includes 18 Grand Slam crowns and a record 34 ATP Masters 1000 trophies. He achieved his best finish at the season finale in 2010 and 2013, when he reached the final both times.

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Nadal has gone undefeated since mid-May and will take a 17-match winning streak into his semi-final match against Roger Federer on Friday, as he continues his pursuit of a third singles crown at the All England Club, which would represent his third Roland Garros-Wimbledon title double. Earlier this season, he claimed his ninth Internazionali BNL d’Italia trophy in Rome (d. Djokovic) and celebrated a record-extending 12th Roland Garros triumph (d. Thiem). Nadal opened his 2019 ATP Tour campaign by reaching the Australian Open final, where he finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic, who is currently second in the 2019 ATP Race To London.

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World No. 1 Djokovic, who plays Roberto Bautista Agut in the Wimbledon semi-finals, will join Nadal in the Nitto ATP Finals field should he successfully defend his title on Sunday. Roger Federer currently stands in third position in the ATP Race To London, followed by three-time qualifier Dominic Thiem and 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas. Kei Nishikori, Bautista Agut and Daniil Medvedev round out the top eight.

The ATP’s crown jewel event is to be held at The O2 in London through to 2020, where it has been staged to wide acclaim since 2009. The event has successfully established itself as one of the major annual sporting events worldwide, broadcast in more than 180 territories with global viewership figures reaching an average of 95 million each year.

Secures spot for 12th time
Novak Djokovic has joined Spain’s Rafael Nadal as a qualifier at the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals, to be held at The O2 in London from 10-17 November, after the Serbian captured his fifth crown on Sunday at The Championships, Wimbledon.
The World No. 1 secured his 12th qualification for the season finale as a result of beating long-time rival Roger Federer in the final at the All England Club for his 16th Grand Slam championship trophy. Djokovic will be bidding to earn a record-equalling sixth title at the season finale — and draw level with Federer — in south-east London later this year.
"It is always one of the main goals to qualify and to do it so early in the season is great," said Djokovic. "I look forward to returning to London in November to compete against the best players in the world at The O2."
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The 32-year-old Djokovic made 10 straight appearances at the Nitto ATP Finals from 2007-2016, prior to missing 2017 with a right elbow injury. The Serbian returned to The O2 last year where he reached the final before losing to Alexander Zverev of Germany. He has compiled a 35-12 tournament win-loss record with titles in 2008 and four consecutive years between 2012-15. Djokovic also contested the 2016 final, finishing runner-up to Andy Murray in a match that decided who finished year-end No. 1 in the ATP Rankings.
Having finished 2018 as the oldest year-end No. 1 in ATP Rankings history (since 1973), Djokovic, who has spent 260 weeks to-date in top spot, has continued to perform at the highest level this season with a record seventh Australian Open (d. Nadal) in January and a 33rd ATP Masters 1000 crown at the Mutua Madrid Open (d. Tsitsipas) in May, in addition to Wimbledon. The 75-time tour-level titlist also advanced to his ninth Internazionali BNL d’Italia final (l. to Nadal). His remarkable consistency at Grand Slam events saw him compile a 26-match winning streak, which ended in the Roland Garros semi-finals (l. to Thiem in five sets).
Six-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Federer is next in line to qualify in third position in the ATP Race To London, followed by three-time qualifier and Roland Garros finalist Dominic Thiem, 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, Kei Nishikori, Wimbledon semi-finalist Roberto Bautista Agut and Daniil Medvedev. Fabio Fognini, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters titlist, defending champion Zverev, 18-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime and Matteo Berrettini feature in the Top 12 places, with less than four months to go in the regular ATP Tour season.
The ATP’s crown jewel event is to be held at The O2 in London through to 2020, where it has been staged to wide acclaim since 2009. The event has successfully established itself as one of the major annual sporting events worldwide, broadcast in more than 180 territories with global viewership figures reaching an average of 95 million each year.

Bautista Agut rises into Top 8 after Wimbledon semi-final

Novak Djokovic has taken the lead in the 2019 ATP Race To London, following his fifth crown at The Championships, Wimbledon. The Serbian, who became the second player to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals (6,725 points), to be held at The O2 in London from 10-17 November, is now 500 points ahead of second-placed Rafael Nadal (6,225), who clinched his spot at the season finale as a result of winning his quarter-final. Djokovic is bidding to become a six-time year-end ATP Tour No. 1 in 2019, while Nadal goes for his fifth top-spot finish.

Roger Federer, the six-time former Nitto ATP Finals champion, is next in line to secure a place at the season finale for the 17th time on 5,060 points, with a Wimbledon final run. Dominic Thiem, the Roland Garros runner-up, and the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals titlist Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is bidding to qualify for the first time, are all in strong positions among the Top 5 contenders.

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Four-time former qualifier Kei Nishikori moved up one place to sixth (2,070) by adding 360 points to close the gap on Tsitsipas (2,995), as a result of a run to his third Wimbledon quarter-final, while last week’s semi-finalist Roberto Bautista Agut rose five places to seventh (1,980) — just 90 points behind Nishikori.

Daniil Medvedev, who lost to 2018 Nitto ATP Finals runner-up David Goffin in the Wimbledon third round, sits in eighth position (the final automatic qualification spot) on 1,855 points, 215 points ahead of Fabio Fognini (1,640), the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters winner, who is also attempting to qualify for the first time.

Defending champion Alexander Zverev dropped two places to 10th (1,590) and will look to make up ground on the North American hard-court swing if he is to clinch a spot at The O2 in London for a third straight season.

View Latest ATP Race To London Standings (as of 15 July 2019)

Player Points
1. Novak Djokovic 6,725
2. Rafael Nadal 6,225
3. Roger Federer 5,060
4. Dominic Thiem 3,315
5. Stefanos Tsitsipas 2,995
6. Kei Nishikori 2,070
7. Roberto Bautista Agut 1,980
8. Daniil Medvedev