2020 Nitto ATP Finals – Novak Djokovic vs Diego Schwartzman Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Novak Djokovic vs Diego Schwartzman on and what time does it start? Monday 16th November, 2020 – 14:00 (UK)
Where is Novak Djokovic vs Diego Schwartzman taking place? The O2 Arena, London
What channel is Novak Djokovic vs Diego Schwartzman on? BBC Two
Where can I stream Novak Djokovic vs Diego Schwartzman? Amazon Prime subscribers can stream the match via Amazon Prime Video
Where can I get tickets for Novak Djokovic vs Diego Schwartzman? The Nitto ATP Finals will be played without spectators
THE LOWDOWN
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
- 33-year-old Novak Djokovic will finish this disrupted year as the world number one, the sixth time he has achieved the coveted year-end top ranking.
- The Serb started the year off strongly by extending his own record at the Australian Open with an eighth title there and he won three other titles including two Masters events in Cincinnati and Rome.
- Djokovic is chasing records again here in London as he aims to win a joint-highest sixth ATP Finals title alongside Roger Federer, who will not participate in this year’s tournament.
DIEGO SCHWARTZMAN
- 28-year-old Diego Schwartzman had to do it the hard way but he eventually secured the last ATP Finals position by reaching the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters last week.
- The Argentine will make his debut at the tournament on an impressive run of form that saw him reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for a first time at Roland-Garros as well as two recent finals in Cologne and Rome.
- Schwartzman has never beaten Novak Djokovic in five previous attempts but has never had a better opportunity to do so at his current levels that saw him break into the top 10 for the first time this Autumn.
THE PREDICTION
There are likely two ways of thinking towards Novak Djokovic’s chances at the ATP Finals title this year. One, that his recent shock loss to Lorenzo Sonego was a sign of a “stepping-off the gas” after securing his desired year-end number one ranking and that he could be vulnerable at this tournament, or two, that his deeper desire to eclipse the likes of Roger Federer and Nadal will see this week as a record-equalling must-have. A sixth title in this tournament will put him above Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl and in line with Federer, with the Swiss unable to respond this year and unlikely to get the chance again. In either case, his recent losses are very interesting from a neutral’s point of view as he comes into this week a shorter favourite for the title than he is accustomed to. The likelihood of this being another Djokovic vs Nadal final come next Sunday is high, though, and despite Diego Schwartzman’s best efforts he is unlikely to be able to combat the Serb. A 5-0 head-to-head speaks volumes here in the worst of the potential seven match-ups for Schwartzman as Djokovic can take this in two.
