OPINION: Novak Djokovic Turin qualification a truly remarkable achievement
Novak Djokovic has settled the argument over his ATP Finals qualification by finishing the season in the top eight, and no one should underestimate just how impressive an achievement that is.
Djokovic’s place in Turin was already secured due to a rule stating all Grand Slam winners automatically qualify for the season-ending finals.
Therefore, his Wimbledon title was going to be enough to earn his place in Turin regardless of how many ranking points he gained during the season.
The system, though, came under fire last week with some players saying it was wrong that Djokovic’s Wimbledon performance got him to Turin while they were not able to use the ranking points they would have received from the tournament as part of their qualification bid.
It was suggested the system was unfair on players such as Taylor Fritz and Nick Kyrgios who might have had a chance of making it to Turin had Wimbledon not been stripped of its ranking points in response to banning Russian and Belarusian players.
Meanwhile, Monica Puig suggested it was unfair that Djokovic automatically qualified for the ATP Finals on account of winning Wimbledon, but Elena Rybakina was excluded from the WTA Finals in Fort Worth.
That, though, was a poor argument from the off given the ATP and WTA have different qualification rules.
It is all something of a moot point now regardless, with Djokovic now amassing sufficient points to qualify following his run to the semi-finals of the Paris Masters, meaning his Wimbledon title is not the basis for him being awarded a spot in Turin.
It is also worth considering just how big an achievement it is for Djokovic, who was unable to compete for ranking points at three of the four Grand Slams this season, so finish the season in the top eight players in the world.
Novak Djokovic has also missed four Masters events due to not being eligible to enter the US and Canada, meaning in total he has not been able to compete for 10,000 points over the course of the season. Incredible.
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