By Ricky Dimon
Barring either an unexpected 500-point title this week or a Jack Sock-like miracle at the Paris Masters, the last two spots at the Nitto ATP Finals are coming down to Alexander Zverev, Matteo Berrettini, and Roberto Bautista Agut.
Zverev remains in strong position (seventh) despite losing right away at the Swiss Indoors Basel to Taylor Fritz. However, both Berrettini (Erste Bank Open) and Bautista Agut (Basel) have advanced to respective quarterfinals to keep pressure on the German.
Although David Goffin–among many others–is still mathematically alive, he crippled his London hopes by losing to Reilly Opelka 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 7-5 in the Basel second round on Thursday afternoon. There was not a single service break until the final game of the match with the Belgian serving at 5-6 in the third, when Opelka struck from out of nowhere for a break to 15. Goffin had previously not faced a break point the entire way. Opelka, who finished with 29 aces, saved two break points earlier in the decider.
Playing simultaneously on Centre Court, Bautista Agut held off Richard Gasquet 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. The Spaniard remained within 40 points of Berrettini for the all-important eighth spot by prevailing in one hour and 43 minutes.
Berrettini booked his spot in the Vienna quarterfinals one day earlier with a 7-6(5), 7-6(1) victory over Grigor Dimitrov. The Italian awaits either Hyeon Chung or Andrey Rublev, while Bautista Agut will battle Opelka on Friday.
2019 live race standings
1. Rafael Nadal 9,225
2. Novak Djokovic 7,9453. Daniil Medvedev 5,8754. Roger Federer 5,7805. Dominic Thiem 4,5256. Stefanos Tsitsipas 3,7307. Alexander Zverev 2,8558. Matteo Berrettini 2,5709. Roberto Bautista Agut 2,53010. David Goffin 2,32511. Fabio Fognini 2,28012. Gael Monfils 2,215