Pat Cash puts his money on O2 tennis success
THE countdown has begun for the world's most prestigious tennis tournament's arrival in London.
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray are likely to line up at The O2 next November for the ATP World Tour Finals, the season-ending competition when the top eight players in the world fight for a $5million prize fund.
The event, staged in Shanghai in recent years, will start a four-year stay at the venue. Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash was at The O2, braving sub-zero temperatures to officially start the countdown. He spoke to The Wharf about the event.
He said: "It's a spectacular event, the best players in the world and we're lucky to have it in London at The O2. I think the players will be very happy to be back here, as opposed to having to hike over to Shanghai.
"Of course, fingers crossed that everything goes well for Andy Murray and there's a homegrown favourite here to cheer on. It promises to be a very exciting year and these end of year play-offs are also very exciting. It could be the world number one position will be decided here next year."
The 43-year-old Australian, who won Wimbledon in 1987, predicts big things for Murray, although he was reluctant to predict a Grand Slam tournament victory next year.
He said: "I don't know if he will win one next year. I think he will at some stage, but there's a few good players out there trying to stop him.
"You've got Nadal and Federer and if they are playing well and are fit they are going to be very hard to stop. Guys like [Novak] Djokovic as well. He's super-fit and probably just half-a-step ahead of Murray at the moment.
"But anything can happen in Grand Slams. Someone gets injured, someone has a bad day, the opportunity arises and you've got to be there to grab it.
"There's no doubt Andy's capable of doing it. If he's lucky he'll grab one next year, but in time I think it will happen."
Cash played at The O2 in last year's TurboTennis tournament, alongside Goran Ivanisevic and Andy and Jamie Murray. He believes the venue will be a smash hit with the players.
He said: "It's a spectacular venue. The atmosphere was good and there was plenty of room around the court. They may pull the crowd in a little bit closer, which would be nice, because it is a big venue.
"Everybody seemed to have a good view, so I think it'll be great. There was a lot of noise going on, it really was an exciting event to be at, and I think a finals like [the ATP Worlds] needs a venue like this. An exciting, big venue in a big city. Hopefully everybody will turn out for it."
For more information and to pre-register for tickets visit www.BarclaysATPWorldTourFinals.com.
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