Former six-time Grand Slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs thinks the ATP did the right thing by allowing Novak Djokovic to qualify for the ATP Finals via a Grand Slam qualification rule. Djokovic, who entered this week ranked outside the top-8 on the Race to Turin list, qualified for the ATP Finals a month ago.
After winning Wimbledon, Djokovic won back-to-back titles at the Tel Aviv Open and Astana Open in early October. The ATP has a rule which says that the eighth ATP Finals spot is reserved for a Grand Slam champion, who also finishes ranked between 8th and 20th on the Race to Turin list.
Stubbs, who wasn’t impressed by the ATP and WTA decision not to reward any ranking points to this year’s Wimbledon participant, welcomed the ATP allowing Djokovic to qualify via a Grand Slam qualification rule.
Stubbs: Not having Djokovic at the ATP Finals would have been dumb
“The ATP and WTA Tours not allowing points at Wimbledon to me was so ugh but I am glad the ATP at least allowed the rule of, if you win a Slam you are in the masters still, cause not having Novak Djokovic compete would have been DUMB!
I feel badly for all the players that did well there,” Stubbs tweeted.
Meanwhile, Stubbs also offered her thoughts on world No 4 Cori Gauff. Gauff, 18, debuted at the WTA Finals this week.
In her first two WTA Finals matches, Gauff went 0-2. After Gauff suffered a 7-6 (6) 6-3 loss to Daria Kasatkina, Stubbs praised Gauff for who she is as a tennis player and person. “Coco is a such a great kid, works her butt off & is a delight to be around & after some time off, I would suggest completely breaking down that forehand technique & serve.
If she can get them under control and confident, she’s going to be even tougher to play against!” Stubbs opined.
