Stan Wawrinka qualifies for ATP World Tour Finals: four places remain

Stan Wawrinka has confirmed his place at the ATP World Tour Finals for the second year in a row.

Following the release of the draws for next week’s events in Stockholm, Vienna and Moscow, the Swiss is now assured of his place among the elite eight at the season finale at London’s O2 in November.

Last year, Wawrinka was the last of the eight to qualify after a quarter-final run at the final ATP event of the year, the Paris Masters, having put together one of his strongest seasons: Final of the Madrid Masters, three further Masters quarter-finals, the last eight at Roland Garros and a semi run at the US Open, where he led world No1 Novak Djokovic by two sets to one.

He went on to reach the semis at the WTFs, going from strength to strength in 2014 to reach a career-high No3 in the rankings and win his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, where he beat defending champion Djokovic, Tomas Berdych, and finally Rafael Nadal.

He then won his first Masters title in Monte Carlo, beating Roger Federer in the final. He made the quarters at both Wimbledon and the US Open, but his qualification for London has been on hold after two opening-match losses in Asia.

He told ATPWorldTour.com: “I’m extremely happy to be back in London. It was my dream and goal to qualify again this year after the great experience in 2013. It’s only my second time… and being part of this great event remains a childhood dream for me. The atmosphere in London is one of a kind and it means a lot to me to be there together with the very best players of the world.”

With just three weeks left of the ATP main tour, the next seven men in the race for the four remaining places are separated by just 815 points.

As the only not-yet-qualified Grand Slam champion, US Open winner Cilic will automatically earn the fifth spot next week, unless Berdych wins the Stockholm title or Raonic lifts the trophy in Moscow, where Cilic is also competing.

Race to London—and provisional remaining schedules

Q1 Novak Djokovic 9,010: Paris
Q2 Roger Federer 8,020: Basel, Paris
Q3 Rafael Nadal 6,745: Basel, Paris
Q4 Stan Wawrinka 4,805: Basel, Paris

5 Kei Nishikori 4,265: Valencia, Paris
6 Marin Cilic 3,990: Moscow, Valencia, Paris
7 Tomas Berdych 3,945: Stockholm, Valencia, Paris
8 Milos Raonic 3,750: Moscow, Basel, Paris
9 David Ferrer 3,715: Vienna, Valencia, Paris
10 Andy Murray 3,655: Vienna, Valencia, Paris
11 Grigor Dimitrov 3,450: Stockholm, Basel, Paris

12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 2,650: Paris
13 Ernests Gulbis 2,455: Moscow, Basel, Paris
14 Feliciano Lopez, 2,015: Vienna, Valencia, Paris