ATP Tour Finals Preview, Day 5: Djokovic vs. Goffin, Raonic vs. Thiem

Does it help Djokovic to play a substitute who is coming in cold off the bench? Or does it hurt him to face someone who is fresh and rested? We’ll find out when he takes on Goffin, who will replace the injured Gael Monfils. Djokovic is 4-0 against Goffin, but their last two meetings, in Cincinnati in 2015 and Miami this spring, were competitive. In Cincy, Goffin was up a break in the third set, and in Miami he had set points in the first. I would expect Goffin to come out firing, but Djokovic, who has clinched a spot in the semis but hasn’t won his group yet, should be motivated enough to bounce back.

Winner: Djokovic

The Canadian and the Austrian, who are both 1-1 in matches and have identical .500 records in sets, will play for a semifinal spot in this night-session showdown. Each man beat Monfils and challenged Djokovic, and each has looked fairly sharp in the process. But Raonic will be the favorite. He’s the higher-ranked and more experienced player, and he won their only meeting, in straight sets, in Cincinnati this summer.

Winner: Raonic