Emirates ATP Rankings Update: As Sock's run shows, every point matters

It ain't over till it's over. The great and entertaining baseball player Yogi Berra said it, and the rising and explosive tennis player Jack Sock lived it. The Paris Masters was the last tournament of the ATP’s regular season, and it was all but assumed that it would be also the last tournament of Sock’s season. The 25-year-old American, who entered Paris ranked No. 24 in the Emirates ATP Race to London, even said so himself.

“My last six months have been pretty rocky. So from January through March I was feeling really good," Sock said. “Playing some amazing tennis. And then I've had a rough season pretty much since, since March. And so to finish the year, coming in this week I had no idea I could even make London.

1,000 ranking points and a series of fortunate events can lead to a wild swing in fortune. Sock improbably qualified for the year-end championship by defeating Filip Krajinović—whose run to the final as a qualifier may have been the only thing more improbable. Krajinović, who benefited from Rafael Nadal’s quarterfinal withdrawal, edged John Isner—himself unaware that he could have reached the Nitto ATP Finals with a title in Paris—in the semifinals.

Pablo Carreno Busta, who occupied the final eighth and final spot in the Nitto ATP Rankings coming into Paris, lost in the first round to Nicolas Mahut. Juan Martin del Potro could have punched his ticket to London with a quarterfinal win over Isner, but came up short. Sam Querrey, Kevin Anderson and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga—all one-time contenders to reach the Nitto ATP Finals with deep runs—each lost within the first two rounds. Sock needed some help to extend his season, but ultimately, it came down winning to his final match. That he did.

"I just wanted to play some good tennis my last week and go start my offseason," Sock said. "Now to sit here and extend the season another two weeks, or however long, to keep playing, yeah, is incredible.”

As the Emirates ATP Rankings proved once again, every point matters, from January to November. Keep that in mind during next year’s Paris Masters.

The Nitto ATP Finals provides its elite eight participants one more opportunity at a significant title in 2017—and gives each them a chance to start stockpiling ranking points for next season. With each round-robin match worth 250 points, a semifinal victory worth 400 points and a final-round triumph worth 500 points, an undefeated champion can earn 1,500 bonus ranking points.

It was therefore understandable that Alexander Zverev decided to bypass this week's Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.

"I have consulted with my team and, in order to best prepare for London, we have made the decision that it is best not to play the week before in Milan," the 20-year-old German said. "Therefore, sadly, I will be withdrawing from the Next Gen ATP Finals. However I still plan on making an appearance at the beginning of the event to support the tournament and show my appreciation for my fans in Italy that were so supportive during my win in Rome earlier this year."

Zverev made good on that commitment, playing an exhibition with tournament alternate Stefanos Tsitsipas on Tuesday:

For his part, Tsitsipas supported the event by playing the role of interview host:

—Follow this week's Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan at TENNIS.com/scores and at NextGenATPFinals.com

—Follow this week's Nitto ATP Finals in Milan at TENNIS.com and at NittoATPFinals.com