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Go behind the scenes as singles players competing at the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals, join commuters on the busy Jubilee line on the Underground en route from The O2 to the Houses of Parliament for the Official Launch.

Go behind the scenes at London's iconic Houses of Parliament for the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals Official Launch presented by Moët & Chandon.

The eight singles players competing at the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals, led by Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, mix with commuters on the busy Jubilee line on the Underground en route from The O2 to the Houses of Parliament for the Official Launch. Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

The stranglehold of the game's elite on the Nitto ATP Finals trophy has been firm and relentless since the tournament moved to London in 2009. The trio of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray had accounted for seven consecutive titles in that span, dominating on the ATP World Tour's biggest stage.

But, as players entered The O2 for the 2017 edition, Djokovic and Murray were notable absences due to injury. And with Rafael Nadal pulling out during the tournament, it created a significant opportunity for the rest of the field. Grigor Dimitrov took full advantage.

Seeded sixth, Dimitrov was a relentless force throughout the week in London, completing a perfect 5-0 campaign. It all culminated with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory over David Goffin in the championship, giving the Bulgarian the biggest title of his career.

“Obviously, this is a great, an unbelievable achievement for me," Dimitrov said after the final. "But I still have a lot to give. I want to perform better and better... This means a lot to me, and to even qualify and then be successful in the group has been a great reward for me and my team. They really deserve this as well."

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It appeared as if Federer would storm to a seventh title at the season finale, but Goffin pulled the upset of the tournament with a dramatic three-set semi-final win. The victory came less than a month after the Swiss routed the Belgian 6-1, 6-2 in his hometown of Basel. With an improbable title match set between Dimitrov and Goffin, both competitors were thrust into the spotlight in the biggest match of their careers.

The final would go to a deciding set and Dimitrov pulled through, breaking in an 11-point game when Goffin spilled a backhand wide. The 26-year-old was emotional in his celebration. He lied face first on the court, sobbing, before hopping to his box and sharing long embraces with his family and friends.

The first debutant to win the Nitto ATP Finals title since Spaniard Alex Corretja in 1998 (d. Moya), Dimitrov completed a storied season that many pundits and fans had long anticipated.

After joining forces with coach Daniel Vallverdu in 2016, everything changed. The Bulgarian thought that a maiden ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown in Cincinnati would be the pinnacle of his breakthrough season. But that was just the beginning. Dimitrov made a stunning charge up the ATP Rankings to a career-high No. 3, as he raised the trophy at The O2. Dimitrov announced his arrival in grand fashion, having sat at No. 40 just a year prior.

“With the right set of mind, with the right people, with the right support, things happen. For me, that period really helped me a lot. I think I needed that,” Dimitrov said, referring to his fall in the ATP Rankings and the subsequent Vallverdu hire. “In that particular moment, I really realised what I really need to work on, who are the real people around me, who really counts on me, who matters to me. There's so many lessons that I took out of that period.”

Dimitrov concluded the season with a personal-best four titles, also including victories on the hard courts of Brisbane and Sofia. Having never claimed multiple Top 10 wins in a single tournament, he achieved the feat twice in 2017 - three in a row in Brisbane and five straight under the bright lights of The O2.

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Stefanos Tsitsipas’ rapid rise has been one of the biggest stories on the ATP World Tour in 2018. From beating four opponents inside the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings in Toronto to capturing his first ATP World Tour title in Stockholm and now reaching the Next Gen ATP Finals, the Greek has proven himself capable against the best players in the world.

And one of the main reasons behind the 20-year-old’s success has been his forehand.

“He can go inside-out, inside-in, he hits a really good approach. There’s a lot to build on with his forehand. And I think as he gets stronger, that shot’s only going to get bigger,” said former World No. 4 Brad Gilbert. “His ability when he hits inside-in [is also important] because most guys go inside-out. When he hits it you’re not expecting it and that’s only going to make his inside-out better. So I think the forehand is off the charts.”

An inside-in forehand is when a player goes up the line off that wing from the backhand corner. Many players choose to go inside-out — cross-court to a right-hander’s backhand — since there is more margin of error and they can attack their opponent’s backhand.

“Inside-in, inside-out, it's all the same. It's basically what you feel more comfortable with. At the moment, I feel more comfortable with my inside-in. Sometimes I feel playing inside-out a bit more. It's also from the position of your opponent,” Tsitsipas said. “If you see your opponent is covering his forehand side more, that's how you decide where you're going to go.

“But my forehand, as I said, is a big weapon. And, yeah, I choose most of the time inside-in because I just can still play with my forehand. If I go inside-out, [my opponent] probably can find the angle a bit better.”

Tsitsipas’ inside-in forehand, which he says, “has been my biggest weapon”, has featured prominently in some of his biggest victories this year. Gilbert remembers one match in particular: Tsitsipas beat then-reigning champion and World No. 3 Alexander Zverev in Toronto. But it was also the variety he showed off that wing that impressed Gilbert.

“One thing that impressed me was how well on the run he could scramble. He'd hit little squash shots back, flick shots below the net and his ability on big points to play the inside-in or take a forehand and come in is impressive,” Gilbert said. “He’s got a lot of confidence on that shot, which is a great sign for someone his age. Maybe he has the best forehand in the game in a few years.”

For Tsitsipas’ father and coach, Apostolos Tsitsipas, seeing his son’s forehand become a major weapon in the sport is no surprise. That’s the way he structured the first Greek ATP World Tour champion’s game from a young age.

“Because of his one-handed backhand, we definitely developed his game through his forehand,” Apostolos said. “When you’re small like 11, 12, 13, 14, you compete, you’re not strong. So often you build your game from the forehand side. That’s my opinion one of the secrets to build a great forehand from a young age. Usually the two-handers, when they’re playing two-handed from a young age, they don’t really pay so much attention to the forehand. So Stefanos, because he was single-handed, he was always building the point with the forehand, so it was really good for his development. Of course now he is stronger, he can accelerate more and be faster and that helps him and now it’s really a weapon.”

Now the big question is, what makes Tsitsipas’ forehand so strong? Apostolos Tsitsipas compares his son’s forehand grip and motion to that of Juan Martin del Potro’s. And it’s no secret that the Argentine’s forehand is one of the best shots in all of tennis.

“Generally when you have a classic Eastern forehand grip like Stefanos, his motion is closer to Del Potro, his grip is close to Del Potro. Del Potro also has a massive forehand, so it helps him because it’s a much cleaner stroke,” Apostolos said. “You don’t have to think so much how to prepare, you just swing. It’s a natural swing. When you let your arm swing naturally, it creates beautiful mechanics.”

And Tsitsipas will hope those ‘beautiful mechanics’ translate to a beautiful performance on Saturday against Alex de Minaur, in the championship match of the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.

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Alex de Minaur has taken the ATP World Tour by storm in 2018, climbing from No. 208 in the ATP Rankings to his current standing of No. 31. The results speak for themselves — finals in Sydney and Washington, D.C., semi-finals in Brisbane and Shenzhen, and the Aussie’s maiden ATP Challenger Tour title in Nottingham.

But how has De Minaur risen, and done so, this quickly? One thing is certain, and that is that the 19-year-old is already one of the fastest players on the ATP World Tour. If you would’ve told De Minaur that even a few years back, he never would have believed it.

“Not at all. Yeah, growing up in the juniors, it sort of probably just clicked maybe three, four years ago. Before that, I was clumsy. I had big feet. I moved really bad on court, and I sort of had to use instincts to move around because I wasn't the biggest guy, and I wasn't the strongest guy, and I didn't move well,” De Minaur said. “I had to develop a little bit of a core craft and find different ways to win matches. And I think all of that has helped me develop and be the player that I am now.”

Every player has their strengths and weaknesses. For some, it’s their forehand. For others, it might be their serve. But for De Minaur, his weapon is clear.

“I would probably have to say my speed,” De Minaur said. “That’s something that I really can’t live without because the only thing I do these days is run side to side and it’s something I’ve got to work on. It would be nice to get a little bigger and stronger so I don’t have to do as much running, but those are things I hope to work on in the preseason and get better.”

Taylor Fritz, another Next Gen ATP Finals contender, who lost to the Aussie on Thursday, said that he wishes he could borrow some of De Minaur’s footwork.

“I need to work on getting faster and moving better, so unlike Alex I can do more movement,” Fritz joked.

“Do you want to trade off? Let’s have a trade-off!” De Minaur responded, asking for Fritz’s height and power.

And while De Minaur said that he has just improved his speed recently, coach Adolfo Gutierrez says that he doesn’t necessarily agree with his charge’s opinion.

“Who knows him knows that he was very fast, always, since he was young,” Gutierrez said. “It is true that his feet were a little bigger, flat feet, something that was quite funny, actually, but he has always been very fast and very agile. In fact as a child he played at Hércules (football team) and even then he was quick and coordinated.”

Whether the Aussie No. 1’s speed has come along this year or not, his game certainly has, and it’s made a significant impression on his opponents. While De Minaur and Jaume Munar had never met in a FedEx ATP Head2Head match before Friday at the Next Gen ATP Finals, Munar beat De Minaur in their two previous professional matches, winning both times in straight sets.

But in the Milan semi-finals, De Minaur was all over the court, scratching and clawing passing shots from unfavourable positions past the Spaniard.

“He’s always running,” Munar said. “He’s getting impossible balls I think, [he hit] many passing shots today in important moments and all the credit to him. I think he’s a great player.”

De Minaur has sprinted and slid around Next Gen Arena all week, going undefeated in round-robin play and then beating Munar to give himself an opportunity to play for the prestigious title at the Fiera Milano against top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. And to nobody’s surprise, the Greek was quick to explain what he feels will test him the most with De Minaur’s game.

“He's very quick,” Tsitsipas said. “That's his biggest weapon, his speed on the court.”

And the ‘Speed Demon’ will try to use that weapon once more in his final match of the season to run his way to the Next Gen ATP Finals title and with it, the $407,000 that goes to an undefeated champion.

Roger Federer thanks fans after being honoured in the 2018 ATP World Tour Awards as the ATPWorldTour.com Fans' Favourite for a 16th straight year.

Stefanos Tsitsipas reflects on how much it means to be named the Most Improved Player of the Year in the 2018 ATP World Tour Awards presented by Moët & Chandon, after being honoured on court at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.

Watch as Andrey Rublev discusses his improved mentality after defeating Jaume Munar in five sets at the Next Gen ATP Finals.

- Players travel on London Underground from North Greenwich to Westminster
- Pre-tournament reception hosted at Houses of Parliament
- Winners in the 2018 ATP World Tour Awards presented by Moët & Chandon honoured

Eight of the world’s best singles players and doubles teams gathered at the Houses of Parliament in London on Friday night for the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals Official Launch, presented by Moët & Chandon, ahead of the prestigious season-ending tournament getting underway on Sunday.

World No. 1 and five-time former Nitto ATP Finals champion Novak Djokovic, six-time former winner Roger Federer and fellow tournament contenders Alexander Zverev, Kevin Anderson, Marin Cilic, Dominic Thiem, Kei Nishikori and John Isner, as well as all doubles teams, travelled to Westminster by the London Underground from North Greenwich stop at The O2.

The players mixed with commuters on the busy Jubilee Line route – the first time that these global superstars had collectively travelled on London’s iconic Tube Network. The players posed for photos with fans on the journey, before getting out at Westminster Underground Station and making the short walk to the Houses of Parliament. While in Parliament, the players were pictured in the iconic political setting alongside statues of some of the great figures from British history.

John Isner said, "Although we've probably all ridden on the tube a time or two, this was very different. It's a very cool way to make an entrance. There were quite a few surprised looks on the faces of folks, especially when Roger and Novak walked by. It was a pretty cool treat for them."

The Reception, hosted in the State Rooms by kind permission of The Rt Hon John Bercow MP, saw guests enjoy a Moët & Chandon Champagne reception before witnessing the official welcome of this year’s elite singles players and doubles teams by the evening’s presenter, Andrew Castle.

Chris Kermode, ATP Executive Chairman & President, said: “The Nitto ATP Finals bring the world’s best players to London for an epic, season-ending finale. There has been some incredible tennis played the season and our Official Launch is a great way to recognise the achievements of these world-class players.

“Over 250,000 fans will be travelling to The O2 to watch the action in the coming days – the vast majority by public transport – so it’s great that the players had the chance to experience the journey for themselves. I’m sure their fellow commuters won’t forget the night they boarded the same Tube carriage as some of the finest tennis players the game has ever seen.”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Over the last decade the Nitto ATP Finals at The O2 have become a highlight of both the international tennis calendar and London’s sporting year. I’m delighted that some of the world’s best tennis stars were able to experience Londoners’ enthusiasm for the sport as they travelled on the Jubilee Line to Westminster.

“Our great city stands ready once again to welcome tennis fans for another brilliant tournament, which will boost the capital’s economy and prove that London is open to visitors from all over the world.”

Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, said: “The way with which these guys play and more particularly, the way these guys act on and off the court makes them the most magnificent ambassadors to the estimated 1.2 billion people who pick up a tennis racquet around the globe. We are in the company of the giants of the game, some literally in terms of height, and others in terms of prowess. We all look forward to watching you play this week.”

As part of the Official Launch in the Houses of Parliament, winners in the 2018 ATP World Tour Awards presented by Moët & Chandon were honoured. Djokovic and his coach Marian Vajda received their trophies respectively as Comeback Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, while 16-time recipient Federer and the first-year pairing of Mike Bryan/Jack Sock accepted their awards as ATPWorldTour.com Fans’ Favourite presented by Moët & Chandon.

Spaniard Tommy Robredo, a former World No. 5, received the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award, while his compatriot Rafael Nadal, who was unable to attend the Gala, was the recipient of the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award for the second time (also 2010).

Djokovic, who has compiled a 31-2 record since the start of Wimbledon, and the top duo of Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic, were also recognised for clinching the year-end singles and doubles No. 1 ATP Ranking, respectively. They will receive their ATP World Tour No. 1 trophies during on-court ceremonies at the prestigious season finale.

The Nitto ATP Finals begins on Sunday at The O2, with Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares playing the opening doubles match against Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus. Wimbledon finalist Anderson makes his tournament debut against three-time qualifier Thiem in the day session, while Federer begins his bid for a seventh season finale title against Nishikori.

The tournament welcomes more than 250,000 fans to The O2 arena annually, as well as generating global viewership figures reaching an average of 95 million each year, as the ATP’s best eight singles players and doubles teams compete over eight days at the biggest indoor tennis tournament in the world.

Watch as Marin Cilic reflects on his recent form and looks to improve his record at The O2 in his fourth appearance at the season-ending event.

Watch as Alexander Zverev discusses returning to the Nitto ATP Finals, one year after making his debut at the event, and his season so far.

Watch as Kevin Anderson discusses making his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals and his chances of success, having lifted two indoor titles this season.

Watch as Dominic Thiem shares his thoughts on his improved indoor form ahead of the Nitto ATP Finals.

Kei Nishikori discusses his comeback campaign in 2018, culminating in a return to The O2 in London for the Nitto ATP Finals.

John Isner looks ahead to his first appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals, capping a career-year on the ATP World Tour.

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This week, the stars of tomorrow have been on full display at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan. On Saturday, one of the biggest rivalries of the Next Generation will take centre stage. 

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur are set to square off in a blockbuster championship clash under the bright lights of the Fiera Milano. The highest-ranked players in the field have separated themselves from the rest of the #NextGenATP pack, and the stakes could not be greater as they tangle for the trophy.

While many of today's 21-and-under stars are just getting to know each other on the court, Tsitsipas and De Minaur have already established a competitive rivalry. Saturday's title match will be their fifth professional encounter and eighth overall since 2015, with a trio of meetings coming at the junior level. 

Just last year, the 20-year-old Greek and 19-year-old Aussie met in the first round of qualifying at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Surbiton, UK. They were both outside the Top 200 of the ATP Rankings and making their initial ascent. One year later, with both firmly entrenched inside the Top 50, they are already household names on the ATP World Tour. Last month, Tsitsipas took their first tour-level clash 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 at the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships.

Safe to say, there will be no secrets on Saturday.

"I know it is going to be tough, so I'm going to have to be prepared for that," said Tsitsipas. "I'm going to have to be 100 per cent. And I'm going to just mentally be there and just give my last effort and give everything I have.

"I think it would be a fantastic end of the year if things go well tomorrow. I'm going to have to play differently than today. I need to press, but not over-press because that's what he's waiting for. Be wise, be patient on the court. And of course make him move, make him run. Come to the net, play good tennis, play clever tennis, play all around tennis."

Both Tsitsipas and De Minaur advanced to the final after surviving five-set thrillers on Friday. The Greek star needed a fifth set tie-break to overcome last year's finalist Andrey Rublev, while his Aussie counterpart overcame a stern test from Jaume Munar.

“I'm just going to do what I need to do: recover, get a good night's sleep and tomorrow is a new day,” De Minaur said. “It's going to be my last match of the season, so I'm really looking forward to it. He's got a big serve and definitely likes to dictate with his forehand. He's very aggressive, likes to come to the net as well. So got to really make sure you have good depth and not leave too many balls short.

“As soon as the draw came out, first thing we thought about was my first-round opponent. And then on to the next, on to the next, on to the next."

And now the next is the only player seeded ahead of him in Milan: the only player left standing in his way of a title.

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Watch as Stefanos Tsitsipas praises his opponent, Andrey Rublev, after a hard-fought five-set win, before looking ahead to the Next Gen ATP Finals championship match.

Watch highlights as Stefanos Tsitsipas defeats Andrey Rublev in five sets to book a championship match clash against Alex de Minaur at the Next Gen ATP Finals. Photo credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images.

Stefanos Tsitsipas was tested sternly on Friday evening at the Next Gen ATP Finals, but the top seed moved on nonetheless, as the World No. 15 beat 2017 runner-up Andrey Rublev 4-3(3), 3-4(5), 4-0, 2-4, 4-3(2) to reach the championship match.

"You feel great after winning such matches, because there has been a lot of effort," said Tsitsipas. "We [spent] hours on the court fighting, wanting that win. The one that gets it at the end, I think, is the most happy person on earth. I'm very satisfied."

It was no surprise that the pair went the distance. This was their first FedEx ATP Head meeting, but Rublev beat Tsitsipas in a third-set tie-break at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Quimper, France. At that point, the Greek was No. 196 in the ATP Rankings.

But a lot has changed since then. Last year, Tsitsipas reached Milan as an alternate. This season, Tsitsipas has climbed to a career-best World No. 15 and he is the top seed at the Next Gen ATP Finals, having recently become the first Greek to lift an ATP World Tour trophy at the Intrum Stockholm Open.

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In the final, Tsitsipas will face the winner of Group B, Alex de Minaur, who also needed five sets to get through his semi-final, in which the Aussie dismissed Spaniard Jaume Munar. It will be their second FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting in a month, as Tsitsipas took out De Minaur at the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships 2018 in three sets.

"[Alex] is very quick. That's his biggest weapon, his speed on the court. But he has some weaknesses as well. Not all players are perfect," said Tsitsipas. "I'm going to have to play differently than today. And press but, not over-press because that's what he's waiting for. Be wise, be patient on the court and make him move, make him run. Come to the net, play good tennis, play clever tennis, play all around tennis."

Since both Tsitsipas and De Minaur were undefeated in group play at the Fiera Milano, the winner on Saturday will take home $407,000 for completing the tournament without a loss. Rublev, the only player in the 2018 field who competed at the inaugural event, will have to settle for a chance at capturing third place, as he will face Munar for that honour on Sunday.

"I have one more match to play tomorrow. I know it is going to be tough, so I'm going to have to be prepared for that," said Tsitsipas. "I'm going to have to be 100 per cent. And I'm going to just mentally be there and just give my last effort, give my last everything in that match. I think it would be a fantastic year-end if things go well tomorrow."