The Super Eight
Tennis

The Super Eight

Updated 0900 GMT (1700 HKT) November 17, 2014
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Roger Federer, left, and Novak Djokovic, right, headlined the World Tour Finals in London, but the Swiss star had to pull out of the final due to a back injury. The year-end championships featured eight of the world's best tennis players. Julian Finney/Getty Images
Djokovic's finest moment this year came when he won a second Wimbledon title by defeating Federer in an absorbing five-set match. He's the two-time defending champion at the World Tour Finals. Al Bello/Getty Images
Federer is making his 13th consecutive appearance at the event. He rebounded this season after a bad back hindered his 2013. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
But will Federer be fully focused in London? He'll lead Switzerland in the Davis Cup final in late November. The Davis Cup is one of the few prizes in tennis Federer hasn't won. FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Federer's countryman, Stan Wawrinka, earned his London spot thanks largely to winning the Australian Open in January. But he's slumping entering the year-end championships. Robert Prezioso/Getty Images
Exciting Japanese baseliner Kei Nishikori became the first Asian man to contest a grand slam singles final when he reached the last stage of the U.S. Open. He has defeated both Djokovic and Federer in 2014. Koji Watanabe/Getty Images
Andy Murray desperately wanted to play at the year-end championships, competing for six straight weeks down the stretch. In the end he qualified -- and comfortably. Recovering from back surgery and splitting with coach Ivan Lendl made the first part of the year difficult for the Scot and 2013 Wimbledon champion. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Tomas Berdych is becoming a regular at the World Tour Finals. The always dangerous Czech reached the quarterfinals or better at three majors this year -- although given his weapons some would say he could do even better. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
At the age of 23, Milos Raonic is already Canada's best ever men's singles player. Raonic made the semifinals at Wimbledon and last week beat Federer -- who downed him at the All England Club -- for the first time. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
The third of three debutants in London, joining Nishikori and Raonic, Croatia's Marin Cilic didn't drop a set against Berdych, Federer and Nishikori as he won the U.S. Open in September. A year ago he served a drug suspension, which was subsequently shortened on appeal. JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images