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Top 5 Photos 11/19: Nadal heads into London's final four

By Jordaan Sanford

The year is approaching its end, but the action isn't dwindling in London's 02 Arena. On Thursday, Rafael Nadal surged past Stefanos Tsitsipas to continue his campaign, while Marcelo Melo and Lukasz Kubot managed to grab a win before ending their doubles season.

These are the Top 5 photos that sum up all the ATP Finals action. (All photos Getty Images)

1

Rafael Nadal

Facing the defending ATP Finals champion, Nadal kept his bid alive to triumph at the year-end event for the first time by prevailing in the winner-take-all contest. The 20-time major champion posted a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 score to claim his semifinal spot and is now 4-0 in deciding sets this season.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain adjusts his headband during his match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during their third round robin match on Day Five of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena on November 19, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
© Getty Images

2

Stefanos Tsitsipas

The Greek had his opportunities, but in the end his mental toughness could not match the left-hander's. Tsitsipas would have a few flat games which is all Nadal needed to run off with the match.

Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas returns against Spain's Rafael Nadal in their men's singles round-robin match on day five of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London on November 19, 2020. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
© AFP via Getty Images

3

Andrey Rublev

Although the Russian was eliminated from reaching the final four stage of the ATP Finals on Tuesday, it didn't stop him from giving it all he had in his final match of the year. Rublev came out determined and ended his season by coming out on top against Dominic Thiem, 6-2, 7-5.

"For each player it is a very important match as we get 200 points. That is more than in a final of a 250 event. And they will stay for the whole year," Rublev said following the win.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19: Winner Andrey Rublev of Russia (L) and Dominic Thiem of Austria embrace after their singles match on Day 5 of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena on November 19, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
© Getty Images

4

Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury

The American-British duo rode out the highs and lows to top two-time defending Roland Garros winners Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies, 7-6 (5) 6-7 (4) [10-4]. The 2020 Australian Open champions are through to the event's semifinals.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19: Rajeev Ram of The United States of America and Joe Salisbury of Great Britain celebrate a point during their doubles match against Kevin Krawietz of Germany and Andreas Mies of Germany during their third round robin match on Day Five of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena on November 19, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
© Getty Images

5

Marcelo Melo and Lukasz Kubot

The tandem managed to grab their first win of the week by edging past Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic, 6-4, 6-7 (2) [10-8], in a one-hour-and-44-minute thriller. Kubot and Melo capped off their season with a 21-13 team record.

Brazil's Marcelo Melo and Poland's Lukas Kubot embrace after their victory over Netherlands' Wesley Koolhof and Croatia's Nikola Mektic in their men's doubles round-robin match on day five of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London on November 19, 2020. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
© AFP via Getty Images