Autumn in Paris.  It does not have quite the same ring as “spring time in Paris,” but there was still plenty of excitement as some of the brightest stars of the ATP World Tour descended on the French capital earlier this week.  This tournament is the final regular tour stop of year, and for a lucky few, it presented one last chance to book their tickets to the ATP World Tour Finals across the Channel in London. For all of the excitement surrounding the Race to London, however, arguably the more intriguing storyline centers around the implications Paris could have for Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer and their battle for the year-end No. 1 ranking.

To some, it may seem like overkill to hype up the battle for No. 1 between these two legends of the game.  Regardless of what transpires over the course of the coming weeks, Djokovic has the stronger claim to ATP Player of the Year.  He defeated Federer in the championship match to win his second Wimbledon crown, posted deep runs at the other three majors, and picked up Masters 1000 titles at Indian Wells, Miami, and Rome.  The Serb would also likely be the first to say that as great as those results were, they pale in comparison to the joy he felt earlier this month when he became a father for the first time.  So irrespective of where he finishes 2014, at least in the short term, he is apt to feel pretty good about his game and his season when all is said and done.

Of course, Federer ought to be walking around with an extra bounce in his step, too.  Many were writing him off after a dismal 2013.  But as he has so often done in the past, Federer has defied his critics to come roaring back this season.  He won the prestigious Masters 1000 shields in Cincinnati and most recently in Shanghai, and his five-set thriller against Djokovic in the Wimbledon final will go down as perhaps the best match of 2014.  He has shown that not only can he still compete with the sport’s best, but that he is still among the sport’s best.  Furthermore, as a result of his stellar play, he has miraculously put himself well within striking distance of wresting the No. 1 ranking away from Djokovic. 

Securing the year-end No. 1 ranking would be a boon for either player, and it is difficult to discern who needs it more.  On one hand, Federer has already done more than most thought him still capable of just by putting himself in contention.  But after narrowly failing to bag another major title, the No. 1 ranking would make for more than just a nice consolation prize.  It would also add a further feather to his cap to pull off such a feat at this stage of his career in this era of men’s tennis.  It may also give him that final boost of confidence to win his 18th major title. 

None of that is to say that it is not equally important to Djokovic, however.  As previously noted, he has had the better season, but he freely admitted that part of his decision to add Boris Becker to his team was that he felt the German could assist in strengthening his mental resolve.  Losing his No. 1 ranking could dent that resolve.  Also, Djokovic has lost to Federer on three of the five occasions that they played this year.  The last thing the Serb wants to do is relinquish the top spot to Federer and give the Swiss even more reason to believe in his chances when they next meet.

Only time will tell which of these two warriors will balance their desire with managing the pressure that comes with trying to finish 2014 as the year-end No. 1, and fans will be treated to a glimpse of that this week in Paris.  Both are deserving candidates.  Their battle will make for an intriguing storyline down the stretch.  And undoubtedly, these two men are already setting the stage for a fantastic 2015.