THE ATP World Tour Finals in London seem to be widely acknowledged as a great success.

But with Andy Murray exiting the tournament via the Duckworth-Lewis method, along with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, how will the competition fare as it reaches the knockout stages?

Based on the crowd frenzy created by the round robin’s final – and on paper its least glamorous – clash between Robin Soderling and Nikolay Davydenko, the organisers have little reason to worry.

Tennis fever only usually strikes the UK during Wimbledon, but the World Tour Finals offer many things that the showpiece grand slam cannot.

The world’s best eight players (although technically eight of the best nine with Soderling coming in for the injured Andy Roddick) each playing at least three games against each other is a big attraction.

Of the World Tour Finals competitors, Roger Federer only defeated Soderling on his way to the Wimbledon title this year.

The grand slam tournaments typically comprise Federer, Nadal, Murray, etc routing their much lower-ranked opponents in the earlier rounds before meeting each other in the impossible-to-get-tickets later rounds.

Although tickets at the O2 Arena are not cheap, for world class sport they are fairly priced and every game has featured two great players – it is all killer, no filler.

In some way it seems unfair that London is hosting this event with it already possessing Wimbledon.

But with all games, Murray or no Murray, being well supported by a full arena, the event has showed that the British public has a year round passion for tennis.

And with such an array of top players facing each other, then long may it continue to be held on British shores.

It’s been a tournament to forget for Rafa and his fans. If JMDP is built like a brick shithouse, then this week Rafa has increasingly looked built like a shit brickhouse, liable to fall apart at any moment.

He required treatment for what looked like an abdominal injury during a straight sets loss to Novak Djokovic. I really hope it’s just a niggle and that he’s healthy for the Davis Cup final, because as I’ve said I think that getting back on clay and playing for his country could be such a boost for him right now.

I really recommend reading C Note’s post at Forty Deuce on Rafa’s current form and the speculation thereof.  She’s a smart cookie, that one.

Anyway, the match was reportedly anything but a classic, with Nole cream crackered after 94 matches in 2009.

But at least there was net love …

… and, for some reason, air guitar.

Not even Nole’s air guitar could save him, though, as Davydenko won in three sets 76(4) 46 63 to advance to the semifinals together with Robin Soderling.

If the Nole-Rafa match was a disappointment, this one was an absolute cracker. I thought both guys were fantastic and there was almost nothing between them until the third set when Kolya upped his game and Soderling faded. They’ve been I think the two best players in the group this week and the semi-finals should be great.

Soderling will face del Potro (they’re 1-1) and Kolya will take on Federer (they’re, um, 0-12).

Davai.

Day 4 wasn’t very fun. Group B played and Robin Soderling was the first to clinch a semifinal spot while Rafael Nadal was booted out of contention.

Sod defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-1. He’s the only player in the tournament who hasn’t dropped a set yet. Sod’s really taken advantage of Andy Roddick’s withdrawal, no?

Nikolay Davydenko crushed many hearts, including mine, when he defeated Rafa in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6(4). I hoped that Rafa would play better but I can’t say that the loss was surprising. In contrast to Sod, who Rafa and his fans hate with a burning passion, Rafa is the only player who has yet to win a set in the tournament.

I told you, Day 4 wasn’t very fun.

Here’s where the boys stand after Day 4 and part of Day 5 because this post is very late:

Image via Getty

Rafael Nadal will not be carrying home any fond memories from his trips to London this year after he became the first player to be knocked out of the ATP World Tour Finals on Wednesday.

Five months after limping out of Wimbledon without defending his title due to aching knees, the Spaniard bore little resemblance to the player who once terrorised his opponents as he slumped to a 6-1 7-6 defeat by Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko.

“I fought a lot. I tried my best all the time but it wasn’t enough to win these matches. That’s it, no?” summed up Nadal, who lost both of his Group B clashes in straight sets.

While Nadal was left to lick his wounds, Swede Robin Soderling became the first qualifier for the semifinals when he battered world number three Novak Djokovic 7-6 6-1 for his second major shock of the tournament.

Soderling, only competing in the year-end showpiece at London’s O2 Arena after Andy Roddick’s injury-enforced withdrawal, backed up his opening win over Nadal with another magnificent exhibition of power and precision.

It was the kind of display Nadal would have been proud of but instead the Spaniard spent more time shaking his head in frustration than producing winners during a lopsided first set against Davydenko that flashed by in 27 minutes.

Trailing 4-2 in the second set, Nadal appeared to be heading towards one of the worst defeats in his career when a child’s voice boomed out from the darkened arena: “Wake up Rafa, remember you’re the number two in the world.”

Nadal appeared to heed the call and thumped his chest as he twice came from a break down to force Davydenko into a tiebreak, though after a tight battle featuring long rallies, crafty angles and thumping smashes, the Russian managed to seal victory.

Nadal has no chance of progressing any further in the elite eight-man event even if he beats Djokovic in his final round-robin match on Friday.

Djokovic has played almost 100 ATP matches this year and it showed as he appeared to throw in the towel in the second set.

The Serb, winner of the tournament 12 months ago when it was held in Shanghai, barely had enough energy afterwards to answer questions and he will have to pick himself up quickly for his match against Nadal if he is to reach the semis.

“I didn’t enjoy playing today’s match, that’s for sure,” Djokovic, told reporters. “I’m just fatigued from the whole season.

“He absolutely deserved to qualify for the semifinals. I think he’s the best player so far in the tournament.”

The only surprising thing about the match was that Djokovic managed to drag the first set into a tiebreak, which the Swede sealed with a big first serve.

Soderling won a tremendous baseline exchange to seal the first service break of the match at 1-1 in the second set, splintering Djokovic’s resolve in the process, and raced away with the second set in just 29 minutes.

“There are top nine guys in the world here and I’ve won two matches in straight sets against the number two and three in the world,” Soderling said.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

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Robin Soderling came in as a last minute replacement for injured Andy Roddick, but he’s just won his second match of the tournament. For the first time in the last 6 meetings, Soderling trounced rival Novak Djokovic 7-6, 6-1. Soderling struggled with his net play but served well with 10 aces and winning 80% of his first serve points. Soderling has won $240,000 with the win and takes one of the semi final spots. Soderling uses the HEAD MicroGEL Radical MP racket.

Andy Murray battles Fernando Verdasco Thursday.

Ingen blev mer förvånad än jag över det sätt som Robin Söderling avslutade matchen mot Novak Djokovic i Masters – 6-1! Sensationellt! Visserligen vet vi sedan gammalt att Djoko, precis som de flesta andra tennisspelare, emellanåt kan ge upp i förtid. Han gav ju tex inte Federer det motstånd han förtjänade i US-Open semifinalen senast. Del Potro visade oss i finalen vad som kan hända om man aldrig ger upp. Exakt varför Djoko inte gav allt i andra set igår är det ingen som vet, men kanske är det verkligen så som han själv sa efter matchen att han helt enkelt var trött? Han har ju spelat många tuffa matcher den senaste tiden, något som i slutändan sliter inte bara fysiskt utan även mentalt. En sak vet vi med säkerhet, han kommer inte underskatta Söderling igen. Läs mer om matchen mot Djoko här (SvD).

I nästa match väntar nu Nikolaj Davydenko på Robin, och det troliga är väl att ryssen vinner den matchen, speciellt efter segern över Rafa. För Davy har nu chansen att ta sig till semifinal på nytt. Och kanske kommer vår man att välja att spara på krafterna om matchen inte går som han vill. Visserligen så står det 200 nya fina poäng på spel, men i slutändan så är det ändå viktigare att vara hundraprocentigt hel i semifinalen mot Murray, Del Potro eller Federer på lördag. Att sia om matchen är mao svårt, men utgångstipset är såklart en ny svensk 2-0 seger. Inbördes möten dem emellan är för övrigt 6-3 till Robin, och i år har han vunnit tre av fyra möten med ryssen. Ju mer man tänker på saken så kan inte Robin förlora?

För att avslutningsvis ägna Nadal några rader, så är det svårt att riktigt förstå vad som hänt med honom sedan Paris. Men att problemet huvudsakligen är mentalt tror jag vi alla nu insett. Kanske har han helt enkelt ledsnat på tennis, något som alla råkar ut för förr eller senare. Om han får ordning på sig själv igen eller inte är det ingen som vet. Men om problemen med knäna inte kan lösas samtidigt som han tappar glöden, så är slutet på karriären snart här. Han kommer säkert att försöka knäppa Djoko på näsan i morgon, men ingen tror väl att så kommer att ske?

El número dos del mundo, Rafael Nadal, cayó el miércoles por 6-1 y 7-6 frente al tenista ruso Nikolay Davydenko y se convirtió en el primer jugador eliminado del ATP World Tour Finals.

Davydenko silenció a los 17.500 fanáticos que atestaban el O2 Arena al alcanzar una ventaja 4-2 en el segundo parcial, y pese a que el Español dio enérgicamente la pelea, el número seis del mundo aseguró el triunfo con un potente derechazo.

Previamente, el sueco Robin Soderling provocó su segunda gran sorpresa en la Copa de Maestros al derrotar al número tres del mundo, Novak Djokovic, con parciales de 7-6 y 6-1.

Soderling, que compite en el torneo debido al retiro por lesión de Andy Roddick, venía de abrir el Grupo B con una victoria sobre Nadal y ahora mostró otra magnífica exhibición para sellar un lugar en la semifinal.

Djokovic parecía cansado en el partido que duró una hora y 34 minutos, ofreciendo sólo una resistencia simbólica después de perder el primer set.

El serbio ha jugado casi 100 partidos en el circuito este año, incluyendo su victoria en tres horas del lunes ante el ruso Nikolay Davydenko en su partido de apertura de la fase grupal.

Soderling, finalista del Abierto de Francia este año, nunca había vencido a Djokovic en los cinco enfrentamientos anteriores con el serbio, y celebró con satisfacción después de que su rival fallara una volea en el punto de partido.

Djokovic, campeón defensor del certamen tras ganar en Shanghái el año pasado, tendrá que disputar el viernes su paso a la semifinal ante Nadal.

Something about that Rafa-Kolya match has ‘The Boxer’ stuck in my head … Anyway, a sad day for many at the 02 as two of tennis’ finest went down in straights. In good news, it was to two of tennis’ almost-finest.

Robin Soderling d. Novak Djokovic, 76(5) 61

I keep having to remind myself that Robin Soderling didn’t actually qualify directly for this tournament. He is the only player so far not to drop a set as he defeated Novak Djokovic in straights, and is also the first player to seal his spot in the semi-finals, leaving Nole and Kolya to slug it out for the remaining Group B spot (against, er, different opponents. Have I mentioned round robin confuses me?!).

As for Nole, it sounds as if this was just one match too far.

Kitten throws in the towel.

He’ll need to recover quickly if he’s to make it to the semifinals …

Nikolay Davydenko d. Rafael Nadal, 61 76(4)

Oh Kolya. This photo is officially too perfect.

Another really tough day at the office for Rafa. He was simply steamrolled in the first set, with his serve particularly a cause for concern, and time and again his shots landed too short and were easy meat for Kolya. His tennis for much of the second set wasn’t much better, but he worked hard (as he always does), retrieved the break he’d given up early in the set, played more aggressive and got to a tiebreak on pure heart alone. The tennis in the second set tiebreak was suddenly of ridiculously high quality and the margins were very slim; I honestly felt that Rafa would pull out another amazing escape. That he didn’t manage it was credit I think to Kolya’s excellent play at the tail end of the tiebreak, but as usual, you cannot possibly fault Rafa for lacking in will. It’s just that his ability to inexorably impose it on the person at the other end of the court seems to have gone missing for the moment.

Tough times for his fans, but I don’t doubt that he will sooner or later be back to his old self. And getting his feet back on clay and playing for his country might just be exactly what he needs. So chin up …

Huge props to Kolya though. He played a jaw-droppingly good (to quote Koenig) and indeed knicker-droppingly good (to quote me) first set; he had help from Rafa, certainly, but his tennis was simply sublime and there was nothing to do but watch in awe. He struggled, not uncharacteristically, when he neared the finish line in a winning position, but did a brilliant job of holding his own when his form wobbled and then finding his best tennis again to clinch the tiebreak and a straight sets victory. It seemed like his wife was the only person in the arena who wanted him to do what he did, but in the end, lapses notwithstanding, it was a command performance, utterly dominating from the baseline and at the net. Good man.

Kudos.

Robin Soderling claimed his second big scalp at the ATP World Tour Finals as the Swede defeated reigning champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in London on Wednesday to reach the semifinals.

Soderling is only competing in this prestigious season finale because of an injury to Andy Roddick, but his victory over Rafael Nadal in his opening match made it clear he is determined to take advantage of his good fortune.

The 25-year-old, ranked ninth in the world, underlined the point by making Djokovic the latest victim of his impressive form this season.

Soderling, who ended Nadal’s four-year reign as French Open champion with a shock win en route to the final earlier this year, had lost his five past meetings with Djokovic, with his most recent defeat to the Serb coming just two weeks ago in the Paris Masters.

That run came to an end in emphatic fashion in this Group B clash.

After a marathon three-set victory over Nikolay Davydenko that didn’t finish until close to midnight on Monday, Djokovic must have been relieved to see his match scheduled in the more sociable early slot.

Whatever time of day the world number three plays, Djokovic has been in supreme form of late, winning 19 of his last 20 matches.

But Djokovic never found any rhythm against the ruthlessly efficient Swede. A hard-fought set looked to have swung Soderling’s way when Djokovic gifted him three set-points at 4-5.

Djokovic, defending superbly at the back of the court, clawed back all three and the set went to a tie-break.

Again it was Soderling who took control at the crucial moment as he hit a perfect volley to earn two more set points. His nerve held this time and he converted the second set point to move into the lead.

The Swede is widely regarded as one of the world’s best indoor players and he kept the pressure on Djokovic in the second set.

Djokovic hardly helped himself though, attempting a drop-shot on break point that he flunked completely and gave Soderling a 2-1 lead.

That was enough to send the Serb into something of a meltdown.

He had already been gesturing angrily towards his coaching team in between points and his composure disappeared completely as Soderling broke again to finish the contest.

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Robin Soderling continued his confident run in the Barclays ATP World Tour finals by defeating Novak Djokovic. 7-6 (5), 6-1.

The first set showed both players battling nerves and less than stellar play despite some very long rallies. Soderling was able to get to 0-40 on Djokovic’s serve at 4-5 but Djokovic came up with big serves to hold on and win the game eventually forcing things to a tiebreak. But Soderling was the one who held his nerve, especially after missing a backhand volley early on but sticking another one for a winner at 4-4.

Djokovic looked flat throughout and often berated himself for no reason. The second set he quickly went down 0-40 at 1-1. After a super long rally at 15-40, Djokovic tried a lame drop shot that went into the net giving Soderling the break at 2-1. Soderling broke him again at 4-1 and then again at 5-1 to win the match.

With the win, Soderling qualifies for the semifinals of the event and will move up to No. 8 in the world. Djokovic will next have to battle Rafael Nadal in a must win match for both to qualify for the semis.

I morgon så tar sig Robin Söderling an en av sina mardrömsmotståndare, Novak Djokovic, en spelare han aldrig besegrat. Och allt annat än en snabb svensk 0-2 förlust är en smärre sensation i de flesta experters ögon. Djoko är en inte bara en tekniskt mycket skickligare spelare än Söderling, han är dessutom smartare som spelare än Rafa och kan variera sitt spel på ett sätt som gör att Robin kommer att få det svårt. Inte minst med stoppbollar och annat kul. Och får han inte ordning på sina servar så kan matchen snabbt vara över. Fem raka förluster mot serben talar för övrigt sitt tydliga språk. Djoko är en världsklasspelare tillhörande den yppersta eliten, Söderling tillhör gänget strax bakom – de som härjar mellan plats 6 till 30. Killarna som aldrig kan ta det där sista lilla steget. Dessa spelare under toppskiktet kan förvisso blixtra till ibland, men i långa loppet så når de sällan eller aldrig ända fram. Thomas Johansson var ett av få lysande undantag. Men då Masters endast är världens sjätte största titel så finns så klart chansen att det blir en svensk seger i morgon. Men för att så ska kunna ske så måste Djoko ha en dålig dag samtidigt som vår man spelar mer eller mindre felfritt. Men 80 procents säkerhet kan vi sålunda konstatera att Serbien blir nationen som får jubla i morgon.

You can watch the ATP Finals live online via subscription for $24.95. Tennis TV provides live Tennis feeds.

Del Potro and Verdasco play second round matches while Federer and Murray play tonight.

Niemand won in 2009 meer wedstrijden dan Novak Djokovic. De Serviër bereikte vijf keer de finale van een Masters Series-toernooi en heroverde onlangs de derde positie op de wereldranglijst van Andy Murray. En dus kan de Australian Open kampioen van 2008 terugkijken op een geslaagd seizoen, toch? Op de Baseline vindt van niet.

Novak Djokovic is deze week in de ogen van veel kenners de grootste kanshebber op de titel bij de ATP World Tour Finals in Londen. De titelverdediger kende een droomherfst, met eindzeges in Peking, Basel (met winst op Roger Federer) en bij het Masters Series-toernooi van Parijs (met winst op Rafael Nadal).

Hoe succesvol Djokovic ook geweest mag zijn na de US Open, elke liefhebber weet dat reputaties gebouwd worden rondom de Grand Slam-toernooien. En aangezien Djokovic aan het begin van 2008 zijn eerste major wist te winnen, was het logisch om te verwachten dat hij dit jaar zou schitteren tijdens de vier grote toernooien. Maar dat kwam er niet van.

Djokovic voldeed in 2009 niet aan de verwachtingen bij de Grand Slams

In Australië maakte Djokovic een onprofessionele indruk, door in de kwartfinales op te geven tegen Andy Roddick vanwege uitputtingsverschijnselen. Het is algemeen bekend dat de temperatuur in Melbourne tijdens de Australian Open hoog op kan lopen, maar daar bereidt elke tennisprof zich op voor. Djokovic is wat dat betreft nalatig geweest en dat is hem – terecht - op veel kritiek komen te staan.

In het voorjaar presteerde Djokovic sterk op het gravel met finaleplaatsen in Monte-Carlo, Rome en winst in Belgrado, maar tijdens Roland Garros liep de Serviër in de derde ronde tegen een onverklaarbare nederlaag op tegen de Duitser Philipp Kohlschreiber. Enkele weken later weerhield diens landgenoot Tommy Haas de naar plaats vier afgezakte Djokovic uit de halve eindstrijd van Wimbledon.

Op de US Open bereikte Djokovic dan wel naar verwachting de laatste vier, maar de manier waarop hij zich in de halve finales gewonnen gaf tegen Roger Federer was pijnlijk om te aanschouwen. Djokovic geloofde geen moment in zijn kansen. Toen hij een break voorsprong nam in de eerste set speelde hij direct zijn slechtste servicegame van het toernooi. Wanneer de spanning toenam aan het einde van de sets, was het telkens de Serviër zelf die met onnodige fouten de punten aan Federer schonk.

Djokovic leek in New York, en voor het grootste deel van het jaar, in niets meer op het talent dat in 2007 en 2008 fanatiek de strijd aan ging met iedereen, en altijd geloofde in zijn winstkansen. De pitbull van weleer was verworden tot een schoothondje.

Maar terwijl Federer, Nadal, Andy Murray en Juan Martin del Potro het rustig aan deden na het afsluitende Grand Slam-toernooi van het seizoen, begon Djokovic weer te winnen. In Parijs won hij op de valreep zijn eerste Masters Series-titel van 2009, na vier eerdere finales verloren te hebben. En daarmee eindigt de 22-jarige man uit Belgrado zijn seizoen toch nog met een positieve noot.

Eén halve finale op Grand Slam-niveau, vier verloren Masters Series-finales en één grote titel, naast vier kleinere toernooioverwinninkjes. Is dat echter genoeg voor een nummer drie van de wereld die een jaar ervoor zijn eerste Slam veroverde en altijd heeft gezegd dat hij de beste wil worden? No way Nole. Zelfs een overwinning in Londen deze week kan daar niets meer aan veranderen.

Foto © Niels de Water

I’d lick it too. Wait… what?

Day 2 of the ATP World Tour Finals saw Rafael Nadal succumb yet again to his French Open foe, Robin Soderling, in straight sets while Novak Djokovic gutted out a 3-set win over Nikolay Davydenko.

Rafa is nowhere near his best yet but he still has some more WTF tennis to play and hopefully he can somehow pull enough wins/sets to make the semis. Although I have to admit, it’s not looking very good at the moment. Final score: Robin Soderling def Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-4.

Nole and Kolya both played well and their match could have gone either way. Nole was just a tad steadier towards the end. At 5-4 in the third and serving for the match, he lost his serve and surely could have gone bonkers after that. He didn’t, held his nerve, broke back and then finally served the match out. Final score: Novak Djokovic def Nikolay Davydenko 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Here’s where the boys stand at the end of Day 2:

Tomorrow will feature Muzz vs RF. Holy shit.

Image via Getty