WTF : Group A in review

It's not going to be a looong article, because in a very short time the first singles semifinal will start and I can't lose anymore tennis. Yesterday was the last Round Robin day, when Group A chose its semifinalists. Surprises, emotions, nerves, we had it all...

The leaders were, since the beginning, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic. And, by the end of the RR, they prooved they were the strongest players in the group. Nadal won all his matches, which is a big performance, three matches of three, against the top eight players of the world, on the surface he doesn't like, as he said. He lost a set though, against Andy Roddick, in maybe the most interesting match of the tournament by now. The hardest reaction at an umpire's decision didn't came from Roddick, as many of the fans expected, but from him, Rafa, the fair-play in person (no, it's no sarcasm here). After he said he won't play anymore, he returned on the court and gave Berdych only one game for the rest of the match. Hmm, it's not that bad to annoy him, no? With a little luck against Djokovic, who had a pretty serious problem with his contact lens, his right eye getting irritated, Rafa powered into the semifinals, where he will face Andy Murray.

I think Novak could have won all of his matches, even the one against Nadal. If he was healthy, and he wouldn't have had the eye problem, I really believe he could've beat him. Anyway, he played a very good tennis against Berdych and Roddick. Next he will face Federer.

Tomas Berdych, in my opinion, played a quality game, did his best and didn't wait for anybody else's mistake. Unfortunatelly, his group was maybe a little too difficult for him, a newcomer at the World Tour Finals. However, he beat Andy Roddick, which is another good victory for the young Czech. Next year, Tomas. Next year will be even better. :)

Andy Roddick was one of the biggest surprises of the tournament. And it wasn't a nice surprise. He wasn't able to win any match. Actually, he won only one set in three matches. Against Nadal, the toughest opponent, that's true, but I'm sure everybody waited much more from him. Anyway, the fact that he qualified for the WTF for the 8th year in a row, being one of the two most experienced players from there (along with Roger Federer) is still amazing and he deserves all the respect and admiration.

WTF: Group B in review

We are getting closer and closer of the big final of the champions. Four of the players have said everything they needed to say, have played everything they needed to play in Round Robin. Yesterday, Group B chose its leaders.

Winner and King of Group B... Roger Federer!

This year, once again, Roger powers into the semifinals, just like he did in eight of his nine years of brilliance on the five different courts that have hosted the Masters Cup. He started his winning campaign in the first day, against David Ferrer. His debut wasn't very difficult. He won, 6-1 6-4. Next, a tougher opponent was waiting for him. It was the fifth player of the world and the crowd's favourite Andy Murray. But with his talent, calm and experience, Federer did it again. 6-4 6-2. In the last match of the group, the one who hoped to cause a surprise was Robin Soderling, the man who ended Federer's streak of reaching the semifinals in 23 consecutive Grand Slam events. And how would a real champion finish this? By remaining undefeated. Only two sets, 6 and 3, were enough.

No.2... Andy Murray!

Murray probably remembers last year at the WTF very very well. He wasn't beaten by Federer or Del Potro, but maths. He missed the semifinals for just one game. This year, he made sure it won't happen again. In the first match of the tournament, he beat easily Robin Soderling, 6-2 6-4. In the second match he had to face maybe the most constant player in this competition, Roger Federer. He wasn't able to pull at least a set. In the final match, he had to make sure there won't be any chance to lose his place in the semifinals. He won over David Ferrer, 6-2 6-2.

Robin Soderling. The third...

...and probably the biggest disappointment. Some tennis legends picked him to win the whole tournament. He was coming here like the newest and lattest Masters winner. But the fact that he couldn't find his rhythm was obvious, since the start of the week. He had a weak start against Andy Murray, without being able to pull a set. Then he did what he should have done. He won his second match, against David Ferrer in two sets. Two close sets, though. 7-5 7-5. And the end, the match that could've send him into the second WTF semifinal came, maybe too fast. Federer didn't forgive anything this time. It was 7-6 6-3.

And the fourth, the nervous and adorable... David Ferrer!

I know he is already 28 and he had been to the World Tour Finals before, but he's still like a newcomer for me. In the good way. He's always able to impress, he made a Masters final this year and beat lots of important players. He made his way back to Top 10 and I find impressing his year. Unfortunatelly, the atmosphere of the tournament destabilized him a little. He didn't win any match, any set actually, but I think he has a good chance for 2011.

This was Group B. Who will win Group A? Is Nadal invincible? Will Roddick find his rhythm now, in the last match? Watch the World Tour Finals. You don't want to miss the action! ;)

Tennis legends made their picks!

The World Tour Finals are amazing to watch for every real tennis fan, that's for sure. But not just for the fans. Some tennis legends made their picks for the 2010 year-end championship.

John McEnroe: "I would pick Rafael Nadal if this were the Australian Open because I think he's much tougher to beat in longer matches. If he remains healthy he's the guy I would pick for every major right now until proven otherwise. But in the best of three it remains to be seen; I would give Roger Federer more of a chance in a shorter match, and then I'd have to see how it pans out with the guys who are there. But it would be nice to see one of the other guys, whether it's Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray or somebody else, really step up and make an impact... but then be able to follow it up into the next year and go and win some majors. I think that would be important for tennis. But I would still pick those two guys, leaning towards Roger in shorter matches and Nadal in longer ones."

Goran Ivanisevic: "I would go for Nadal. He's had a great year, he hasn't played for the last couple of weeks but I think he is preparing himself and he wants to do well. He has put a lot of things that he has never won before in his basket this year. It doesn't matter what surface it is as long as he is fit and playing well. You also can't count out Andy Murray because he can beat anyone, anywhere, any time."

Patrick Rafter: "I'm going with Robin Soderling. He's playing really well, he's coming off a great week in Paris, he's serving well and winning the tight matches. I like to go for dark horses - I think it's going to be really tight and he's playing well."

Mats Wilander: "You maybe have to go with Roger Federer to win. I think Federer is on to something. He's playing better now, since the US Open this year, than he has in the last three or four years. He's just not winning - although he won the Australian Open, he made the quarters of the French Open, he made the semis at Wimbledon, it's not like he had a horrible year. And I think he wants to cap it off winning the ATP Tour finals."

Stefan Edberg: "Rafa, the way he's playing, is going to be the favourite. There's probably a few players you can't count out - Roger is probably one of the ones who could win it, and I think Robin Soderling actually could also be a winner at the o2 Arena. I think he has the potential, and I think it might be a good one for him to win in order to (go on and) win a Grand Slam. So maybe I'll go for a surprise pick: Robin Soderling winning."

Yannick Noah: "Nadal is in great shape. When this kid is healthy he's unbeatable because mentally he's so strong. It's amazing to watch. Would I say the same for the Australian Open? I would say the same forever - anywhere."

Who will be the new Champion?

It has been a long beautiful year in the ATP tour, with smiles and tears, with short and long matches, a year full of emotions and nerves. But everything has an end, and the World Tour Finals are just a day away. The players have been fighting all year, in all kind of competitions, to make it to this tournament, which is, in my opinion, the toughest and the most spectacular event of the year. In my eyes, they are all champions for being here.

The players who will compete for the title are: Rafael Nadal (ESP), Roger Federer (SUI), Novak Djokovic (SRB), Andy Murray (GBR), Robin Soderling (SWE), Tomas Berdych (CZE), David Ferrer (ESP) and Andy Roddick (USA).

Name: Andrew Stephen "Andy" Roddick

Age: 28
Ranking: No.8
Year in Review: WON - Brisbane, Miami
FINAL - San Jose, Indian Wells
SEMIFINAL - Atlanta, Cincinnati, Basel

Name: David Ferrer Ern
Age: 28
Ranking: No.7
Year in Review: WON - Acapulco, Valencia
FINAL - Buenos Aires, Rome, Beijing
SEMIFINAL - Johannesburg, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Bastad, Kuala Lumpur

Name: Tomas Berdych
Age: 25
Ranking: No.6
Year in Review: FINAL - Miami, Wimbledon
SEMIFINAL - Brisbane, Roland Garros

Name: Robin Bo Carl Soderling
Age: 26
Ranking: No.4

Year in Review: WON - Rotterdam, Paris

FINAL - Barcelona, Roland Garros, Bastad
SEMIFINAL - Indian Wells, Miami

Name: Andrew "Andy" Murray
Age: 23
Ranking: No.5
Year in Review: WON - Toronto, Shanghai
FINAL - Australian Open, Los Angeles
SEMIFINAL - Wimbledon

Name: Novak Djokovic
Age: 23
Ranking: No.3
Year in Review: WON - Dubai, Beijing
FINAL - US Open, Basel
SEMIFINAL - Rotterdam, Monte Carlo, Wimbledon, Toronto

Name: Roger Federer
Age: 29
Ranking: No.2
Year in Review: WON - Australian Open, Cincinnati, Stockholm, Basel
FINAL - Madrid, Toronto, Halle, Shanghai
SEMIFINAL - US Open, Paris

Name: Rafael Nadal Parera
Age: 24

Ranking: No. 1
Year in Review: WON - Monte Carlo, Rome, Madrid, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open, Tokyo
FINAL - Doha
SEMIFINAL - Indian Wells, Toronto, Bangkok

On who's CV will stay writen "2010 Champion"? Don't miss the action! The World Tour Finals are here!