Tennis

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will stage the last chapter of their battle to finish the year as world number one when the ATP Tour Finals get under way in London on Sunday. Federer goes into the Tour Finals at the O2 Arena top of the world rankings, but the Wimbledon champion knows second placed Nadal can still snatch first place if the Spaniard wins the prestigious end-of-year event. The race for pole position is the latest installment of an enthralling rivalry between two of the sport's all-time greats. Although Federer and Nadal remain friendly enough off the court, the Swiss star relishes his ... Read Full Story

LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Federer held court in a swish hotel on the banks of the River Thames on Friday and left nobody in any doubt he was determined to become only the second male player to reclaim the year-end number one spot. The Swiss 15-times grand slam champion can finish the year in what he feels is his rightful place with a strong showing at the ATP Tour World Finals which begin their five-year residence in London on Sunday. Should he hold off Rafael Nadal, the man who ended his record 237-week reign at the top last year but had to hand it ... Read Full Story

Andy Murray has vowed to underline his credentials to become a grand slam champion by winning the ATP World Tour Finals in London. Murray has lifted six ATP Tour titles this year but the British number one will end the year still waiting to win his first grand slam crown. The 22-year-old's failure to translate his undoubted talent into victory at any of the four majors has led some to question whether he will ever be able make the breakthrough. The closest he came this year was at Wimbledon where he reached the semi-finals before Andy Roddick ended his bid for the All-England Club ... Read Full Story

Roger Federer admits the prospect of finishing the year as world number one ahead of Rafael Nadal will fuel his bid to win the ATP World Tour Finals in London. Federer goes into the Tour Finals, beginning on Sunday at London's O2 Arena, in pole position in the world rankings, but the Wimbledon champion knows Nadal can still snatch back top spot if the Spaniard wins the prestigious end-of-year event. Nadal ended Federer's reign as world number one last year before slipping back to second place after a campaign disrupted by the knee injury that forced him to miss Wimbledon. Although the rivalry between ... Read Full Story

Wimbledon champion Roger Federer insists his friend Thierry Henry shouldn't be blamed for the controversial goal that sent France to the World Cup at the Republic of Ireland's expense. Henry has come in for heavy criticism after he clearly controlled a cross with his arm before setting up William Gallas to score the goal that gave France the 1-1 draw they needed to see off Ireland in Wednesday's World Cup play-off second leg in Paris. The incident has been compared to the infamous 'hand of god' goal scored by Argentina's Diego Maradona against England in the 1986 World Cup, while the Irish FA has ... Read Full Story