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LONDON (Reuters) - It seems hard to believe that only six months ago Andre Agassi was predicting Rafa Nadal would complete a calendar grand slam in 2009. Agassi's statement proved to be the kiss of death for Nadal's season as instead of emulating the feat last achieved by Australia's Rod Laver 40 years ago, his winning run instantly dried up and he failed to win a title since May. The year that started with much promise when he captured the Australian Open crown before adding another four... Read Full Story
Rafael Nadal said he was going work hard on regaining his self-belief and sharpness in a bid to reclaim the world number one spot from Roger Federer next year. The Spaniard said it was time to head for the practice courts to make sure his game was back to his best for the 2010 season. Nadal was eliminated from the season-ending World Tour Finals at London's O2 Arena -- the showdown between the year's top eight players -- losing 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) to Russia's Nikolay Davydenko in the group stage... Read Full Story
Eight Frenchmen, spearheaded by world number 13 Gael Monfils, dominate the men's draw for the Brisbane International in January, organisers said on Thursday. Apart from Monfils, compatriots Jeremy Chardy (32), Paul-Henri Mathieu (33), Richard Gasquet (52), Marc Gicquel (58), Arnaud Clement (64), Florent Serra (66) and Michael Llodra (69) were named in the main men's draw. American Andy Roddick, ranked sixth, heads the ATP tournament along with Czech Radek Stepanek (12) and Monfils... Read Full Story
Roger Federer has reclaimed his spot at the top of the tennis world, securing the year-end No. 1 ranking for the fifth time in his career. The record 15-time Grand Slam champion is now closing in on Pete Sampras' all-time mark of six. "It's one of the greatest performances I think I've achieved," said Federer, who beat Andy Murray at the O2 Arena on Tuesday night to clinch the ranking ahead of Rafael Nadal. Federer earned the top year-end ranking after winning his opening two matches at the... Read Full Story
Watch Rafael Nadal vs Nikolay Davydenko Live Streaming Night Session 7 pm GMT (2 pm ET) Both players are in danger of making an early exit from the competition so a win is vital. For Rafael Nadal that might be a blessing in disguise with the Spaniard’s ridiculously extended season taking its toll not just physically but mentally. Nadal has half an eye on next month’s Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic. It’s a tough schedule for the world number two, with just three weeks break before... Read Full Story
Roger Federer said finishing the season as world number one counted among his greatest-ever achievements in the game, given the dramatic upheaval in his personal life during 2009. But the Swiss insisted he would still be giving it his all to qualify for the semi-finals of the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals tournament. Federer beat Britain's Andy Murray 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 on Tuesday at the O2 Arena in southeast London, in a victory which ensured Spain's Rafael Nadal could no longer overtake... Read Full Story
US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro kept alive his challenge at the ATP World Tour Finals with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/1) victory over Fernando Verdasco on Tuesday. After losing his opening Group A match to Andy Murray, Del Potro knew he had to see off Verdasco in their first ever Tour meeting to remain in contention for a semi-final place. The 21-year-old rose to the challenge with a typically belligerent display of guts and power-hitting and could qualify for the last four with a win in his... Read Full Story
Andy Roddick said he was up and running again having spent the most boring weeks of his life laid up with the knee injury that kept him out of the ATP World Tour Finals. The US world number six, who sustained the injury on October 13 during the Shanghai Masters, said it was tough to be watching all the action from the sidelines at the O2 Arena in London. But the 27-year-old Wimbledon finalist said he was looking forward to being back to full fitness for the 2010 season. "The injury, it's... Read Full Story
Rafael Nadal said he needed to rediscover his composure when facing crucial points and admitted he was short of confidence in his bid to claim the season-ending World Tour Finals crown. The Spaniard lost his opening game on Monday 6-4, 6-4 to Sweden's Robin Soderling, who is only playing at London's O2 Arena as a replacement for the injured US star Andy Roddick. World number two Nadal insisted he was not playing badly, but was not at his Open-winning very best having suffered injury problems... Read Full Story
Rafael Nadal lost to Robin Soderling for the second straight time, falling 6-4, 6-4 Monday in their opening round-robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals. Soderling, who handed the Spaniard his first ever loss on clay at the French Open this year, powered his way through the Group B match by mixing a hard forehand with a solid backhand to keep Nadal running all over the hard court at the O2 Arena. "He is a big player in this surface, so (it) is difficult," Nadal said. "I didn't play really... Read Full Story
