2013 Tennis Thread

[Smallville22]

Wawrinka through thanks to win over Ferrer

Stanislas Wawrinka made the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals with a 6-7(3) 6-4 6-1 win over David Ferrer.
At the time of the victory Wawrinka did not know if his win would be enough to put him into the last four, but Tomas Berdych's defeat at the hands of Rafa Nadal later in the day confirmed that the Swiss player would progress from group A.
The exhausted Ferrer, playing in his seventh straight week of tournament play, battled valiantly for a set and a half, even fighting back from 5-2 down to take the opening set.
But ultimately Wawrinka had too much for the world number three, and secured the win after just less than two and a half hours.
Wawrinka admitted after his match that he would be cheering Nadal on later in the day.
"For sure, I'm going to be a big fan of Rafa (tonight)," Wawrinka said on court. "I did my job all week. I did the best I can so now I'm just going to watch what is going to happen. I'll be really happy if Rafa wins."

 

[Smallville22]

Wawrinka plays his part, now he's sweating on Nadal

Stanislas Wawrinka did what he had to do with victory over a weary David Ferrer at the ATP World Tour Finals on Friday and now needs a favour from Rafael Nadal to reach the semi-finals.
The Swiss won 6-7(3) 6-4 6-1 to claim a second victory on his debut appearance at the year-ending event although should Tomas Berdych beat already-qualified Nadal later on Friday it will prove to be the last match of Wawrinka's season.
Round-robin tennis causes plenty of head scratching but for Berdych the scenario is quite simple, a straight sets win over the world No.1 means he wins Group A, a three-sets win and he qualifies as runner-up.
Defeat would send him home to concentrate on the Davis Cup final against Serbia in Belgrade.
Neutrals will hope that Wawrinka does survive because his exciting brand of tennis has illuminated the tournament so far.
His chances seemed to be slipping away on Friday when he squandered a 5-2 lead in the first set and allowed Ferrer to take it on a tiebreak.
Wawrinka, who is pushing fellow Swiss Roger Federer in the rankings after the most consistent year of his career, aced his way out of trouble early in the second before taking over.
Ferrer, labouring after seven tournaments in seven weeks leading into London, lost his cool in the next game, destroying his racket and scolding himself after dropping serve.
Having won the second set, Wawrinka raced through the third for victory.
"For sure, I'm going to be a big fan of Rafa (tonight)," Wawrinka said on court. "I did my job all week. I did the best I can so now I'm just going to watch what is going to happen. I'll be really happy if Rafa wins."
Nadal knows losing to Czech Berdych would put him on collision course with Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.

 

[Smallville22]

Murray labels drugs ban duo 'unprofessional'

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray called Victor Troicki and Marin Cilic "unprofessional" on Friday, adding his voice to the growing debate about the sport's anti-doping rules.
Serbian Troicki had an 18-month ban imposed by the International Tennis Federation cut to 12 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) this week, while Cilic returned at last week's Paris Masters after his nine-month suspension for taking a banned stimulant was reduced to four by CAS.
Both players denied any wrongdoing and Troicki received impassioned support from fellow Serb, world number two Novak Djokovic, after Troicki's ban for failing to take a blood test at this year's Monte Carlo Masters.
Murray has made no secret of his belief that tennis needs to do more to avoid the kind of doping scandals seen in cycling and athletics, and had little sympathy for Troicki and Cilic.
In an interview with the BBC Murray, still recovering from back surgery that forced him to miss this week's ATP World Tour Finals, was unforgiving.
"Whether either player was intentionally cheating or not - we don't know that, and I don't think either of them are like that - but both of them, I think, were unprofessional," he said.
"One of them refused to give a drugs test: we don't know exactly what was said in the room between the doping control officer and Viktor (Troicki), but the reality is that there are rules and you need to stick to what the rules are.
"I'm happy that the drug testing is going in the right direction. They're starting to increase it. They're doing more blood testing and we've got the biological passports in place," Murray added.
"There almost has to be zero tolerance on that stuff because, if not, people are just going to think they can get away with anything."
Troicki blamed his ban on a doping control officer at Monte Carlo who, he said, told him that as the player felt unwell he did not need to give a blood test.
The Davis Cup winner returned the next day to give a blood sample that was clear and also provided a clean urine sample.
Cilic was suspended for taking the banned stimulant Nikethamide, apparently after his mother went to a pharmacy in Monte Carlo to buy glucose powder because he had run out of his usual supply.
"I personally would never go and buy something over the counter in a pharmacy. It's just unprofessional," Murray said of the Cilic case.
"I think 10 or 15 years ago, when people didn't think drug taking happened in sport, people might have thought 'yeah, we can just buy stuff over the counter in any old pharmacy'. Look, we can't do that, you have to accept it."
Earlier this week Djokovic said he no longer trusted the anti-doping procedures in tennis, describing Troicki's ban as the result of negligence by the doping control officer who was with the player at the Monte Carlo event.
However, 17-times grand slam champion Roger Federer said Troicki had only himself to blame.
"I do believe that when you are requested for a sample, you have to give the sample," Federer said at the ATP World Tour Finals on Thursday.
"I think it's just very important to give the sample when you're requested to give it because there you are in front of them and there is no way to escape anymore."

 

[Smallville22]

Nadal survives Berdych fightback to keep perfect record

Rafael Nadal dashed Tomas Berdych's hopes at the ATP World Tour Finals with a win over the Czech on Friday that put Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka into the semi-finals.
The Spaniard had already-qualified for the last four but in beating Berdych 6-4 1-6 6-3 he also sent Wawrinka through as Group A runner-up.
Wawrinka had earlier beaten already-eliminated Spaniard David Ferrer in three sets.
The hard-hitting Berdych pushed world number one Nadal hard throughout the match but faded at the end of the deciding set when he double-faulted twice in the eighth game to drop serve.
Nadal then completed victory after nearly two hours of engrossing action with a screaming forehand winner.
Nadal, who has never won the Tour's season-ending showpiece, will face either Swiss six-times champion Roger Federer or Argentine Juan Martin del Potro who meet on Saturday to decide who finishes runner-up in Group B behind Serb Novak Djokovic.

 

[Smallville22]

No worries Wawrinka, it's Rafa to the rescue

If Stanislas Wawrinka's life depended on the outcome of one tennis match he would surely want Rafa Nadal fighting his corner, and while the stakes were not as high as life or death on Friday the Swiss player's fate was in safe hands.
Having beaten David Ferrer 6-7(3) 6-4 6-1 to claim his second Group A victory at the ATP World Tour Finals, Wawrinka knew a Nadal win later against Czech Tomas Berdych would send him through to the semi-finals along with the Spaniard.
Nadal was already guaranteed his place in the last four but any thoughts of the Mallorcan going through the motions and conserving energy were quickly dispatched as the world number one went about his work with his usual intensity.
Berdych pushed the 27-year-old all the way and thundered through the second set in 29 minutes but Nadal pulled out all the stops to earn a 6-4 1-6 6-3 victory, sealing top spot in the group and avoiding a semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic.
"At the end I play for myself, 200 (ranking points)," Nadal said when asked about the implications of his win for Wawrinka.
"I went on court like as if I am playing for the qualification. I knew (after winning the first set) that I had won the group, but it was important to finish that match the way that I did. I'm very happy for that," added Nadal, who is still in line to earn the $1.9 million for an undefeated champion.
Wawrinka has the daunting task of trying to derail Djokovic's bid to retain the title but the Swiss will not care.
The 28-year-old was the only first-time qualifier at the tournament and with wins against Berdych and Ferrer he has proved he belongs in such exalted company.
Even in losing 7-6 7-6 to Nadal he played superb tennis, actually winning more points than the Spaniard, and Djokovic will be wary of his threat, especially after their epic tussles at the Australian and U.S. Opens this year.
"I can be only really happy with the tournament. It doesn't matter what happens tonight," Wawrinka had told reporters after beating Ferrer, although he admitted he would be glued to his television later rooting for Nadal.

'FANTASTIC TENNIS'

Wawrinka may have felt relaxed enough to change channels and search for a movie when Nadal broke Berdych's serve in the opening game on his way to claiming a first set in which he bludgeoned the Czech all over the spectacular O2 court.
Berdych had lost 14 consecutive matches to Nadal, a morale-sapping sequence dating back to 2006, but he is made of stern stuff these days and was not going to give up on his semi-final hopes without at least unloading some heavy artillery.
He broke Nadal's serve to lead 2-0, held his own to love with some booming 135mph deliveries, then broke to love again.
In the blink of an eye it was 5-0 and Nadal was suddenly rattled by the firepower coming his way, casting anxious glances across to coach 'uncle Toni'.
Nadal, who had won only four points in five games, managed to hold serve to avoid an unthinkable bagel against his name, but Berdych belted down more aces to complete a breathtaking set.
Wawrinka need not have worried though.
Nadal gritted his teeth, battled through his opening service game after being taken to deuce and always kept his nose in front in the third set, cranking up the pressure with some ripping forehands.
Something had to give and inevitably it was Berdych, with two double-faults gifting Nadal the crucial breakthrough in the eighth game before he claimed victory, his 74th of a sensational season, with a searing forehand winner.
Berdych, who still has the Davis Cup final against Djokovic's Serbia to look forward to, neatly summed up the difference on the day.
"Those two double-faults gave him that game," he said. "That game I didn't handle well. That's it. That's the difference between the sixth-ranked player and the number one."
Nadal will now have a day to rest and watch six-times champion Roger Federer try to become the second Swiss player in the semi-finals by beating Juan Martin del Potro in a shoot-out for runners-up spot in Group B.
"If it's Del Potro, if is Federer, both players know very well how to beat me, in this surface especially," said 13-times grand slam champion Nadal, who is assured of finishing the year as world No. 1.
"The only way to win the match of semi-finals is playing my best match, playing fantastic tennis."

 

[Smallville22]

Federer reaches semis with dramatic win

Roger Federer needed all of his experience to record a comeback 6-4 6-7(2) 7-5 win over Juan Martin Del Potro and book his place in the last four of the ATP World Tour Finals.
The stakes were simple heading into the match; whoever won the clash progressed to the semi-finals alongside Novak Djokovic, the Serb having already won Group B no matter the result of his clash against Richard Gasquet later on Saturday.
And for a set and a half that looked like being Del Potro before Federer somehow found a way to turn the match around and force the final set.
The Argentine will head into the off-season ruing what might have been, as he also squandered an early break lead in the decider before Federer wrapped up the match at the first attempt with a booming ace.
Del Potro broke Federer in the first game of the match before racing into a 5-1 lead but Federer settled to play some scintillating tennis. It was in vain, however, as the Argentine took the honours 6-4.
Del Potro then broke his opponent in the third game of the second before the Swiss got a break-back in the sixth and the set went with serve until the Swiss took the tie-break 7-2.
The Swiss then lost first service game of the decider but managed to break-back in the fifth game before playing the better tennis and was rewarded in the 10th game of the set with another break.
Federer punched an inside-out forehand across court to sneak ahead against the Del Potro serve before the Argentine conceded the game with back-to-back forehands long.
The Swiss world number seven made a nervy start to serving out the match, a couple of netted forehands giving Del Potro a sliver of hope of securing the break back. But a brutal forehand down the line set up an easy smash to bring up the first match point before Federer closed things out at the first time of asking with his 10th ace of the day.
The victory set up an incredible 32nd meeting with Rafael Nadal in Sunday’s semi-finals while Djokovic will face Group A runner-up Stanislas Wawrinka.

 

[Smallville22]

Djokovic remains perfect with Gasquet win

Novak Djokovic extended his winning streak against Richard Gasquet with a 7-6(6) 4-6 6-3 win over the Frenchman at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
Djokovic had already booked his place in the semi-finals by winning Group B while Gasquet could not progress irrespective of the result of the match.
But the Frenchman produced a valiant display, including taking a first set from Djokovic since 2007, before ultimately not quite having enough to secure just his second win over the Serb.
It looked as though Djokovic would steamroll his way through the match after breaking his opponent in the opening game but, to his credit, Gasquet fought back to force a first set tie-break.
Although Gasquet eventually lost the breaker, he continued matching his superior-ranked rival blow for blow in the second set and capitalised on some wayward Djokvoic shots to break before serving out the set at the first opportunity.
But ultimately Djokvoic’s experience told as he raced into a 3-0 lead in the decider and never looked back as he dispatched of Gasquet to maintain his perfect record at the Tour Finals and earn his 70th win of the year.

 

[Smallville22]

Nadal ousts Federer to reach final

Rafa Nadal's growing domination of great rival Roger Federer continued with a comprehensive 7-5 6-3 victory in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday.
The mid-afternoon clash was not one of the best in their 32-match series as Federer faded badly in the second set to hand Nadal his first victory over him on an indoor court.
Nadal was thrashed 6-3 6-0 by Federer at the o2 Arena two years ago but after a tight first proved too strong for the 32-year-old Swiss who looked weary after his three-set victory over Juan Martin Del Potro on Saturday.
The year could now have a mouth-watering grand finale with Nadal up against defending champion and world number two Novak Djokovic on Monday although Swiss Stansilas Wawrinka will be hoping to ruin the script in the second semi-final later.
Federer had the first chance on Sunday when he put the world number one in trouble on serve in the sixth game but Nadal held firm and broke Federer's serve to lead 5-4.
The Swiss played a scintillating point at 15-30 in the next game, ending an exhausting baseline exchange when he rifled a forehand down the line and Nadal ballooned out a forehand to hand Federer the break back.
However, a third consecutive break of serve gave Nadal a second chance to take the opener and this time he made no mistake with a clinical love game.
When a Federer forehand nose-dived into the net on break point at 2-2 the belief seemed to drain out of the 32-year-old and the end came quickly as Nadal extended his career record over the 17-times grand slam champion to 22-10.
"It's the perfect way to finish one of the best seasons of my career to have the chance to win a title I've never won," Nadal, who has won everything in the sport apart from the season-ending tournament, said on court.
Australian Open champion Djokovic is unbeaten since losing the U.S. Open final to Nadal in September while Nadal, whose 10 titles this year include the French Open, hopes to cap an astonishing comeback following a seven-month injury lay-off.
"The most important thing for me is that on the toughest surface for me, the most difficult one, I was able to win four matches against top-eight players," Nadal, whose bulging CV is only missing a Tour Finals title, told reporters.
"Now there remains one more match, probably the hardest, and I need to play my best match to have a chance tomorrow."
Federer said: "I went for it when I had a chance for a breakpoint in the first set. Maybe I shouldn't have, but I did. No regrets there, I guess.
"I just struggled to stay consistent enough throughout the match, and that's why he deserved to win. He was better today."

 

[Smallville22]

Federer walks off into shadows with clock ticking

Roger Federer slid his racket into his bag and walked off into the shadows of London's o2 Arena on Sunday as his leanest season since 2001 came to a rather predictable end at the hands of Rafa Nadal.
The 32-year-old's 7-5 6-3 defeat in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals ended his hopes of winning the title for a seventh time and with his ranking now on the slide there is no telling if he will ever return at the season-ender.
Federer, who has spent a record 302 weeks as world No.1 during his glittering career, preferred to look at the positives after his 22nd career defeat by Nadal.
The Swiss 17-times grand slam champion pointed to his strong finish to a disappointing year, with a final in Basel followed by a semi-final run at the Paris Masters and wins over world No.5 Juan Martin del Potro and Richard Gasquet in London.
He also pushed Novak Djokovic hard in Paris where he was a set and a break up and also here this week while on Sunday against Nadal he matched the Spaniard for the first 10 games.
The statistics are beginning to stack up against him, however, and inevitable questions are being raised about Federer's prospects for 2014.
His one title this year was on grass at Halle.
At Wimbledon, as defending champion, his proud record of reaching at least the quarter-finals at 36 consecutive grand slams ended in the second round, almost unthinkably, against 116th ranked Sergiy Stakhovsky.
In between there was a brief experimentation with a larger racket and further humbling losses to the likes of Federico Delbonis in Hamburg and Daniel Brands in Gstad, players he once swatted away in his sleep.
The grind of the Tour has also taken its toll on his body with the Swiss suffering a back injury before the U.S. Open.
Having split with coach Paul Annacone in October Federer, who slipped outside world's top-four for the first time since in 10 years in July, was by no means guaranteed his place in the Tour Finals for a 12th consecutive year until his late return to form on indoor courts.
Federer's game scaled the heights at times in London, if only in brief bursts.
The majestic forehands and backhands are still there, the backhand slice still fizzes low and the accuracy of his serve still earns him plenty of cheap points. He still makes the game look ridiculously easy at times.
Yet, just like golf great Tiger Woods, who still looks unbeatable on his good days, Federer is prone to more regular lapses of concentration, his shot selection can be questionable at key moments and the aura he once had has faded.
He also looks a yard slower.
"He hasn't been moving as well this year as he did the year before, and that's one of the reasons why he hasn't had much success this year," Djokovic said this week.
Nadal defended Federer to the hilt on Sunday saying he is a "candidate" for the Australian Open next year.
And Federer scoffs when asked what it is that makes him want to continue playing the sport.

TENNIS DNA

"It's pretty simple; this is what I used to do as a little boy. It's something that always is there in your DNA," Federer said. "It's almost like I started walking at the same time I started playing tennis in some ways."
Yet there is not quite the same conviction when Federer talks about his aims for next year.
"Winning titles, winning five titles or something, I guess, something exciting, leaving the tournaments as winner," he said. "Rankings? if it's not world No. 1, then I'm not that interested, although it would be nice to stay in the top four, top eight, that kind of thing."
Managing his schedule will be vital for Federer next year as he balances looking after his body with playing enough to regain the rhythm that has been so lacking this season.
"I'm just going to play a full schedule. What that means, I don't know yet," he said. I just still have to decide what the goal is, then I'll just attack and try to play good tennis."

 

[Smallville22]

Imperious Djokovic sets up Nadal final

Defending champion Novak Djokovic set up a title showdown against Rafa Nadal at the ATP World Tour Finals with a 6-3 6-3 defeat of Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka on Sunday.
The Serb, who lost his number one ranking to Nadal in October, was too solid for Wawrinka in the day's second semi-final as he racked up a 14th consecutive victory over the 28-year-old.
Djokovic used all his defensive skills in the eighth game of the first set to convert a break point for a 5-3 lead and took the opener with an ace.
Wawrinka, who has made the semi-finals on his debut appearance at the season-ending showpiece, hung on grimly in the second set after dropping serve but Djokovic was clinical as he stretched his winning streak to 21 matches.
In the first semi-final Nadal beat Wawrinka's fellow Swiss Roger Federer 7-5 6-3.
Djokovic, who like Nadal had a 100 percent record in round robin play, will be desperate to retain his title after ceding the world number one ranking to the relentless Spaniard in October.
"We are both having a great season this year. This is probably the best possible final we have here in London. We'll see what happens tomorrow," Djokovic, who was rock solid against tournament debutant Wawrinka, told a news conference.
"This is probably the most competitive tournament that we have after grand slams in our sport, and we both want to end this season in the best possible way and end it with a title."
Wawrinka, who twice pushed Djokovic to five-sets in the year's standout matches at the Australian and U.S. Opens, held on grimly in the second set but could only applaud at one point as Djokovic somehow reached a certain winner and clawed a forehand across the bows of the in-rushing Swiss.
Two breaks in the second set completed the Djokovic masterclass and a 14th consecutive win over Wawrinka.
"I didn't have enough energy today...against him, that makes a big difference," Wawrinka said.

 

[Smallville22]

Spanish tennis player Llagostera Vives banned for 2 years

Spanish tennis player Nuria Llagostera Vives, doubles winner at the 2009 WTA tour championships, has been banned for two years after testing positive for d-methamphetamine, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said on Monday.
Mallorca-born Llagostera Vives, 33, gave a urine sample at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford in July where she was competing in the doubles, the ITF said.
After analysis at the WADA-accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada it was found to contain the prohibited substance.
"An independent hearing was held (on Oct. 29), in which Ms Llagostera Vives ... was not able to demonstrate how the d-amphetamine entered her system," the ITF added.
"It was determined that she is suspended from participation for a period of two years, commencing from 8 September 2013, the date on which she was provisionally suspended, and so ending at midnight on 7 September 2015."
Llagostera, who has two career singles and 16 doubles titles, denied deliberately doping and suggested to the tribunal she may have inadvertently ingested d-methamphetamine by drinking from the wrong water bottle while training.

 

[Smallville22]

Spanish duo upset Bryan brothers in London finale

American duo Bob and Mike Bryan's incredible year ended in disappointment when they were beaten by Spain's Fernando Verdasco and David Marrero in the ATP Tour Finals doubles final on Monday.
Verdasco and Marrero, the sixth seeds, upset the favourites 7-5 6-7(3) 10-7 as the title went to a Spanish pair for the second successive year following the triumph of Marcel Granollers and Mark Lopez 12 months ago.
The Californian Bryan twins were looking to win their 12th title of 2013 and surpass the 11 they won in 2007 and 2010, but the world's top-ranked pair were edged out in a match tiebreak.
They did at least end the year at No. 1 for a ninth time in 11 seasons having won the first three majors of 2013 before their "calendar" grand slam hopes ended at the U.S. Open where they lost in the semi-finals.

 

[Smallville22]

Djokovic beats Nadal to defend title

Novak Djokovic defended his ATP World Tour Finals title with a brutal 6-3 6-4 victory over world number one Rafael Nadal at the O2 in London.
With a brief exception mid-way through the first set when Nadal reeled off three straight games to get back in contention, Djokovic dominated throughout and wrapped up his third victory at the season-ending championships after 97 minutes when Nadal went for too acute an angle on a cross-court forehand and hit into the tramlines.
Nadal had already ensured he would finish the end of the year as the world number one but with Djokovic going unbeaten since the US Open, picking up titles in Beijing, Shanghai and Paris as well as London, the start of 2014 is already shaping up to be an intriguing prospect.
"The year-end number one is deservedly in Nadal's hands because he had two Grand Slam wins, the best season out of all players, the most titles," said Djokovic. "But next to the run that I had in 2011, this is definitely the second best I've had.
"The most positive thing that I can take from this two and a half months is the fact that I managed to regroup after a few big losses after Nadal, especially Roland Garros, US Open final and Wimbledon final.
"I've worked harder and played better, become an even more skilful player. This is definitely the best possible way that I can finish the season," added Djokovic, who next week will lead Serbia against the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup final.
Nadal looked nervous from the outset, something especially clear on serve as he slapped down four double faults in the first three and a half games of the match to help Djokovic out to a break lead, with a point for the double break.
In contrast Djokovic stamped his authority on the match in the first three games, hitting well from the very first point of the match.
The Serb reeled off three straight games to open proceedings and looked poised to make it four after Nadal's second double fault handed him another break point.
But the Spaniard hit back with three consecutive games of his own to level the clash at three-all and seemingly rid himself of the nerves that plagued him at the outset.
Djokovic, however, never really looked like relinquishing his early dominance, and went on another run of three games to wrap up the opening set with an ace out wide.
The second set was a more straightforward affair, Djokovic again breaking early before holding on, despite late pressure from Nadal, to seal the title.
A clever, inside-out blocked forehand return from Djokovic set up the break as Nadal struggled to change direction at short notice and netted his forehand response.
The Spaniard failed to make much of an impact on the Djokovic serve in the second set, the Serb regularly picking up free points as Nadal won just 31 per cent of points against the first serve and 30 per cent against the second.
Nadal was forced to call on all of his reserves to fight off further break points in the seventh game and then deny Djokovic on a first championship point in the ninth.
The Spaniard also managed to save a second championship point, this time on the Djokovic serve, with arguably the shot of the match when he raced up to the net and flicked a backhand passing shot winner across court on the angle.
But a third was beyond him as he went for a series of increasingly angled cross court forehands only to eventually hit wide and hand Djokovic a well-deserved title.
"I think at the beginning he was playing much better than me, the first three games no doubt," Nadal said. "After that I didn't see the difference.
"I have to congratulate a super player like Novak. I wish you the best of luck in the Davis Cup, you deserve it.
"This is probably one of the best seasons of my career and playing this match in this stadium is just fantastic for me."

 

[Smallville22]

Nadal not downhearted despite Djokovic mauling

Rafa Nadal refused to let a good old-fashioned beating at the hands of fierce rival Novak Djokovic take the gloss off a sensational year.
The Spaniard's hopes of winning the year-ending showpiece for the first were crushed by a clinical Djokovic, who brought the curtain down on the ATP World Tour Finals with an emphatic 6-3 6-4 win.
Nadal was always playing catch-up after losing the first three games and at times he was given the run-around by the man he replaced at the top of the world rankings in October.
While defeat no doubt dented his pride, Nadal thought there was very little to choose between he and Djokovic, who now leads their personal duel 22-17.
"The thing that made the difference in today's match was the serve, I didn't serve well, he served well," Nadal said. "For the rest I felt that when I was playing, I was not far away off his level.
"At the beginning he was playing much better than me. After that I didn't see the difference.
"I felt that I was playing enough well to be little bit closer than the score. But at the end, I lost 6-3 6-4. I lost 6-3 6-4 because the opponent played better than me."
Despite ending the year with a defeat, Nadal is deservedly ranked number one in the world after reaching 14 finals in his 17 tournaments this year, winning 10 of them, and putting together a 75-7 match record.
His return to the summit after a seven-month injury lay-off has been a superhuman effort.
"Winning or losing today was not going to change my career," Nadal said.
"I am not very disappointed. I know that I was not the favourite for the match, even if I tried with the right attitude, fighting for every moment, even if the match was not going the way that I would like.
"It's very special what happened this year."

 

[Smallville22]

Djokovic dominates Nadal with Tour Finals masterclass

The message from Novak Djokovic could not have been more emphatic after the Serb retained his title at the ATP World Tour Finals with a crushing victory over Rafa Nadal on Monday.
Nadal deservedly ends the year on top of the rankings after an incredible comeback from injury but Djokovic delivered an ominous show of force at the O2 Arena, running the man who replaced him as world number one ragged.
It was a one hour, 36 minute masterclass in power and precision from Djokovic and if anything the 6-3 6-4 scoreline flattered Nadal, who spent most of the match dancing to his opponent's tune.
After a week of sell-out crowds at the spectacular Thames-side arena it was fitting that the world's top two players should meet for the 39th time in the most prolific rivalry in the modern era and one that is eclipsing the great battles between Nadal and Roger Federer.
Both players had won all their round-robin matches before cruising through Sunday's semi-finals.
Nadal was bidding to land the title for the first time to cap a year that saw him roar back to the top of the rankings with 10 titles, including the U.S. Open and French Open, while Djokovic was finishing the season like a runaway steamroller since losing to Nadal in the Flushing Meadows final.
Apart from a few jaw-dropping rallies, however, the fireworks were confined to those that lit up the court as Djokovic got his hands on the trophy named in honour of the late ATP executive chairman Brad Drewett, who died this year.
"Look, the year-end number one is deservedly in Nadal's hands because he had two grand slam wins, the best season out of all players, the most titles," said Djokovic, who in capturing the title for a third time stretched his winning run to 22.
"But next to the run that I had in 2011, this is definitely the second best I've had," he told reporters.
"The most positive thing that I can take from this two and a half months is the fact that I managed to regroup after a few big losses after Nadal, especially Roland Garros, U.S. Open final and Wimbledon final.
"I've worked harder and played better, become an even more skilful player. This is definitely the best possible way that I can finish the season," added Djokovic, who next week will lead Serbia against the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup final.
Nadal tried to put a brave face on his defeat.
"I think at the beginning he was playing much better than me, the first three games no doubt," the Spaniard said.
"After that I didn't see the difference."
The statistics offered a clue, however.
Djokovic hit 19 winners to Nadal's nine, committed less errors and served much better than his opponent, who threw in two costly double faults at 3-4 in the opening set.
Djokovic dominated virtually from start to finish and despite the 17,000 crowd willing Nadal to drag the match into a decider, he was powerless to fight off an opponent who peppered the lines with relentless accuracy.
The Serb, who ceded top spot to Nadal in October, began the final as if he had a point to prove and playing immaculate tennis he raced to a 3-0 lead as an edgy Nadal struggled for timing.
Nadal finally began to get on the front foot and won the next three games as Djokovic's level dipped briefly.
Djokovic edged back in front again and broke serve with one of the points of the tournament, a spellbinding rally in which he sprinted across the baseline to produce an inch-perfect lob, danced into the net and won a quickfire exchange of volleys before raising his fists to the crowd.
Having lost the first set Nadal could ill afford handing Djokovic a lead in the second but his forehand continued to misfire and the Serb took the invitation to seize complete control with another break of serve.
Djokovic looked to be running away with it and moved in for the kill but Nadal's pride dug him out of a deep hole.
The Spaniard saved match point at 5-3, and again when he chased down a drop shot at 5-4, but Djokovic merely sucked in some air, stared down the other end and blasted down his sixth ace before clinching victory when Nadal sent a forehand wide.
While there was disappointment for Nadal, compatriots Fernando Verdasco and David Marrero gave Spain a lift with victory over Bob and Mike Bryan in the doubles final.
Verdasco and Marrero, the sixth seeds, upset the favourites 7-5 6-7(3) 10-7 as the title went to a Spanish pair for the second successive year following the triumph of Marcel Granollers and Mark Lopez 12 months ago.
The Californian Bryan twins were looking to win their 12th title of 2013 and surpass the 11 they won in 2007 and 2010, but were edged out in a match tiebreak.

 

[Smallville22]

Djokovic has 'perfect launchpad for 2014 assault'

Novak Djokovic said he will use his 22-match winning streak as a launchpad for an all-out assault on more Grand Slam titles next year.
The Serb claimed the ATP World Tour Finals title for a third time on Monday with an authoritative win over world number one Rafael Nadal and believes he has taken his game to a new level since losing to the Spaniard in the US Open final.
Throughout his career the 26-year-old has used setbacks as motivation to sharpen his game and the way he has steamrollered through the last two and a half months of the ATP season is ominous for Nadal, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and any other player with designs on the top silverware in 2014.
His form is reminiscent of his incredible 43-match unbeaten streak in 2011 when he won three of the year's four majors - a run that was sparked by Serbia's Davis Cup triumph over France at the end of the previous year.
Djokovic's first priority is to regain the Davis Cup for Serbia in this week's final against the Czech Republic, then after re-charging his batteries it will be all-systems go.
"This can serve as a great platform for 2014 season," Djokovic said.
"I'm extra motivated and inspired to work and get myself, first of all, rested and recovered in the off-season, and then work on my game and get ready for the Australian Open.
"The only thing I'm not as satisfied about (this season) is the fact that I lost the three big matches in the three grand slams. The grand slams are the tournaments where I want to win, where I want to get my hands on the title.
"That will be my highest priority for next year."
Djokovic lost to Nadal in an epic French Open semi-final, Murray in the Wimbledon final and Nadal again in the US Open final, and also lost his number one ranking to the Spaniard in November.
That defeat in New York was particularly tough to take and Djokovic has since worked on a more attacking style of play to go with his incredible defensive qualities.
On Monday he volleyed superbly, giving his game a new dimension.
"Maybe I didn't do that in US Open final as much as I should have," he said. "In our last two matches, in finals of Beijing and here, I've done it pretty well.
"I feel more comfortable on the net than I was last year, that's for sure."
Djokovic's rivalry with Nadal now stretches 39 matches and there have been periods of domination for both.
Nadal won five in a row in 2008-09 and Djokovic won seven in succession in 2011, but the two players are so well-matched that Djokovic believes the balance of power will keep shifting.
"It hasn't been the case that one player wins, you know, 10 in a row being very dominant because really goes up and down," Djokovic said.
"We push each other to the limit. We make each other better players. We make each other work harder, especially when we play against each other. It's always a huge challenge."

 

[Smallville22]

Resurgent Djokovic seeks second Davis Cup triumph

Winning a second Davis Cup title with Serbia would cap a fantastic end to the season for Novak Djokovic and provide a springboard for restoring his supremacy on the ATP Tour, the world number two said on Wednesday.
Fresh from winning 22 straight matches and four tournaments after losing September's U.S. Open final to Rafa Nadal, who also wrestled the number one spot away from Djokovic this season, the 26-year-old Serb is looking forward to this weekend's final against holders Czech Republic.
"I haven't had much time to recuperate from winning the tour-ending ATP event in London but I can't complain because I have been in terrific form in the last 2-1/2 months," Djokovic told a news conference in the imposing Kombank Arena on Wednesday.
"The winning streak has given me extra confidence to help my country repeat the 2010 feat, which has a very special place in our hearts.
"Beating France in that final meant the world to every one of us on the Davis Cup team and there is no doubt that emulating the success would give me the impetus to achieve my personal goals in 2014, which is to return to the pinnacle and win as many grand slams as I can.
"The semi-final win over Canada this term put the wind in my sails for the home straight on the ATP Tour after some tough grand slam defeats to Nadal at Roland Garros and the U.S. Open as well as against Andy Murray at Wimbledon."
With the backing of a 15,000-strong home crowd, Serbia are favourites to repeat their 2010 success, but face a difficult task against a well-balanced Czech team.
The Serbs will be without Viktor Troicki, who is suspended for missing a blood test, while Janko Tipsarevic is doubtful with a niggling foot injury.
Tipsarevic faces a race against time to be fit for the opening singles on Friday as he tries to shake off a heel problem but Djokovic is confident Serbia have enough depth to see off the Czechs.
"It will probably go down to the wire as it's a contest between two young and success-hungry teams and hopefully the experience of winning the 2010 title and the unity it created can help us win again," Djokovic added.
"It would be another Davis Cup fairytale for us and I really think this competition is not getting as much credit as it deserves because it's the equivalent of the soccer World Cup as the only top-level team event.
"It would help if it was played every two years, that is apparently what most players on tour want but the current format is deeply rooted in the event's long history and tradition."

BOISTEROUS CROWD

Eager to erase the memories of a 3-2 semi-final defeat at the same venue in 2010, the Czechs are hopeful of becoming the first nation to retain their title after Spain enjoyed back-to-back triumphs in 2008 and 2009.
"Despite Serbia's problems, they are the favourites because of the home court advantage and we know that we will have to work extremely hard to come out on top," said the Czech world number seven Tomas Berdych.
"The good thing is that this is a team event so losing to Djokovic is not the end of the road, as we need to win three out of five contests to keep the trophy in our hands.
"It's been a long season but I am sure that many top players who are already on holiday would love to trade places with us and be here."

 

[Smallville22]

Serbia's Tipsarevic out of final

Serbia's world number two Novak Djokovic will face his toughest Davis Cup weekend after team mate Janko Tipsarevic was forced to pull out of the 2013 final against holders Czech Republic with a heel injury.
With Viktor Troicki suspended after missing a blood test, Djokovic is expected to shoulder the burden for the 2010 winners as he will in all likelihood join forces with Nenad Zimonjic in Saturday's doubles after playing Radek Stepanek in the opening singles rubber on Friday.
Dusan Lajovic, nominated as Tipsarevic's replacement, takes on Tomas Berdych in Friday's other singles and Djokovic acknowledged the 23-year old from Belgrade's nondescript suburb of Stara Pazova will need all the help he can get.
"It's a pity Tipsarevic can't play but his support from the sidelines will mean a lot to us, most of all to Lajovic who now has the opportunity to show his potential on the big stage," Djokovic told a news conference after Thursday's draw.
"What we have to do is take the pressure off him and make sure he doesn't suffer from stage fright, because no one expects him to beat Berdych. We all know that would mean asking a lot.
"If I beat Stepanek, he should get a confidence boost from Serbia being 1-0 up in the tie and with the vociferous support from 18,000 fans in the Kombank Arena, anything can happen."
Lajovic's only Davis Cup appearance was a dead rubber win over Swede Filip Prpic in their 2012 first-round tie and the world number 117 said he relished the unexpected chance to be in the spotlight.
Asked how he felt about being the star of Thursday's news conference instead of Djokovic, Lajovic said: "I'd much rather be the star of the final press conference on Sunday because this is going to be the biggest weekend of my career.
"I was very excited when I got the news this morning and Djokovic's advice before the tie starts will be priceless, just being around him is a huge incentive to work harder than ever."
Serbia's Ilija Bozoljac has been nominated to play alongside veteran Zimonjic in Saturday's doubles against Jan Hajek and Lukas Rosol, but there is little doubt that both team captains will exercise their right to reshuffle the side.
With Djokovic in devastating form having won 22 matches in a row and four tournaments after losing the U.S. Open final to Rafa Nadal in September, he appears to be the right choice to team up with Zimonjic.
"We are certainly looking at that option because one of Djokovic's strengths is the ability to adapt to any situation," said Serbia team captain Bogdan Obradovic.
"But we will make that decision after Friday's singles, depending on the result and how the players feel."
Obradovic's Czech counterpart Vladimir Safarik, deputising for the ill Jaroslav Navratil, is even less likely to stick to his nomination of Jan Hajek and Lukas Rosol, with Berdych and Stepanek the obvious first choice having won 13 of their 14 Davis Cup doubles as a pair.

 

[Smallville22]

Player criticism of anti-doping policy unfair, says ITF

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is confident its anti-doping programmes are working effectively and labelled recent criticisms of the system by Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic unfair.
"I think that tennis is doing a good job in the programmes it has and we've had two fairly high-profile cases recently with Marin Cilic and Viktor Troicki and let's not forget both of those cases resulted in violations for the athletes concerned," the ITF's anti-doping manager Stuart Miller said on Thursday.
"To me that shows that the programme is successful in catching the people it is supposed to be catching so I don't think it's necessarily fair criticism," he told Reuters at the World Conference on Doping in Sport.
"Our programme includes in-competition and out-of-competition testing, with both urine and bloods samples taken and the recent introduction of the athlete's biological passport, another tool in the fight against doping. We have also been increasing our proportion of out-of-competition testing."
Serbia's world number two Djokovic said he had lost all trust in the sport's anti-doping programme following compatriot Troicki's 12-month ban for failing to provide a blood sample at the Monte Carlo Masters in April after complaining of feeling unwell.
Troicki said he believed he could be excused from the test if he provided a reason to the ITF.
Last week, Federer said he felt players were not being tested enough.
"I feel like I used to get tested more, I think I was tested 25 times in 2003, 2004. Ever since, I think it's been clearly going down this season," the 17-times grand slam winner told reporters at the ATP Tour finals in London.
But Miller said there had been no real change in the number of times the ITF had tested the Swiss.
"We've got the exact number of tests on Roger Federer and our information does not match what he says.
"As far as we are concerned, the number of tests completed have remained remarkably constant," added Miller.
"That isn't to say that there aren't other organisations that were testing him to some extent previously and now doing so less and we just don't know about those figures, but as far as we are concerned the number of tests remains pretty constant for 10 years or so."
The ITF is responsible for the enforcement, management and administration of the anti-doping programme on behalf of all professional tennis.
"I'm confident the tennis anti-doping programme is using all the tools available to it to maximise its efficiency but we must remember, you also need a deterrent effect and prevention effect and education as well," Miller said.
Croatian Marin Cilic recently completed a four-month ban for taking the stimulant nikethamide. Cilic said he had taken the substance inadvertently in glucose tablets.

 

[Smallville22]

Djokovic and Berdych ensure Serbia and Czechs level

Roared on by 17,000 partisan fans Novak Djokovic fired Serbia ahead in the Davis Cup final on Friday but Tomas Berdych hit back for the Czech Republic to leave the tie delicately poised going into the weekend.
The opening day went exactly according to the script with home talisman Djokovic seeing off the challenge of Radek Stepanek 7-5 6-1 6-4 in the Kombank Arena just days after winning the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
Berdych was rock-solid as he cooled the atmosphere in the cavernous indoor arena, beating gutsy world number 117 Dusan Lajovic 6-3 6-4 6-3.
Lajovic, a last-minute replacement for the injured Janko Tipsarevic, won the hearts of the home fans with some gritty resistance but could find no way through against the hard-hitting Berdych.
Saturday's doubles, which is likely to feature Berdych and Djokovic, now looks crucial to the outcome of the tie.
"We have not yet decided who will play the doubles tomorrow but if everything stays as it is, Radek (Stepanek) and I are ready to team up because we both feel good and not too exhausted after today's singles," Berdych said.
With Serbia short of injured Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki, who is serving a doping ban, Djokovic looks like being in for an exhausting end to his season too.
"I am still not sure if I will play in the doubles (on Saturday) because we have to look at Sunday's reverse singles too and the overall exertions of the three-day schedule," Djokovic said after brushing Stepanek aside.
"If selected I will ignore my exhaustion because a full house on a home court brings the out best in me.
"I am not a doubles specialist of course but it's not like I've never played doubles and it also wouldn't be the first time I've been involved in all three Davis Cup days.
"You don't get a chance to play in the final on home court every year so the motivation is huge and I will always be happy to find a way to overcome fatigue after a long season."
Djokovic, who outplayed Nadal in London on Monday, had to work hard to take the opening set after allowing Stepanek to win three games in a row and level at 5-5.
However, he stepped up a gear to see off the battling Czech to give Serbia the perfect start as they seek to repeat their 2010 victory in the final against France.
"The first set was crucial and after enduring a few poor games I came up with some big serves at crucial moments, especially when I faced break points," Djokovic told a news conference in the same imposing Kombank Arena that staged their momentous triumph three years ago.
"After that I felt pretty much in control of the match."
Stepanek squandered an opportunity to break Djokovic early in the second set and was brushed aside after that as the Serb tormented him with stinging baseline power and trademark winners down the line.
Lajovic delighted the home fans with sporadic moments of inspiration against Berdych, especially with his one-handed backhand down the line.
Five times he had Berdych at 0-30 on his serve only to watch powerless as the world number seven took the next four points to snuff out any danger of a shock.
The colourful band of several hundred Czech supporters celebrated with their noisy trumpets as Berdych closed in on victory. One break was all Berdych needed in the first two sets but he broke twice in the third to see off the 23-year-old.
"It was tough because I played a guy I had never seen before and he had nothing to lose," Berdych said.
"It was a difficult situation to handle mentally because Serbia were 1-0 up and he had the backing of the home crowd."
Djokovic is expected to play with Nenad Zimonjic on Saturday. The Czechs have slightly more options with world No.47 Lukas Rosol or Jan Hajek also available to partner either Stepanek or Berdych.