LONDON 2010

The ATP London Year-End Men's Tennis Championships begin Sunday morning with the year's top eight singles and doubles point winners participating in a round-robin format before the top two in each group advance to the knockout semi-final phase at week's end.

World #1 Rafael Nadal and #2 Roger Federer are in opposite groups and favored to advance. However, Paris winner Robin Soderling(pictured) is perhaps the world's best Indoor player and should fare quite well with his first-strike game on the quick, low-bouncing indoor carpet.

Group A Group B

Robin Soderling Novak Djokovic
Andy Murray Tomas Berdych
David Ferrer Rafael Nadal
Roger Federer Andy Roddick

Sunday singles play begins at approximately 8am(CST) with Soderling taking on local favorite, Andy Murray. Federer and David Ferrer will be on about 2pm. Group B begins play on Monday with Djokovic/Berdych in the early singles, and Nadal/Roddick later on.

Despite the surface which would seem to favor first shot ball strikers like Soderling, Federer, and Roddick, I think Nadal(if he has any mental energy left after the 11 month professional season) will come out on top. He proved to me(and countless others!) that he CAN play on a fast court when he won the US Open in September on the lightning quick courts in New York City. His deceptively good serve, especially in the Ad court, will prove decisive over the course of the week.

All in all, a great week of tennis ahead, especially since with the upcoming Thanksgiving Break, we all will have time to view more than usual!

Tune into the Tennis Channel for their complete coverage.