[Dancer+]

Some of you may be aware, some may not but one of the greatest tennis tournaments of the season is beginning this Sunday (22nd of November - 29th November). The event is the end of season championships with theoretically the best eight players in the world.

Unfortunately Andy Roddick has pulled out because of injury so Robin Soderling has come in as a replacement. The event has some history and last year's winner was Novak Djokovic after a period of Federer dominance it has to be said.

So I ask you are you going to be watching/keeping up with the tournament? And who do you think will win? And who you'll be supporting?

Format for the tournament:
Round Robin Format (a.k.a. all players in each group play each other once, you accumulate points for winning and a set difference which may be used as a decider at a later date i.e. if you have two wins and someone else does then you would use the set difference as a decider.)
Group A

• Roger Federer
  
• Andy Murray
  
• Juan Martin Del Potro
  
• Fernando Verdasco

Group B

• Rafael Nadal
  
• Novak Djokovic
  
• Nikolay Davydenko
  
• Robin Soderling

The top two in both groups go through to the semi-finals. The winner of group 1 will play the runner up of group 2 and vice versa. Then the two winners meet in the final.

I'm really looking forward to this! It might be fun to get some discussion going if anyone else is a tennis fan.

[Use Of Weapons]

Djokovic is the form player going to into the season-ending tournament, but Murray will have home advantage. But I'm gong to go for Del Potro as a surprise winner. Nadal is still too rusty, Fed doesn't seem interested. The only challenge will come from Djoko, I reckon. So, Del Potro and Djoko in the final, with Del P edging it in 3.

[Dancer+]

The problem with Del Potro is the fact that he retired injured less than two weeks ago and he seems to have an abdominal strain which is never good news. Del Potro may also find it difficult to get through his group with pretty substandard head-to-head ratios with Federer and Murray although this season he has been improving all of the time.

Personally I think Murray will get to the final or win the event. I have a feeling Djokovic won't beat Federer or Murray when they meet but apart from that I think the event is more wide open than this event has been for a long while.

[caladanbrood]

With Soderling replacing Roddick, I'm gonna have to go for Djokovic. I'm not his greatest fan, but he is in absolutely blistering form at the moment, and the other "big three" are out of touch at the moment.

Though of course, betting against another Nadal-Federer final is a bit of a risk, if they turn up properly, no one can match them.

[Dancer+]

I'm not quite sure Djokovic can defend his title and win three major events in a row. I have a feeling he may find it more difficult than many people expect. Davydenko and Soderling are both difficult opponents in that side of the draw. We could easily see some upsets, I personally think Murray will get to the final of the tournament but I'm not sure who my outright winner would be.

I'm going to be watching this as much as possible in the coming week and a bit.

I'm wondering if Bet 365 will have coverage...

[Use Of Weapons]

You could always try tennis-channel.tv/tennis

[Dancer+]

jitsukerr, on 20 November 2009 - 11:09 AM, said:

You could always try tennis-channel.tv/tennis

I've just had a look at tennis-channel.tv. It looks like it's fairly comprehensive and plans to show all of the matches. I'm definitely going to give this a try, thank you

[Use Of Weapons]

Also, an article from the BBC on the prospects of the 8 finalists: http://news.bbc.co.u...nis/8362526.stm

[Use Of Weapons]

So, two matches down. Murray and Federer win, both in 3 sets. Del Potro looks stronger than many thought he would (though after going 5-0 down in the first set, his comeback in the second was nothing short of miraculous). Federer had a scare against Verdasco, but managed to come through.

I still fancy Del Potro to get out of the group, but any predictions for the Group B matches today?

[caladanbrood]

Soderling beats Nadal. I suppose this has to count as a shock, but Nadal is in awful form at the moment.

[Impirion]

I am going for a Federer win, as I think Murray will flatter to deceive by beating Federer in the round robin but running out of gas again before the final. Probably Djokovic as the other finalist.

[Dancer+]

Been an interesting few matches, predicted all the right results so far.
The Murray-Federer match should be outstanding tomorrow, really indecisive about what's going to happen. Any thoughts? I've predicted a Murray 2 set affair in a competition but there could easily be any result depending on which players turn up.

[Dancer+]

Federer showing Murray how it's done. Murray really dropped a few levels in the third set which was ashame for the competition. Hoping for a Murray-Djokovic semi-final now, still plenty of good tennis to be played.

[Use Of Weapons]

Well well well. I got one prediction right, but I don't think anyone would have expected that result. Great win for Davydenko, though.