What makes this tournament so exciting is that only the top eight players on the tour get to participate in this final event. Usually this holds true, but this year Andy Roddick had to pull out due to injury, and was thus replaced with the French Open runner-up, Robin Soderling.
The format of the tournament splits the eight players up into two different groups (Group A and B) of four. In those two groups of four players each player plays every other player in that group. The two players from each group with the best record out of the round robin portion of the tournament go to the semi-finals. Who plays who in the semi-finals is determined by the best individual records from the previous round. The player with the best record from group a will play the player with the second best record from group b. And, vice-a-versa.
The groups are organized as such:
Group A: Group B:
Roger Federer Rafael Nadal
Andy Murray Novak Djokovic
Juan Martin Del Potro Nikolay Davydenko
Fernando Verdasco Robin Soderling
The big question here is who will advance in these specific groups.
The first group presents a lot of problems for the #1 player in the world, Roger Federer. His record against Andy Murray isn't good. Federer has a lot of problems with Murray, especially on the hard courts this tournament will be played on. Also, Federer suffered his most devastating loss of the season at the final of the U.S. Open in September to Juan Martin Del Potro. Despite all of this, I think it is hard to bet against Federer to make it out of this first round.
Murray is coming off of an injury, so it is hard to tell just how well he will play at this event. However, he does have winning records against every player in the group. I think this gives him a great chance, injury or not, to move on.
Winners of Group A: Federer and Murray
The second group is extremely tight as well. Djokovic is coming off a huge win in Paris, and will be tough to beat in this early round. Nadal had a disappointing result in Paris losing to Djokovic in the semi-finals. Davydenko is of no threat to either player in this round, and I believe the same goes for Soderling.
Winners of Group B: Djokovic and Nadal
I believe the semi-finals will shake out like this.
Semi-Finals:
Federer v. Nadal and Murray v. Djokovic
Even though Federer has a losing record against Nadal, I don't believe Nadal is playing his best tennis. This should make things easy for Federer to move on to the finals.
Djokovic and Murray should be a more interesting match, and could really go either way. Murray is the sentimental favorite for me, and he is playing on his home turf in England. However, I think Djokovic is playing too well right now, and will beat Murray in a tough three-set affair.
Finals:
Federer v. Djokovic
Even though Federer has had the better of Djokovic throughout their careers, I think Djokovic will take the title. He has had the better of Federer recently, and beat him the last time they met in Switzerland.
Winner:
Novak Djokovic
Nevertheless, this tournament should be excitng.
I hope to live blog one of the matches next week. I will be trying to live blog during the final match whomever maybe involved in it.
[Image via InfoTennis]
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