Nadal books place at London finale

Eurosport - Wed, 20 May 15:38:00 2009

World number one Rafael Nadal has booked a place in the end-of-season ATP World Tour finals being staged in London for the first time.

TENNIS Rafa Nadal Masters 1000 de Madrid - 0

Nadal, the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon champion, will be joined at the event by the world's seven other leading players.

The Spaniard, who won this year's first grand slam in Australia and also cleaned up three of the prestigious Masters Series events in Indian Wells, Monte Carlo and Rome, missed last season's finale in Shanghai because of tendonitis in his knee.

Despite qualifying for the tournament for the past four years, Nadal has twice withdrawn through injury and has never reached the final, having lost to Roger Federer in the semi-finals in 2006 and 2007.

Tournament director, Brad Drewett, said: "History shows us that players love playing in this event and I'm very confident that everybody who qualifies will want to be here."

Tournament organisers said 150,000 of the 250,000 tickets had already been snapped up with another 65,000 going on sale to the general public.

"Our goal is to make this the biggest and best indoor sporting event in the world," the ATP's chief marketing officer, Phil Anderton, said.

"The depth of talent in men's tennis at the moment, with the likes of (Roger) Federer, Nadal, (Andy) Murray and (Novak) Djokovic means that fans can expect to see some epic tennis."

The round-robin event - from November 22-29 - will have a prize pot of $5 million (£3.2m) with 1,500 ATP world ranking points going to the winner.

London's 02 Arena, formerly known as the Millennium Dome, will host the event for the next five years.

Reuters

Comment 4 - 23 of 23

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  1. **MURRAY LOST TO MATHIEU TODAY IN THE MASTERS GUINOT­ MARY COHR INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION TENNIS­ TOURNAMENT(Paris) 4-6,7-6,6-7(super TB).ALSO INVITED:­ FEDERER/NADAL/MONFILS/CLEMENT/SAFIN/HAAS**

    From Jeremy, on Wed 20 May 3:54PM

  2. A big thank you exhefra where did you find it I've­ searched everywhere

    From Ronsenglish, on Wed 20 May 3:49PM

  3. his end year ranking is NOT LESS THAN 8TH­ !!!!!!!!!

    that is why he is qaulified!!!!!!! not less­ than 8!

    and 8 players are going to london­ masters

    ATP RACE TOP 20
    As of Monday, 18-May-09­
    (means how they played in 2009)

    1 Nadal, Rafael­ (ESP) 6705
    2 Djokovic, Novak (SRB) 3540
    3 Federer,­ Roger (SUI) 3460
    4 Murray, Andy (GBR) 3170
    5 Roddick,­ Andy (USA) 2180
    6 Verdasco, Fernando (ESP) 1860
    7 Del­ Potro, Juan Martin (ARG) 1835
    8 Ferrer, David (ESP)­ 1240

    9 Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried (FRA) 1230
    10 Robredo,­ Tommy (ESP) 1220
    11 Stepanek, Radek (CZE) 1190
    12­ Gonzalez, Fernando (CHI) 1105
    13 Simon, Gilles (FRA)­ 1045
    14 Cilic, Marin (CRO) 1040
    15 Wawrinka,­ Stanislas (SUI) 895
    16 Monfils, Gael (FRA) 860
    17­ Almagro, Nicolas (ESP) 765
    18 Monaco, Juan (ARG) 720­
    19 Berdych, Tomas (CZE) 680
    20 Nalbandian, David­ (ARG) 665

    From Igor, on Wed 20 May 2:19PM

  4. ATP RACE TOP 20
    As of Monday, 18-May-09
    (means how­ they played in 2009)

    1 Nadal, Rafael (ESP) 6705
    2­ Djokovic, Novak (SRB) 3540
    3 Federer, Roger (SUI) 3460­
    4 Murray, Andy (GBR) 3170
    5 Roddick, Andy (USA) 2180­
    6 Verdasco, Fernando (ESP) 1860
    7 Del Potro, Juan­ Martin (ARG) 1835
    8 Ferrer, David (ESP) 1240

    9­ Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried (FRA) 1230
    10 Robredo, Tommy (ESP)­ 1220
    11 Stepanek, Radek (CZE) 1190
    12 Gonzalez,­ Fernando (CHI) 1105
    13 Simon, Gilles (FRA) 1045
    14­ Cilic, Marin (CRO) 1040
    15 Wawrinka, Stanislas (SUI)­ 895
    16 Monfils, Gael (FRA) 860
    17 Almagro, Nicolas­ (ESP) 765
    18 Monaco, Juan (ARG) 720
    19 Berdych, Tomas­ (CZE) 680
    20 Nalbandian, David (ARG) 665

    From Igor, on Wed 20 May 2:18PM

  5. attaha youre so clueless, hes ahead of djok and was­ ahead of fed

    From Hans G, on Wed 20 May 1:20PM

  6. Brilliant Rafa! I live in Cardiff but i doubt if i can­ come to see you bt i will watch on TV and shout for you­ all the way!

    From Jane P, on Wed 20 May 12:02PM

  7. allready his end of year no 1,its imposible for the­ other players to overtake Nadal

    From kirovrtanoski, on Wed 20 May 8:15AM

  8. But they still haven't published the 2009 race­ standings why?

    From Ronsenglish, on Wed 20 May 3:30AM

  9. OFFICIAL FRENCH OPEN WEBSITE BELOW

    From Jeremy, on Tue 19 May 8:05PM

  10. DAT come

    From Jeremy, on Tue 19 May 7:47PM

  11. dotrolandgarros

    From Jeremy, on Tue 19 May 7:43PM

  12. 3doubleU

    From Jeremy, on Tue 19 May 7:43PM

  13. when you talk about Nadal, Federa, Djokovic and­ Murray.. There are distinctions between these four­ players.. Ranking Murray with the rest three is a joke­ as Murray stands out on ATP small tournaments, No GS at­ his holding but if you talk of participating in­ tournaments, then he can join the trio not on tennis­ merits..

    From Augustine A, on Tue 19 May 7:36PM

  14. Congratulations Nadal...let's hope you are not­ injured and have to miss the game like the previous­ years

    From Mar, on Tue 19 May 6:21PM

  15. He deserved it, conrets to great Rafa.

    From boki, on Tue 19 May 5:22PM

  16. great rafa go for it just stay healthy that the most­ impotant thing right now @ good luck to rg you can win­ that ok all the best

    From jhecks, on Tue 19 May 4:29PM

  17. Vamos!
    sólo por delante y no mirar hacia atrás

    From Mia, on Tue 19 May 4:23PM

  18. congratulations Rafa!!! get ready for French Open!!!­ it's yours again!!! VAMOS RAFA!!!

    From Ina01Masha, on Tue 19 May 4:14PM

  19. Thats our Rafa!! Keep it up sweetie, we are rooting for­ you Rafa, stay healthy and bring us your best tennis, I­ have tickets on the way and cannot wait, but hope to­ see him at wimby first. This year with the standard of­ Tennis in the mens game this should be some event.

    From faeelisabethc, on Tue 19 May 3:56PM

  20. vamos rafa you are the best you are going to win this­ tournament i'm sure.

    From rafaelo807, on Tue 19 May 3:54PM
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