Fernando Verdasco News

Nikolay Davydenko Thursday claimed the penultimate spot in ATP year-end field, as a loss by Spain's Fernando Verdasco at the Paris Masters guaranteed the Russian a place in the tournament.

With Federer a shock loser to Frenchman Julien Benneteau on Wednesday, a win for Nadal in Sunday's final would leave him just 305 points adrift of his arch rival with the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals to come in London later this month.

Sweden's Robin Soderling kept alive his hopes of qualifying for the ATP Tour Championships by defeating Russia's Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in the third round of the Paris Masters on Thursday.

Defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Nikolay Davydenko won second-round matches at the Paris Masters on Tuesday to stay in contention for the ATP World Tour Finals.

Top-ranked Serena Williams most likely will receive a "significant'' fine but no suspension for her US Open tirade, the president of the International Tennis Federation said.

Photograph: Jaime Reina/AFP/Getty Images It was Daley Thompson, the double Olympic decathlon champion, who famously used to train on Christmas Day, believing it would give him that slight edge over his rivals.

Top-seeded British star Andy Murray, second-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko and Spanish crowd favorite Fernando Verdasco were among Thursday's second-round winners at the $2.98 million Valencia Open.

Second-seeded world No. 7 Nikolay Davydenko was an easy first-round winner Monday at the $2.98 million Valencia Open.

Ivan Ljubicic won his first ATP World Tour title in Lyon in 2001. No. 3 seed and 2001 champion Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia meets wild card and Frenchman Michael Llodra on Sunday in the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon championship.

Jurgen Melzer has a 1-6 record in ATP World Tour finals. Top seed and wild card entry Marin Cilic of Croatia attempts to capture his third ATP World Tour title of the season as he faces No.

Tennis Robin Soderling defeats Giovanni Lapentti at Stockholm Open October 22, 2009 Robin Soderling got back to work towards a late place in November's season-ending ATP finals with a 6-3 6-0 defeat of Giovanni Lapentti to reach the second round of the Stockholm Open.

Rafael Nadal is on track for a 16th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title. The quarter-finals at the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 Presented by Rolex on Friday feature four of the top eight seeds, led by top seed Rafael Nadal and No.

The three-week, five-tournament Asian swing has come to an end. With a 500 event in Beijing and a new Masters 1000 event in Shanghai, it appears that China is the future tennis center of Asia.

"Approach Shots" is Ricky's weekly look at what's ahead on the ATP Tour. Every Sunday he'll preview all the tournaments scheduled for the upcoming week.

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic kept the excitement high at the Shanghai Open Thursday as the top-seeded pair booked into the quarter-finals with ease.

Top seed Rafa Nadal marched into the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters with a thoroughly entertaining 6-2 6-7 6-4 victory over American James Blake on Wednesday.

ABU DHABI // Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the world's top two tennis players, will head a star-studded cast list for the second staging of the Capitala World Championship exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi over the New Year.

It seems like history repeating. The 2009 men's tour is approaching its final stages, and the jostling for position at the top of the rankings is working up a real head of steam.

Roger Federer maintained first place in the latest men's tennis rankings issued by the ATP as Novak Djokovic closed in on the top three with a Beijing title the previous day.

In Daytona Beach, Fla., Augusta State is in third place after the first round of the 15-team Xavier Invitational at LPGA International.