Police charge tennis great Connors

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Tennis great Jimmy Connors has been charged with a misdemeanour for an altercation last week before a basketball game between UC Santa Barbara and top-ranked North Carolina. Connors, an eight-time Grand Slam champion, was charged Wednesday in Santa Barbara Superior Court with disrupting campus activities and refusing to leave a university facility. His business manager, Karen Scott, says a man tried to pick a fight with Connors and his son before Friday night's game and police asked him to leave. Scott says Connors was arrested after he said he wanted to wait for his son to finish watching the game. She says he was "extremely disappointed and embarrassed" about the incident. Connors was ranked No. 1 for five consecutive years in the 1970s, and had a fiery temperament on the court. Earlier this year, he resigned as Andy Roddick's coach after working together for nearly two years.

Nadal, Federer to play at Qatar

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DOHA, Qatar -- Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will open the 2009 ATP season by playing at the Qatar Open.

Qatar tennis federation president Nasser al-Kholiafi says Andy Murray and Andy Roddick will also take part in the hard-court tournament, which begins Jan. 5.

The tournament in Doha is one of three to start the 2009 tennis season, along with the Brisbane International in Australia, and the Chennai Open in India.

Sharapova will return early in '09

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Maria Sharapova expects to be back on the tennis tour at the start of 2009 and defend her Australian Open title after being sidelined since July with an injured right shoulder.

Sharapova's agent, Max Eisenbud, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that she is "on track" to return to action at the Jan. 7-10 exhibition in Hong Kong that she usually enters.

The three-time Grand Slam title winner then plans to head to the Australian Open, which begins Jan. 19 in Melbourne.

"She's doing good," Eisenbud said in a telephone interview. "Everything's on track."

Sharapova has not played competitively since pulling out of a tournament in Montreal in late July after winning a nearly three-hour match in which she double-faulted 17 times.

The right-hander was examined by a trainer midway through the three-set victory, and she withdrew from the event before her next match.

Medical tests later found a torn rotator cuff tendon in the 21-year-old Russian's shoulder.

Sharapova missed the rest of the just-concluded season, including the Beijing Olympics and the U.S. Open, ending her streak of 23 consecutive major tournaments.

She hadn't missed a major since her Grand Slam debut at the 2003 Australian Open. Sharapova won the singles championships at Wimbledon in 2004, the U.S. Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008.

While she briefly held the No. 1 spot this year, the time away led her to slide in the rankings and she finished the season at No. 9.

Sharapova went 32-4 with three titles in 2008, earning nearly US$2 million in tour prize money.

Triumphant Spain returns home

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MADRID, Spain -- Spain's winning Davis Cup team returned home on Tuesday looking worn out from a night of celebrations followed by a long flight from Argentina.

Fernando Verdasco, Feliciano Lopez, David Ferrer, Marcel Granollers and captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario arrived at Madrid's international airport at 5 a.m. local time. Due to the early hour, there was little fanfare to greet the team.

"I think in the next few days we'll finally realize what we have achieved," Ferrer told reporters.

The Davis Cup trophy wasn't on the flight but will arrive at the Spanish tennis federation's headquarters in Barcelona next week. The trophy's nationwide tour begins next year at tournaments in Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia.

"It's a dream come true," said Verdasco, who clinched the winning point in the 3-1 triumph with a five-set victory Sunday over Jose Acasuso in Mar del Plata. "Since I started hitting my first shots with a racket, I dreamed of experiencing such a moment. I still can't believe it."

Spain went into the indoor hard court final against Argentina as an overwhelming underdog after top-ranked Rafael Nadal withdrew due to knee tendinitis.

"We were convinced we could win and, after Rafa's withdrawal, we carried less pressure with us so we could play even more relaxed despite the harassment of the Argentine fans," Verdasco said.

Spain's title defence begins against Serbia in March, although Sanchez Vicario won't be on the bench after stepping down following the win. He pushed for Lopez's coach, Albert Costa, to take over as captain.

"I think he's my natural successor. He's very close to this group of players who are integrated into the nucleus of the team and he's demonstrated his qualities as a coach by leading Feliciano, who has shown notable progression in the last while," Sanchez Vicario said after holding up his replica trophy for photographers.

Spain's third Davis Cup triumph capped an incredible year for Spanish tennis.

Nadal's fourth straight French Open trophy and first Wimbledon title led the way as Spanish players won 16 titles in 2008. Nadal, who also won Olympic gold, surpassed Roger Federer after a record 237 weeks to finish the season as No. 1.

Nalbandian: 'terrible weekend'

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- David Nalbandian confirmed Monday he will play for Argentina in the Davis Cup next year, setting aside the possibility he would step down following a painful loss to Spain in the final.

"It bothers me that people have questioned whether I'm continuing with the Davis Cup or not. For me, representing my country is really an honour," Nalbandian said Monday during a televised news conference in Mar del Plata, the site of Spain's 3-1 victory over Argentina last weekend. "I'm going to continue -- like I've done until this point -- defending Argentina's flag the best way possible."

A sullen-looking Nalbandian said he was devastated by the loss at home.

"Understand the pain of a player not being able to score a point in an important series," Nalbandian said. "Understand the anguish and unease right now.

"Things went badly, but the terrible weekend is over," he said.

Nalbandian gave Argentina its only point in the best-of-five series, beating David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in the first singles match Friday. Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri lost the doubles Saturday to Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco, which left Argentina with the nearly impossible task of winning both reverse singles Sunday to win the title. Top player Juan Martin Del Potro was injured Friday and did not play Sunday.

Nalbandian, upset by the doubles loss, skipped the mandatory news conference after the match and was fined US$5,000. Argentina Coach Alberto Mancini said Nalbandian left the Islas Malvinas Stadium because he was not feeling well emotionally.

Nalbandian apologized to reporters for missing the Saturday news conference but accused them of spreading rumours that he argued with Calleri following the doubles loss.

"It really hurts the players when people say things that aren't true," Nalbandian said, sitting alone in front of a room full of reporters.

Despite his disappointment, Nalbandian questioned those who are pessimistic about Argentina's future chances in the Davis Cup.

"We made it to two finals in three years. Why aren't we going to continue having the possibility of reaching our goal (of winning the Davis Cup)?" he said.

Argentina reached the finals in 1981 and 2006, losing to the United States and Russia.

Meanwhile, Argentine Tennis Association vice-president Arturo Grimaldi said Monday that Mancini's replacement will be announced within the next month after the team captain announced Sunday he would be stepping down.

Nalbandian's trainer Martin Jaite is being tipped as a contender for the post.

"He's one of the best and without a doubt he's got a chance," Grimaldi told Buenos Aires-based La Red radio station.

Spain stuns Argentina at Davis Cup

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Fernando Verdasco defeated Jose Acasuso 6-3, 6-7 (3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 Sunday, giving Spain its third Davis Cup title after upsetting Argentina in the final.

The Spaniards overcame the absence of injured No. 1 Rafael Nadal to win the best-of-five final 3-1 in front of a boisterous Argentine crowd at Islas Malvinas Stadium.

Verdasco, replacing David Ferrer in Sunday's reverse singles, overcame nine double-faults to beat a shaky Acasuso in 3 hours, 56 minutes. The 48th-ranked Acasuso was a late replacement for injured Juan Martin del Potro, Argentina's top-ranked player at No. 9.

It is Spain's first away Davis Cup title, adding to its home victories in 2000 and 2004. The result snapped a 10-year unbeaten home streak for Argentina.

Spain takes surprise lead in Davis Cup

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco sent a chill through Argentine tennis Saturday, winning their doubles match to give Spain a 2-1 lead in the Davis Cup final.

Lopez and Verdasco defeated David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5), 6-3, boosting Spain's hopes of winning the best-of-five championship on the road despite the absence of an ailing Rafael Nadal.

Spain could be in good position for its third Davis Cup crown if Argentina's leading player, Juan Martin del Potro, cannot play reverse singles Sunday because of a leg injury.

"This was an important victory; it gives us life," Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario said. "We need one more game."

Sunday's schedule tentatively has del Potro meeting David Ferrer, then Nalbandian playing Lopez at Islas Malvinas Stadium. On Friday, Nalbandian defeated Ferrer in straight sets and del Potro fell to Lopez in four.

"We have to keep fighting, there are still two points to play," Argentina coach Alberto Mancini said. "We know it's hard, but we can do it. We have to overcome this difficult moment and get our hopes up."

Mancini said his choices for Sunday will depend in part on del Potro's injury. Sanchez Vicario said he was expected to stick with Ferrer and Lopez.

Nalbandian left the stadium without talking to reporters. Mancini said he was not feeling well, but discounted any injuries.

Spain has never won the Davis Cup away from home. Argentina, unbeaten at home since 1998, has to sweep both for its first Davis Cup triumph. But it's hopes became bleaker Saturday, with Potro undergoing treatment on his right thigh after hurting it in Friday's singles. If he cannot play, he could be replaced by Calleri or Jose Acasuso.

"It's not over yet," Calleri said. "We are not happy right now because we wanted a victory, but we still have chances tomorrow (Sunday) and we remain confident."

Calleri and Nalbandian, playing their first Davis Cup doubles since the 2006 final, won the first set, but couldn't hold back the veteran Spanish pair over three hours, 18 minutes.

The Spaniards had 86 winners and only 30 unforced errors. The Argentines struggled on serve and were broken six times. But they came through first, breaking Verdasco for 6-5. then erasing a 0-40 deficit for Nalbandian to hold and win the first set.

The rally pumped up the crowd, and the nearly 10,000 fans chanted constantly between games. A small group of Spaniards tried to keep up, at times managing to make some noise.

Argentina saved three break points on Nalbandian's serve in the eighth game of the second set to stay even at 4-4. But after Spain went up 6-5, Nalbandian could not hold again. Calleri's backhand volley flew long to even the set score.

In the third set, Nalbandian and Calleri were broken in successive games to trail 5-1, but Argentina came back to make it 5-5.

With the crowd growing louder, the Argentines seemed ready to prevail in the tiebreaker after jumping ahead 4-0. But Spain won six straight points to win the tiebreaker 7-5 and hush the crowd.

"The third set was full of different emotions," Sanchez Vicario said. "It was an incredible finish and gave us confidence to keep going."

The match was stopped for a few minutes during the tiebreaker because of fans from both nations provoking each other and making noise during points. Sanchez Vicario later said his players were insulted during the match.

In the final set, the Spaniards bolted to a 5-2 lead and cruised to their fourth win in seven Davis Cup doubles, and by far their most important.

"These are very special matches, when you are playing for your country," Lopez said. "I didn't expect to win yesterday and didn't expect to win today."

Connors arrested in Santa Barbara

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Tennis great Jimmy Connors was arrested outside the campus arena where UC Santa Barbara and top-ranked North Carolina were playing a basketball game.

The eight-time Grand Slam champion was taken into custody Friday night after refusing to comply with an order to leave an area near the entrance of the Thunderdome following a confrontation, police Sgt. Dan Massey said in a statement.

A police dispatcher said Connors was arrested at the beginning of the game.

A Santa Barbara County jail employee said Connors was booked and released but did not have details.

Connors could not immediately be reached for comment early Saturday.

Connors lives in the Santa Barbara area and attends a handful of the Gauchos' games each season.

Connors was ranked No. 1 for five consecutive years in the 1970s, and had a fiery temperament on the court. Earlier this year, he resigned as Andy Roddick's coach after working together for nearly two years.

Nalbandian wins Davis Cup opener

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Feliciano Lopez upset Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 6-3 Friday, allowing Spain to escape the first day of the Davis Cup final tied 1-1 tie with Argentina.

David Nalbandian brushed aside David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening singles, and del Potro was expected to comfortably handle Lopez on his favoured hard court.

But Lopez took the two tiebreakers, and del Potro injured his right thigh in the sixth game of the fourth set. After treatment, he lost his serve and Lopez cruised to victory in three hours 19 minutes, hushing the boisterous crowd of about 10,000 at Islas Malvinas Stadium.

"I never felt this happy before in my career," Lopez said. "It's great to win a match like today, in a Davis Cup final, away from home."

Del Potro's injury and his defeat suddenly made Saturday's doubles even more crucial for Argentina, a heavy favourite to win its first Davis Cup, and unbeaten at home for 10 years. Spain is looking to add to its home victories in 2000 and 2004.

David Nalbandian was picked to join Agustin Calleri against the experienced Spanish pair of Lopez and Fernando Verdasco.

The manner of Nalbandian's easy and quick singles win likely persuaded Argentina captain Alberto Mancini to play Nalbandian in doubles. He has a 10-4 record in Davis Cup doubles, and has won with Acasuso and Calleri.

Del Potro is scheduled to open the reverse singles Sunday against Ferrer, depending on the seriousness of his thigh injury.

"The doctor could not make a diagnosis right now," del Potro said. "I don't know what the injury is. Tomorrow we'll find out what happened."

Spain was playing without top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who has knee tendinitis. Captain Sanchez Vicario replaced him with 56th-ranked Marcel Granollers. The Davis Cup final has not featured a No. 1 player since Australia's Lleyton Hewitt in 2001.

.Argentina finished second to the United States in 1981 and to Russia in 2006. It chose the blue indoor hard court for the final, trying to curtail the Spaniards' advantage on clay.

After winning the first set, del Potro couldn't break Lopez again in the second as they headed into a tiebreaker. There, Lopez jumped ahead 4-0 and won 7-2.

"I wasn't feeling comfortable in the first set," Lopez said. "But I was able to overcome that moment. I'm glad I was able to do that."

There were no breaks either in the third set, in which Lopez won five straight points in the tiebreaker and clinched the set with one of his 17 aces. In the fourth set, Lopez broke del Potro in the fourth game but del Potro came right back with a break of his own.

Del Potro was trying to reach a crosscourt shot on the baseline when he injured himself. He left the court to be attended by doctors but when he returned he was obviously affected by the injury.

.Lopez's win bolstered Spain's hopes of winning its third Davis Cup, and first away from home. After Nadal withdrew this month, Spain's chances were diminished considerably, but it promised to fight for every point.

Ferrer, however, was routed by Nalbandian in under two hours. Nalbandian broke Ferrer in the third game and led all the way.

"I played a great match," Nalbandian said after his 17th win in 21 Davis Cup singles. "I couldn't have played it any better. It was good to win it fast."

Ferrer still leads their head-to-heads at 6-4, but all of Nalbandian's wins have been on hard courts.

"No match against David is easy, but I didn't have good feelings on the court," Ferrer said.

Final pairings for Davis Cup announced

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Argentina's David Nalbandian will face Spain's David Ferrer on Friday in the opening match of the Davis Cup final.

Juan Martin del Potro, Argentina's top-ranked player at No. 9, was drawn Thursday to play Feliciano Lopez in the second singles match of the best-of-five series.

"Juan Martin had a slight preference to play second," Argentina captain Alberto Mancini said. "And the fact that David is first is good because he has more experience."

In Saturday's doubles, Jose Acasuso and Agustin Calleri of Argentina will play Lopez and Fernando Verdasco.

The reverse singles will be held Sunday.

"Argentina has a great team and they want to win and have a big celebration," Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario said. "We also have a great team and we want to have our celebration, although a little smaller since we're not in our own country."

Nalbandian has lost six of the nine times he has played Ferrer, while Del Potro has won two of the three against Lopez.

"Ferrer is a complete player, very even, solid along the back of the court, and he runs and fights for each ball," Nalbandian said.

Marcel Granollers, a replacement for the injured Rafael Nadal, could still play because each captain has the right to make changes.

Argentina is hoping Nadal's absence -- because of tendinitis in his knee -- will boost its chances to win the Davis Cup for the first time, while Spain is trying to win its third title.

"Being hosts and with Rafa not coming, no one doubts that Argentina is the favourite," Mancini said.

This weekend's series is the second time the tournament will be held in Latin America, after Chile lost to visiting Italy in 1976.

Spain beat Australia in the 2000 final and then defeated the United States in 2004. The Spanish also made the semifinals in 1965, '67 and 2003, losing all three times to host Australia. Argentina has reached the final twice, losing to the United States in 1981 and to Russia in 2006.

Federer: No. 1 is No. 2 to Wimbledon

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Swiss star Roger Federer says winning Wimbledon is more important to him than regaining his No 1 ranking. "Wimbledon is something special. There is no substitute for it," Federer told reporters Monday, on the eve of an exhibition match in Kuala Lumpur, billed as the "Showdown of Champions." Others playing Tuesday night are James Blake, ranked 10th, and two former Wimbledon champions, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. The quartet will play two singles matches and one doubles. Federer is currently ranked No. 2 behind Spain's Rafael Nadal, after spending a record 237 consecutive weeks at the top. He lost to fourth-ranked Andy Murray in the Masters Cup in Shanghai on Friday, hampered by the sore back that had forced him out of the Paris Masters two weeks ago. Federer began the year recovering from a bout of mononucleosis. He lost the French Open and Wimbledon finals to Nadal, who overtook him for the No. 1 ranking. But Federer won the Olympic doubles gold, then his fifth straight U.S. Open to pull within one of Pete Sampras' Grand Slam record. "While I would also love to beat Pete Sampras's Grand Slam record of 14 titles, and also to regain my No. 1 ranking, I place winning another Wimbledon title above all else," said Federer. McEnroe, who also attended the news conference, said he is excited to be playing in a match that will showcase "two generations of players in action." "Players nowadays are so fast and hit the ball even more powerful than during my time," said McEnroe, also a former world No. 1, and winner of seven Grand Slam singles titles. "I also believe that there are personalities in the men's game, much more than in the women's. We must capitalize on this as we can bring more fans to the game," said McEnroe.

Nestor and Zimonjic end year No. 1

THE CANADIAN PRESS SHANGHAI -- A missing passport nearly derailed one of the best weeks in the career of Toronto's Daniel Nestor and doubles partner Nenad Zimonjic. The Wimbledon champions overcame the bizarre incident, then ran the table at the season-ending Masters Cup, earning the year-end No. 1 ranking with a 7-6 (3), 6-2 win over Bob and Mike Bryan of the U.S. in Sunday's final. The team nearly didn't make it to China after Zimonjic called Nestor to inform him that Miami customs officials misplaced his passport. "He called me a few hours before my flight and he didn't know where his passport was," said Nestor. "I didn't know whether I should board the plane." Another call not long afterwards confirmed that the document was back in safe hands and Nestor took off for Shanghai with the crisis averted. "I didn't want to get there five days before he showed up or come and he not be able to come, which is a possibility if he doesn't recover his passport," said Nestor. "Anyway, it all worked out in the end. It's a good story for the future. We can laugh at it." The pair was certainly all smiles following an efficient 73-minute victory over the Bryans, vaulting Nestor and Zimonjic past the California twins and into top spot in the doubles rankings. The duo finished the year with an impressive 47-17 record. Sunday's title also gave Nestor his second straight Masters Cup trophy, after he captured the event here a year ago with former partner Mark Knowles of the Bahamas. "It's hard to imagine," said Nestor. "It's a great feeling. We've had a great year, if at times a little inconsistent. But when we've played well, we've been very tough to beat. "We really get on a roll. I think when we're playing well, we're deserving of the No. 1 ranking. It was a fight to the finish in the final match of the season." The win denied the Bryans a fourth straight year-end top honour. Zimonjic ended as the top individual player since he has played two fewer tournaments than Nestor, who finished No. 2. With Bob Bryan nursing a shoulder injury, the American proved to be the weak link as he was broken twice in the second set as Nestor and Zimonjic sealed their success. "It was a little bit surprising to win the second set like that," said Nestor. "But there's so many times when we've played against them and they've been dominant, too. So it's nice to get it back." Zimonjic was also happy to revel in success. "I would like to thank Danny for playing, it definitely wasn't easy decision for him after having such a successful partnership with Mark," said Zimonjic. "We proved that we could play well. Obviously this is the best season I've ever had ... winning Wimbledon, playing finals at the French, and coming here as second seed, fighting for the first spot." The teams had met in three previous finals this season, with Nestor and Zimonjic winning in Toronto and Hamburg while the Americans were victorious in Rome.

Djokovic ends breakout year on a high

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SHANGHAI, China -- Third-ranked Novak Djokovic won his first Masters Cup title with a 6-1, 7-5 win Sunday over Nikolay Davydenko in the season-ending tournament.

It was Djokovic's first tournament victory since he won the Rome Masters in May, leaving him just 10 points behind No. 2 Roger Federer in the rankings.

After Davydenko netted a serve return on match point, Djokovic repeatedly pumped both fists and threw two rackets, his wristbands and shirt into the crowd. He celebrated with his family and coach in a group hug, jumping together in joy.

Djokovic managed to cut his left hand during the celebration and, dripping blood, had to call for the trainer for a bandage before the awards ceremony.

"But you don't feel the pain in the moments of happiness," he said. "I would put it in the same league as a Grand Slam because the best eight players in the world are participating here. It's a huge achievement for me."

The US$625,000 and Mercedes SUV were nice, too. He honked the horn of the car, which was brought on court during the awards ceremony.

Djokovic dedicated the victory to his family, support team and fans back in Serbia, who also were celebrating Nenad Zimonjic's title with Canada's Daniel Nestor in the doubles final over American brothers Mike and Bob Bryan to clinch the year-end top ranking. Jelena Jankovic of Serbia wrapped up the No. 1 ranking on the women's side.

"There's been so much going on for Serbian tennis lately that it's just incredible to describe how could we do it in such a small period of the time," Djokovic said.

Overtaking Federer will be no easy feat since Djokovic will have to defend his titles early in the year at the Australian Open and Indian Wells, Calif. Top-ranked Rafael Nadal has a substantial lead, although he is nursing a sore knee that kept him away from Shanghai.

Djokovic, who said he was exhausted after needing nearly three hours to beat Gilles Simon in Saturday's semifinals, was sharp from the start. He won the first five games, allowing Davydenko only six points.

While the fans in packed Qi Zhong stadium clearly favoured Djokovic, they roared when Davydenko finally got on the board to pull within 5-1.

He fended off double break-point in the next game before finishing off the set with a deep backhand crosscourt.

Djokovic, who went 0-3 in his debut last year at the season-ending event, broke for a 2-1 lead in the second set, leaping high as he pumped his fist.

Djokovic, serving for the match, smashed an ace to save one break-point at 15-40, but showed some nerves and double-faulted to hand the game to Davydenko.

"It's not easy, you know," Djokovic said. "There is a lot of pressure involved. it's very important after not closing out the match to hold your nerves, and that's what I did."

Serving at 5-5, Davydenko netted a forehand on break-point. Djokovic didn't squander the opportunity, easily holding to finish off the match.

Davydenko only got in 47 per cent of his first serves and had just 15 winners to 25 unforced errors.

"Against Djokovic you need to be perfect," he said.

It will be the first time since 2004 that the Bryan brothers aren't No. 1 in the year-end doubles rankings.

"With all the points out there, having it hinge on ... a few points at the end of the season is pretty amazing," Bob Bryan said. "I guess we've got to tip our hat to them. They played a great tournament and had a great year. We look forward to battling it out next year for the same thing."

Nestor and Zimonjic have now beaten the Americans three straight times and went through the tournament undefeated.

"To win the Masters Cup -- for me for the first time, for Danny to defend the title -- to play against the Bryans, who have been dominating the doubles the last four, five years, and to fight for the No. 1 spot, you couldn't ask for more as an athlete," said Zimonjic, who won the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open in January with China's Sun Tiantian.

This was the final year for the Masters Cup in Shanghai. It will move to London next year, while Shanghai will get the Masters tournament that has been held in Hamburg.

Davydenko, Djokovic to meet in final

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SHANGHAI, China -- Nikolay Davydenko defeated a tired Andy Murray 7-5, 6-2 Saturday to advance to the Masters Cup final. The Russian will meet Novak Djokovic, who earlier rallied to oust France's Gilles Simon 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. In a round-robin match this week, Djokovic beat Davydenko in three sets. Despite consistently being ranked in the top five, the 27-year-old Davydenko has never reached a Grand Slam final, and his best performance in three previous appearances here had been a semifinal loss in 2005. In the doubles final, Daniel Nestor of Toronto and Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic will face the Bryan brothers with the ATP No. 1 ranking at stake. Nestor's team upped the ante in the duel to finish the season atop the points table with a crushing 6-1, 6-3 semifinal defeat of Pablo Cuevas and Luis Horna on Saturday. "We didn't expect to win that easily," said Nestor. "But we played great and we're deserving to go through to the final. "We've been playing great for three straight matches." Djokovic, meanwhile, was unspectacular but steady and relentless against Murray, who looked exhausted from his three-hour victory over second-ranked Roger Federer on Friday night. Davydenko was fresher, having not played since Thursday, and he finished with 33 winners to just seven for Murray. Murray said he had no reason to question his decision to go full out against Federer even though he already had clinched a semifinal spot. "I beat probably the best player of all time," he said. "I have no regrets about doing that. To beat him ... means a similar amount to winning a tournament like this. "Ideally I would have liked to have beaten him easier ... and given myself a slightly better chance to prepare for this match," Murray said, adding that he didn't get to sleep until 2:30 a.m. Davydenko said he owed thanks to Federer -- and hopes Djokovic's nearly three-hour match against Simon will have the same effect in the final. "Murray was very tired," Davydenko said, adding that the Briton looked like he was ready "to die." Both players struggled with their serve early and swapped breaks to open the match, and Murray had to fend off three break points in the third game. They stayed on serve until Murray served at 5-5. He went up 40-15, but was swinging his racket in anger between points as Davydenko pulled to deuce. Murray thought he had an ace to save a break point, but it was overruled on a Davydenko challenge. Murray wasn't convinced, walking toward the net for a closer look, then sent a backhand wide for the break. Davydenko held to finish off the set with an ace and a backhand winner down the line. He then ran off the last five games of the second set as Murray looked increasingly dispirited, trudging around the court between points. "I don't want to try to make excuses," Murray said. "He played much better than me. I did the best that I could with what I had." Djokovic struggled against Simon in the first set, when he committed 21 unforced errors, and he later said he had been nervous. But the Serb pulled himself together, mixing up stinging groundstrokes with deft drop shots from behind the baseline. Djokovic, who lost all three of his matches in his Masters Cup debut last year, got down on his knees and kissed the court after winning in 2 hours, 51 minutes. "I didn't have such a great time here last year," Djokovic said. "Didn't win a single set. But I learned something. Took the best out of it and used it this year." Simon dropped only six points in five service games in the first set. Djokovic made back-to-back mistakes to hand Simon the only break he needed. But in the second set, Djokovic picked up his game and started clipping the lines. At the same time, Simon's level of play dropped. He had his first two double-faults in the next game, the second on a break point. Djokovic held serve for the rest of the set to level. Simon, who was added to the field of the season-ending tournament when No. 1 Rafael Nadal withdrew with a knee injury, was twice unfortunate with net bounces to lose his serve in the third game of the third set. Djokovic got a winner on a shot that hit the tape and dropped over. Simon later saved one break point, but hit the tape on Djokovic's next opportunity and the ball sailed just long, causing Simon to whack the net in frustration. Djokovic served for the match at 5-4, but double-faulted on a break point. "I was pretty exhausted, had to save some energy," he said. "I went for the shots. I wanted to make the points shorter. I risked, and the risk didn't pay off in that game. But it paid off afterwards." He broke right back and converted his second chance to finish the match.

Nestor moves to Masters Cup semis

THE CANADIAN PRESS

SHANGHAI, China -- Canadian Daniel Nestor and Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic won their final round-robin match at the Masters Cup on Friday to take a 3-0 record into the semifinals of the year-end event.

Nestor, a native of Toronto, and Zimonjic defeated Leander Paes of Indian and Czech Lukas Dlouhy 6-1, 6-4 and will face Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay and Peru's Juis Horna in the semis Saturday in a re-match of the French Open final. Nestor and Zimonjic lost that match in June.

"It's revenge, V for vendetta," Nestor joked. "Those guys have not played together so much this year. But they've beaten some good teams and have really shown that they deserve to be here among the eight best in the world."

Meanwhile in singles play, Britain's Andy Murray ousted defending champion Roger Federer, rallying for a 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5 victory Friday.

Federer, a four-time winner of the season-ending tournament, appeared to be bothered in the third set by the sore back that forced him to withdraw during the Paris Masters two weeks ago. The Swiss star received treatment three times Friday but refused to quit.

Federer saved seven match points while serving at 4-5, before Murray converted two games later, breaking when Federer sent a forehand long.

"A win over Roger Federer means almost as much as winning the Masters Cup to me," Murray said. "He's the best player of all time. He's still playing great. I know I'm going to be tired tomorrow, but this match meant a lot to me."

Murray, who had his left hand iced during one of Federer's time-outs, will play Russia's Nikolay Davydenko in the semifinals. Federer's loss allowed France's Gilles Simon to advance. He will meet Serbia's Novak Djokovic.

The ninth game of the third set lasted 17 minutes and went to deuce 10 times. Federer fended off the last of the seven match points with an ace, then blasted another before Murray sent a forehand long.

"When you play against Roger, you got to expect him to play some great stuff, especially when he's behind," Murray said. "He hit a couple of aces, a couple of big forehands. I missed a couple of returns I maybe shouldn't have."

Federer tried to force a tiebreaker, but with the match clock reaching 3 hours, he committed three forehand errors while serving at 15-15.

Murray, who came in as one of the few players with a winning record against Federer at 3-2, already had clinched a semifinal spot from the Red Group. But he lived up to his promise not to take it easy, wanting to avoid the prospect of facing Federer again if both were to make the final.

Federer was trying to repeat last year's feat of coming back after losing his opening-round match.

The atmosphere was more akin to a final than the last match of group play. Qi Zhong stadium was packed, and while the crowd overwhelmingly favoured Federer, Murray has won over a lot of fans in his debut here.

They all got their money's worth, with plenty of drama and great tennis.

The two players exchanged breaks in the middle of the first set. Then, with Murray serving at 4-5, Federer broke at love.

Murray broke in the opening game of the second set, then again to pull ahead 5-2. He had double set point while serving in the next game, only to see Federer rally to break.

The Swiss star had triple breakpoint with Murray serving again for the set at 5-4. Murray forced deuce, but Federer whacked a clean forehand winner to set up another break chance, and Murray double-faulted to make it 5-5.

Federer rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the tiebreaker to level, but Murray ran off the last four points.

Federer had the trainer come out and massage his lower left back as he lay face down on the court during the break, then during the next two changeovers and frequently rubbed the sore area the rest of the match. At one point, he sat in a linesman's chair while waiting for Murray to start a service game.

Murray broke him while racing to a 3-0 lead, but Federer then ran off four straight games. Murray broke the next game to even the set at 4-4, with Federer hitting a routine overhead way long on breakpoint.

Simon earlier beat Radek Stepanek 6-1, 6-4 in what was essentially a meaningless match because Federer controlled his own destiny -- win and he was through, lose and go home.

"It was easier tonight because my match was not really important," said the ninth-ranked Simon, who got in when a sore knee forced top-ranked Rafael Nadal to pull out of the season-ending tournament before it began.

The 26th-ranked Stepanek -- added to the eight-man draw when Andy Roddick pulled out Wednesday with a sprained ankle -- already had been eliminated.

Nestor is looking to repeat as doubles champion. He and former partner Mark Knowles hoisted the trophy in Shanghai last year.

Nestor and Zimonjic, ranked No. 2 in the world, are also battling the Americans Bob and Mike Bryan to cap the season in the No. 1 spot.

The Canadian and the Serb are on a roll in Shanghai. Nestor and Zimonjic saved all five break points they faced against Paes and Dlouhy. They also recorded four aces and broke their opponents three times.

"We're jelling well and playing well, we're eager to go a lot farther here," said Nestor.

- With files from The Associated Press

Masters Cup: Davydenko in Final 4

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SHANGHAI, China -- Nikolay Davydenko advanced to the semifinals of the Masters Cup by beating Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday. Knowing the winner would advance, Davydenko's defence and relentless ground strokes were the difference, turning an expected tight match into a rout. He broke Del Potro's serve four times in eight chances. "Today, I played so good," Davydenko said. "I feel great." Earlier, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France beat Novak Djokovic of Serbia 1-6, 7-5, 6-1. Djokovic had already been assured of a spot in the semifinals of the season-ending tournament, while Tsonga had been eliminated. Del Potro was unable to put much pressure on his Russian opponent in the first set, connecting on only 42 per cent of his first serves. Serving while trailing 4-3, Del Potro double-faulted to set up a break point. Davydenko put away a forehand winner off a short ball for the game, then held at love for the set. After Del Potro held to start the second set, Davydenko won five straight games, leaving the Argentine looking increasingly frustrated. Del Potro held to get to 5-2, but Davydenko finished it off by holding at love, with Del Potro netting a second-serve return on match point. Del Potro said he didn't see the ball well, was moving slowly and never found his rhythm. But he was still happy about his performance this year -- rising into the top 10 -- and looking forward to next week's Davis Cup final between Argentina and Spain. "I'm living a dream," Del Potro said. Tsonga, who lost to Djokovic in this year's Australian Open final, looked listless before coming alive and winning five consecutive games from 5-5 in the second set to take control. "He was better than me in the two first sets, but I take the second one," said Tsonga, who has beaten the third-ranked Serb the last three times they have played. Tsonga was unusually subdued early in the match, showing only flashes of the form that carried him to the Paris Masters title -- an event he had to win to qualify for the Masters Cup. Djokovic, continuing his efforts to close in on Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at the top of the rankings, broke Tsonga twice while finishing the first set in only 25 minutes. Tsonga pulled himself together in the second set, saving two break-points while serving at 2-2, then finally broke through as Djokovic served while trailing 6-5. The Serb had four unforced errors in the game, sending a forehand long on set point. Another four mistakes handed Tsonga an early break in the third set. Tsonga broke again, at love, to take a 5-1 lead, then held at love, flicking a lob winner on match point. "In the third set especially, he played well," Djokovic said. "I made some unforced errors. The important thing is that I'm through." Federer, a four-time Masters Cup champion, will advance if he wins Friday. He faces Andy Murray of Britain, who is 2-0 in the Red Group and already has guaranteed himself a place in the semifinals. Gilles Simon of France still has a chance if Federer falters. He will play 26th-ranked Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic, who replaced Andy Roddick when the American pulled out Wednesday with a sprained ankle. Simon got into the elite field when Nadal withdrew before the tournament began with a sore knee. The Frenchman then defeated Federer in his first match.

Injury forces Roddick to skip Federer

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SHANGHAI, China -- Andy Roddick has withdrawn from the Masters Cup after spraining his right ankle during practice -- an injury that he said did not appear to be serious.

Roddick made the announcement Wednesday, hours before he was to play Roger Federer in a Red Group match. He was replaced in the tournament by 26th-ranked Radek Stepanek, the first alternate here.

Roddick said he rolled the ankle during a warmup drill for practice Tuesday and initially hoped treatment would allow him to play, but he realized during his pre-match warmup that he couldn't run or serve well enough.

"I came out here and tried to warm up 45 minutes or so ago, and it was pretty apparent that my movement was probably 30 per cent or 40 per cent," he said.

"Unfortunately that's just not good enough to get it done at a tournament like this," Roddick said. "I didn't feel like I could go out and try to compete and win a tennis match. It's definitely a tough prospect trying to beat Roger with no serve and not being able to move much.

"The risk/reward wasn't there. You're risking further injury where it might cut into preparation for next year."

Roddick said his trainer and a doctor told him the injury didn't appear to be serious, and he anticipated being able to do his planned training during the off-season.

"I don't think we're looking at anything more than a week or so," he said. "I was planning on going home anyway. Basically I'm just starting that process four days earlier by not being able to finish here."

Roddick lost his opening round-robin match at the season-ending tournament to Britain's Andy Murray, and Federer fell to Gilles Simon.

Stepanek, of the Czech Republic, could qualify for the semifinals but would have to win both of his matches and hope no more than one of the other players in his group finish with two victories.

"I called him this morning at about 10:00 or 10:30 and said, 'You should prepare like you're going to play. I'm probably 50/50 to play tonight, and I'll let you know as soon as I try to warm up,"' Roddick said.

The 26-year-old Roddick has been hampered by injuries this year, twice sitting out a month -- the first after retiring from the Rome Masters in early May after just three games with a shoulder injury.

"Hopefully I have all these nicknack injury things out of way," Roddick said. "They've been pretty frustrating. I feel like I've been playing catchup a little bit ... as far as not being prepared and ready. So I'm very much looking forward to getting healthy and actually having some time to try to get fit again and be prepared going forward next year."

One thing the early departure does is allow him to focus on acquiring a new coach. He split with Jimmy Connors earlier this year, and had since been working with his brother John.

"There's a short list," Roddick said without naming any candidates. "I didn't want to start going through the process of talking to people either over the phone or in person until my season was finished. That's something that I'd definitely like to get taken care of in the next couple weeks."

Roddick, who was making his sixth straight Masters Cup appearance, is a former No. 1 who has been no lower than 12th in the rankings since 2002.

Federer, Nestor win Masters matches

RelatedRoddick withdraws with injury THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SHANGHAI, China -- Roger Federer kept his hopes alive for a fifth Masters Cup title Wednesday by beating Radek Stepanek 7-6 (4), 6-4 while defending doubles champion Daniel Nestor of Toronto advanced to the semifinals. Federer, who pulled out of the Paris Masters less than two weeks ago with a sore back, still showed some of the rust that plagued his opening loss to Gilles Simon. His first-serve percentage was higher against Stepanek, but the shots still lacked some of their usual sting. "It's been a tough week for me from the start," said Federer, adding his back felt fine but that he got sick Tuesday and was still feeling the effects. Stepanek was playing in the place of Andy Roddick, who withdrew from the tournament earlier Wednesday with a sprained ankle after losing his opening match Monday. Roddick said his injury did not appear to be serious, but that it left him unable to be competitive in Shanghai. "Maybe I got lucky that Andy withdrew," Federer said. Earlier, Andy Murray of Britain reached the semifinals of the season-ending tournament by beating Simon 6-4, 6-2 in the other Red Group match. In doubles, Nestor and Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic reached the semis with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Jonas Bjorkman and Kevin Ullyett in a re-match of the Wimbledon final. Nestor served out the efficient 65-minute win as he attempts to repeat as champion at the season-ending event. Nestor won the title a year ago with former partner Mark Knowles of the Bahamas. Nestor and Zimonjic captured their first Grand Slam title together over Bjorkman and Ullyett in July, claiming the Wimbledon trophy in four sets. The duo improved to 2-0 with one round-robin match remaining on Friday against Czech Lukas Dlouhy and Leander Paes of India. "We played well, just like we should have," said Nestor. "If we keep it up like this then of course we have a good chance to go all ther way here. "It would be great to win the title for a second straight year with another partner. "That's what we're working for, the trophy." Nestor and Zimonjic are also duelling with Americans Bob and Mike Bryan to end the season atop the ATP doubles rankings. "It all gets tough in the semifinals," said Nestor. "All of the other teams have a chance when you get to that stage." The 26th-ranked Stepanek started slow, winning only three points as he fell behind 2-0 in the first set, then took the next two games. But the Swiss star pulled ahead 4-1 in the tiebreaker and held on to take the set. They were on serve in the second set until Stepanek faltered while serving at 4-3, with Federer breaking with a forehand volley winner off a floater. But Federer, known as one of the best finishers in tennis, was broken back at love as he served for the match, netting a forehand after a long rally on break point. Stepanek pumped his fist and hopped on one leg, but the Czech's celebration didn't last long. He missed a backhand volley to set up match point, then double-faulted. Murray was at his best on the key points, breaking Simon twice in each set and fending off seven of the Frenchman's eight break opportunities. "It was one of my best matches in recent months," said Murray, who recently won 14 straight matches. Murray said he was nervous before the match, knowing that if he lost, he would have to beat Federer in his last round-robin match to qualify for the semifinals. Both Murray and Simon were making their debuts at the tournament for the world's top players, but Murray looked like a veteran, winning the first four games. Simon won only four points in his first two service games. The Frenchman did get one break back to pull within 4-3, but Murray fended off another break chance in his next and easily held to finish off the set. Simon held to open the second set, but Murray took the next five games. On match point, the Briton ripped a deep forehand approach shot that Simon couldn't do anything with. "I just missed all the opportunities I had today," Simon said. "He didn't miss anything." Simon was added to the field when Rafael Nadal withdrew last week with a knee injury that also forced the world's top-ranked player to pull out of next week's Davis Cup final between Spain and Argentina. In the Gold Group, Nikolay Davydenko of Russia will face Juan Martin del Potro, with the winner assured of a semifinal spot. Novak Djokovic, who is 2-0, already has advanced and will meet Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, who has been eliminated after losing his first two matches.

Djokovic moves into Masters Cup semis

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SHANGHAI, China -- Confused and jittery after failing to win a game in the second set, Novak Djokovic rallied past Nikolay Davydenko 7-6 (3), 0-6, 7-5 Tuesday to reach the semifinals of the season-ending Masters Cup. In the day's other round-robin match, Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) in a meeting between promising players making Masters Cup debuts. Tsonga sat out three months with a knee injury this year and had to win the Paris Masters nine days ago to qualify for this showcase for the game's top eight players. Del Potro was ranked No. 65 in July before a 23-match winning streak vaulted him to No. 8. Davydenko will play Del Potro on Thursday with a semifinal berth at stake. "You know it's your last chance," Davydenko said. "If I win, I can qualify. If not, then I go on holiday." Del Potro's holiday will be delayed at least another week. He will play for Argentina in the Davis Cup final Nov. 21-23 against a Spanish team that will be without top-ranked Rafael Nadal because of a sore knee. "For all tennis players, it's like a dream to be here," Del Potro said. "But also next week it will be another dream." Roger Federer and Andy Roddick, who lost their first matches in the Red Group, face each other Wednesday. Andy Murray and Gilles Simon will also play. Also Wednesday, Toronto's Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia are scheduled to play Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden and Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe. Nestor and Zimonjic won their opening round-robin match Monday. Djokovic ran his record to 2-0 in the Gold Group and eliminated Tsonga. Djokovic won only nine points in the second set. Davydenko, who fell to 1-1, said he never saw the third-ranked Serb play so poorly. "I had a very unexplainable lapse. I just wasn't myself," Djokovic said. "It was very hard to come back. I was really nervous." The last time he failed to win a game in a set came against Richard Gasquet at the Estoril Open final in April 2007. He won that match, too. Davydenko yielded only four points in his first four service games, leaving Djokovic frustrated and looking toward his fans. Then Davydenko self-destructed. Serving for the first set at 5-4, the Russian double-faulted at 30-30 and sent a forehand wide to even the match. In the tiebreaker, Davydenko handed the first four points to Djokovic with three forehand errors and a double-fault, then double-faulted again on set point. Djokovic recovered in the third set. Serving at 5-5, 40-30, Davydenko grimaced after hitting a backhand volley wide, then sent two forehands long for the break. Djokovic held to finish the match. Del Potro, at 20 the youngest player in the field, has had a sore toe since the U.S. Open. He said he was trying to win while also conserving energy for Davis Cup, but Tsonga's power sent him lunging from side to side. Tsonga had the linesmen ducking with 10 aces in his first four service games. But inconsistency -- and solid play from Del Potro -- undid the Frenchman. Tsonga led 3-1 in the first tiebreaker, but Del Potro ran off six of the next seven points to finish the set. In the second tiebreaker, Del Potro ripped a backhand winner on the run to pull ahead 4-2. An overhead winner set up triple match point at 6-3. Tsonga hit an ace and a service winner before netting a forehand to end the match. "I know he played better than me in the tiebreak," Tsonga said. "I miss some easy balls, and that's it."

Granollers replaces Nadal in Davis Cup

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BARCELONA, Spain -- Marcel Granollers will replace the injured Rafael Nadal when Spain plays Argentina in the Davis Cup final. Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario called on the 56th-ranked Granollers on Tuesday to make his Davis Cup debut in place of the top-ranked Nadal, who is out of the Nov. 21-23 final because of a knee injury. Sanchez Vicario filled out the rest of the squad with expected players. David Ferrer will lead Spain in singles, while Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez are expected to pair up in doubles. Santiago Ventura, ranked 122nd, will also travel with the team to Argentina on Thursday as the first substitute. Argentina will be represented by Juan Martin del Potro, David Nalbandian, Jose Acasuso and Agustin Calleri for the best-of-five series on an indoor hard court in Mar del Plata. Sanchez Vicario said that the relatively unknown Granollers could also play doubles, which would mean he is ready to use either Verdasco or Lopez for singles. "Granollers is a player who plays well in doubles and it could be a very nice experience for him," Sanchez Vicario said. "We'll see him participate at some point." The 22-year-old Granollers won both the singles and doubles titles at the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships earlier this year. The Spain captain said that Nicolas Almagro, Tommy Robredo and former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero had all been considered for the fourth spot, but Granollers was in better shape. "A Plan B doesn't exist, so when you speak about getting here, to this late moment in the competition when the No. 1 player in Spain -- in the world -- can't play, it makes things complicated," Sanchez Vicario said. Robredo, who has been a regular for Spain since 2004, had already ruled himself out as a possible replacement due to fitness. Without Nadal, Argentina is the favourite to lift the Davis Cup trophy for the first time at the Islas Malvinas stadium on its third try -- and second in three years. "The Argentines are celebrating what happened yesterday. I won't celebrate anything because the tie is long and we have a chance at winning," Spanish tennis federation president Pedro Munoz said. The tendinitis in Nadal's right knee failed to respond after a week of treatment and the team doctor said that without three-to-six weeks recovery Nadal risked aggravating the injury that forced him to retire from the Paris Masters. Nadal then pulled out of this week's Masters Cup in a bid to be ready for the final. "It's a shame that (Nadal) can't be with us," Sanchez Vicario said. "We'll train as hard as we can and do all we can to represent Spain. (But) we don't have to speak about (Nadal) any more because he's not going to be in the team." The 22-year-old Nadal won both of his singles matches to lead Spain over the United States 4-1 in the semifinals. Nadal won a fourth straight French Open and his first Wimbledon title to supplant Roger Federer at No. 1 this year before earning Olympic gold. Spain triumphed in the two prior meetings between the Spanish-speaking countries, with the first coming 82 years ago. Spain rallied from 2-0 down in the 2003 quarter-finals for a 3-2 win. Argentina beat Russia 3-2 to reach its third final.

Nadal to skip Davis Cup with knee injury

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BARCELONA, Spain -- Rafael Nadal will miss Spain's Davis Cup final against Argentina because of a knee injury.

The top-ranked Nadal said Monday he was still struggling with tendinitis in his right knee following a week of treatment.

"The knee said no," he said.

Spain team doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro said Nadal would need three to six weeks to recover from the injury.

"These are very difficult moments, but I have done all that I could to be ready for the final," Nadal said. "It was a huge objective, and I'm used to playing with pain, but this is a distinct, new, pain that I couldn't control."

Nadal's absence deals a big blow to Spain's bid for a third Davis Cup title since 2000. Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario has until Tuesday to name his team.

Spain plays Argentina on indoor hard court at Mar del Plata from Nov. 21-23.

Nadal was a key player when Spain beat the United States 4-1 in the semifinals, winning both of his singles matches.

Nadal also won the Olympic gold medal in a year when he supplanted Roger Federer at No. 1.

"I don't know if the injury (resulted) from my fight to be No. 1 because in reality, I didn't play in any extra tournaments, I only played what I had to for the ranking and I don't think you can reproach me for that," Nadal said. "I didn't do anything crazy to be No. 1."

Nadal, winner of a fourth straight French Open title and his first Wimbledon championship this year, withdrew from the Paris Masters last month with an injury to the same knee after losing the first set of his quarter-final match against Nikolai Davydenko. He then pulled out of this week's season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai.

Ruiz-Cotorro said the injury was not career threatening but that it was "totally impossible" for Nadal to be ready in time for the final.

"Rafa comes in off a very tough year and his body has been warning him for weeks. It's an acute injury that needs time to recuperate," Ruiz-Cotorro said. "If he played in Argentina, it could become worse."

Sanchez Vicario is likely to select either Tommy Robredo or clay-court specialist Nicolas Almagro to take Nadal's place. David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco are expected to be back on the team..

Robredo helped Spain to a 5-0 rout of Peru in a first-round match in February, but has reached the quarter-finals of only one of nine tournaments since winning at Bastad in July. The 21st-ranked Robredo has been a Spain regular since 2004.

Almagro made his debut against Peru, winning both of his singles matches.

Federer falls in Masters Cup opener

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SHANGHAI, China -- Roger Federer lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to Gilles Simon of France at the Masters Cup on Monday in his first match since a sore back forced him out of his last tournament.

The second-ranked Swiss star said earlier he didn't know what to expect when he played his first round-robin match in the season-ending event for the world's top eight players.

It turned out to be flashes of his usual brilliance, then a quick slide downhill. Federer faltered late in the second set with a rash of errors that allowed Simon to get back into the match.

Federer also lost his first match at last year's Masters Cup but went on to win the title.

Toronto's Daniel Nestor and Serb partner Zenad Zimonjic, meanwhile, began doubles play with a 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 10-4 (match tiebreak) victory over Poland's Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski.

.The ninth-ranked Simon, added to the field when No. 1 Rafael Nadal withdrew with knee tendinitis, started finding the lines and capitalized on Federer's slip in play in the last two sets.

Simon ripped a backhand crosscourt winner on breakpoint as Federer served at 3-4 in the third set, then served his seventh ace on match point.

The crowd overwhelmingly favoured Federer. Swiss flags were scattered around the nearly packed Qi Zhong stadium, and one section was a sea of red and white.

Federer appeared to take a few points to loosen up. Then, after wasting three break points as Simon served at 1-1 in the first set, he broke through for a 3-2 edge, taking the game with a forehand that Simon couldn't touch.

Federer staved off a break point in the next game and finished off the set with a second-serve ace and seemed to be headed for a quick victory.

They traded early breaks in the second set, and Simon had a great chance to forge ahead but squandered three break points as Federer started to look tight while serving at 3-4.

Federer smacked a routine overhead and an easy forehand volley into the net to fall behind 0-30, then found the net again with a swinging forehand off a short ball at deuce, but managed to hold.

Federer wasn't as lucky in his next service game, with Simon breaking to take the set and level the match with a great backhand winner after a long rally.

Federer had to rally from 0-40 while serving at 2-3 in the deciding set, pumping his fist and shouting, "Come on!" Simon replicated the escape act in the next game, with Federer helping with two forehands that sailed way long. Simon got the deciding break in the next game.

Britain's Andy Murray faced American Andy Roddick in the late match.

Novak Djokovic and Nikolay Davydenko, who won their first matches in the Gold group, play each other Tuesday after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin del Potro, both 0-1, face off.

Venus beats Zvonareva in WTA final

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DOHA, Qatar -- American Venus Williams won the WTA's Sony Ericsson Championships by defeating Vera Zvonareva 6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-2 Sunday in the final of the season-ending event.

The Wimbledon champion took command in the last two sets with powerful serving, smashes and aggressive ground strokes against her Russian opponent.

Zvonareva became increasingly frustrated and collapsed to the ground when Williams broke in the final set to take a 3-1 lead.

"I'm so excited," Williams said. "That was a hard-fought match, every point, right down to the end."

Williams' ranking improved from eighth to sixth, while Zvonareva moved from ninth to seventh. The two were the lowest-ranked players at the event.

Williams lost the first time they played in the fourth round of the French Open in 2003, but she now holds a 6-1 head-to-head record over Zvonareva.

Zvonareva surged to 5-2 in the first set, and then led 5-3, 40-0. But she was unable to convert a total of four set points in that game, and Williams won it on her second break point. Zvonareva fell behind 1-5 in the tiebreaker, but fought back to take it on her fifth set point when her backhand slice clipped the net cord and dropped onto the other side of the court, out of Williams' reach.

The Doha tournament featured eight players divided into two groups, with the top two in each group advancing to the elimination stage.

Djokovic, Davydenko win at Masters

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SHANGHAI, China -- Novak Djokovic fed off the crowd's cheers. For Nikolay Davydenko, a handful of backers was enough.

Djokovic has developed quite a following in China even though he failed to win a set in three matches during his Shanghai debut last year.

Capturing the bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics likely helped, and he generated a huge roar Sunday with a simple "Thank you" in Chinese after starting off Masters Cup round-robin play with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro.

"I have the best fans here in China," Djokovic said. "I get presents every day I get back to the hotel."

The stoic Davydenko had to overcome Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and the popular Frenchman's vocal fans for a 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (0) victory in the other Gold group match.

"Sometimes I really enjoy playing not at home," the fifth-ranked Russian said. "I don't think about any pressure. A few guys support me, it's already enough."

While ranked third, Djokovic was a question mark coming into the season-ending tournament for the top eight players. He was exhausted late last year from a heavy schedule in his rise to No. 3, and he lost in the round of 16 in his past two tournaments this year.

"I was a bit intimidated by the fact of not winning a single match last year, that's for sure," Djokovic said. "But this year is different. I feel more confident, stronger player on the court, more mature. ... In important moments, I played my best tennis."

Djokovic broke early for a 3-1 lead. Then his serve and strategy let him down when serving for the first set at 5-3. He double-faulted to give del Potro break point, then weakly dumped a backhand drop-shot attempt into the net to put the match back on serve.

A tiebreaker loomed. Then del Potro netted a forehand while serving at 5-6, 30-30. The 20-year-old Argentine, making his Masters Cup debut as the youngest player in the draw, had Djokovic lunging from side to side on the next point only to see the Serb hit a forehand crosscourt winner to take the set.

Del Potro, who jumped to eighth in the rankings from No. 65 on July 7, angrily spiked his racket but recovered to break Djokovic for a 2-1 edge in the second set.

Djokovic broke back in the next game. After del Potro held to make it 3-3, Djokovic ran off the last three games.

Del Potro, nursing a sore toe since the U.S. Open, was left to lament what might have been.

"When you play against (Rafael) Nadal, (Roger) Federer or Djokovic, you have just one chance or two. I had a break point. I didn't get it."

Tsonga, who lost the Australian Open final to Djokovic in January and later sat out three months with a knee injury, fell behind 0-40 in his first service game before coming back to hold.

The Masters Cup newcomer quickly won over the fans with his easy smile and go-for-broke style, even leaping the net while unsuccessfully trying to track down a drop shot in the first-set tiebreaker.

Tsonga faltered while serving at 4-5 in the second set. He just missed a forehand passing shot to give Davydenko a set point that the Russian converted with a winner that just caught the baseline.

Davydenko raced to a 3-0 lead in the deciding set. Serving at 2-5, Tsonga staved off a match point with a gutsy drop shot winner from the baseline, then broke to get back on serve with another great drop.

On the edge of their seats, the crowd chanted Tsonga's name. But the tiebreaker proved to be anticlimactic as he suddenly lost his touch.

Tsonga gave credit to his opponent.

"It was a tough match," he said. "He was just better than me at the end."

The Red Group, which includes Federer, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick and Gilles Simon, gets into action Monday. Nadal, who already has clinched the No. 1 ranking for the year, withdrew with tendinitis in his right knee, hoping to be ready for Spain's Davis Cup final against Argentina on Nov. 21-23.

Federer says he's fit for Masters Cup

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SHANGHAI, China -- Roger Federer doesn't like hearing himself announced as the world's second-ranked player, and hopes his aching back doesn't hamper his pursuit of regaining top spot.

"I just don't like the ring of it," the defending champion said Saturday with a smile on the eve of the season-ending Masters Cup. "It sounds a bit awkward to me. It is a challenge to get back to No. 1."

Rafael Nadal is out of this event due to an aching knee but already has wrapped up the year-end top ranking. Federer is therefore looking at Shanghai as a chance to build some momentum for 2009, with the Australian Open in January his first chance to tie Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles after winning the U.S. Open in September.

"I haven't been thinking about it much," Federer said. "Once I go on vacation, I'll have plenty of time for that."

The biggest question is his back. Federer withdrew from the Paris Masters last week. He has been getting daily treatment and taking painkillers.

"It's way better than last Friday," Federer said as the eight Masters Cup players, dressed in matching gray suits and black silk shirts, met with reporters. "I've been able to practice without pain."

Still, he doesn't know quite what to expect when he faces France's Gilles Simon on Monday in round-robin play at the tournament for the world's top eight.

"I'm not sure because I haven't been pushing it to the very limit," the Swiss star said, adding that he's worried he could tweak his back again. "It just needs as much time as possible."

Still, he declared himself the favourite, an opinion echoed by other players, even though some of them have been in better form in recent weeks.

"I'm here to win," Federer said. "I'm not here just to participate."

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, one of four players making his Masters Cup debut, was the last man to clinch a spot in the elite field, winning in Paris.

"For me, it's just amazing; it's a dream," said Tsonga, who plays fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko on Sunday after No. 3 Novak Djokovic of Serbia opens the event against Juan Martin del Potro. The Argentine earlier in the year won 23 straight matches and four consecutive tournaments.

Tsonga, who thinks the indoor Qi Zhong Tennis Center will suit his game, has jumped in the ratings despite missing three months recuperating from knee surgery -- a break that may have worked in his favour as other players wind down the long tennis season.

"I feel great," Tsonga said, "stronger than at the start of the year" when he reached the Australian Open final, losing to Djokovic.

Djokovic, who dropped all three of his matches here last year and complained he was exhausted after playing a heavy schedule in his breakthrough season, said he's feeling much better this time, though his recent results -- losing in the round of 16 in his last two tournaments -- don't reflect it.

"I haven't lately found my rhythm," the Serb said. "Physically, I feel good."

.Andy Roddick, who has been recuperating from injury, also said he's feeling fit, though he's looking forward to the off-season to get back in peak form. Unlike some players, he doesn't use the break to rest up, saying he starts getting itchy to do something when he has spare time.

"I was just telling my fiancee I don't know how I'll get through a honeymoon," Roddick said. "How am I going to sit still for five days?"

He also reckons he has maybe about four years of competitive-level tennis left, and that he'll miss it when he's gone.

"My bad days still are pretty good in the scheme of things," said Roddick, who's still looking for a new fulltime coach after splitting ways with Jimmy Connors.

He will play Monday against Britain's Andy Murray.

Zvonareva advances to Qatar final

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DOHA, Qatar -- Vera Zvonareva defeated fifth-ranked Elena Dementieva 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3 Saturday in an all-Russian semifinal at the WTA Tour's season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships.

Top-ranked Jelena Jankovic faced Venus Williams later Saturday.

Zvonareva, at No. 9 the lowest-ranked player in the eight-woman field, improved her record against Dementieva to 2-4. Olympic champion Dementieva beat Zvonareva the last time they played in Beijing, where Zvonareva won bronze.

Zvonareva frustrated Dementieva with solid ground strokes in the final set. She capitalized on a string of errors by Dementieva to win the last match at love.

Zvonareva recovered from a 1-4 deficit in the first set. In the tiebreaker, Dementieva rallied from 5-1 down and lost a set point before hitting a backhand wide on Zvonareva's second set point. The Russians broke each other four times in the first set.

Dementieva also had a 4-1 lead in the second set, and this time held onto it to even the match.

The tournament featured eight players divided into two groups, with the top two in each group advancing to the elimination stage.

Nestor has seen all of this before

THE CANADIAN PRESS

SHANGHAI, China -- As he roams the corridors of the massive Qi Zhong stadium, Daniel Nestor can't help but be reminded of the past.

The Toronto native is the defending doubles champion at the season-ending Masters Cup, which begins Sunday, but he won the title with former partner Mark Knowles of the Bahamas. The Canadian is looking to reclaim the crown but will have to do it this time with Serbia's Nenad Zimonjic.

"It's strange to walk down the hall and see pictures of last year's winners," Nestor said. "And in the next hall, there are pictures of all of this year's teams. But that's all part of tennis."

Nestor and Knowles split midway through last season after Nestor decided he wanted a change. He joined forces with Zimonjic but was reunited with Knowles in Shanghai because the duo had qualified as a team before they went their separate ways.

Nestor, 36, said there are no hard feelings between he and Knowles.

"We've put it behind us," Nestor said.

But he admits last year's tournament will still be hard to forget when he takes to the court next week.

"Winning last year with Mark will always be in the back of the mind, but it's something I have to overlook and overcome," he said. "It's a new situation now, Nenad and I have proved that we can also win the big events."

Nestor and Zimonjic won the Wimbledon doubles title earlier this year.

The Shanghai tournament is for the world's top eight singles players and doubles teams. The second-seeded Nestor and Zimonjic open round-robin play Monday against Poland's Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski, who entered the eight-team field after the injury withdrawal of Israelis Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram.

Nestor said he and Zimonjic haven't had the best preparation.

"But we're ready to start playing well again at the right time," he said. "This is always a tough event with the best eight in the world and you have to be ready to go from the start."

Nestor and Zimonjic lost to Fyrstenberg and Matkowski in their most recent meeting in Madrid last month. They then went on to lose their final two regular-season matches of the year.

"We won in Toronto (in August) but after that our level slipped a bit," said Nestor. "It was not great, but what can you do.

"But overall, we've had a good year even though we've lost a few tough matches."

Knowles is in the field as the world No. 3 pairing with Indian partner Mahesh Bhupathi.

"We go into a tough match with the Polish guys. Of course we are ranked higher and are seeded," said Nestor. "But they are playing well and we have to come out fighting from the start if we want to get away with the win."

The doubles final is set for Nov. 16.

Ivanovic, Serena withdraw from Qatar

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DOHA, Qatar -- Serena Williams and Ana Ivanovic withdrew from the WTA's season-ending event Friday as top-ranked Jelena Jankovic advanced despite losing 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Vera Zvonareva.

Zvonareva and Jankovic both advanced to the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Championships because of winning records in the round-robin stage of the tournament.

Zvonareva plays Elena Dementieva and Jankovic faces Venus Williams on Saturday.

Serena Williams pulled out with a stomach injury before her match against Dementieva, handing the Russian a spot in the final four.

"I did feel pain last night," the U.S. Open champion said. "I was still in pain just getting out of bed."

Williams lost to her sister, Venus, 5-7, 6-1, 6-0 Thursday.

Earlier, Ivanovic withdrew from her match against Svetlana Kuznetsova because of a virus. The players' losing records meant neither had a chance of advancing to the semifinals.

Jankovic said she did not know the circumstances of the withdrawals and could not comment. She noted that she also has ailments, including a back problem that requires painkillers before she plays.

"This is the last tournament of the year," she said. "I also have problems, but I'm willing to try my best."

Williams bristled and pointed a finger at a journalist who suggested she should have played Friday despite her injury.

"I should make you work out ... for like 22 years and make you have a severe stomach strain, and then tell you to play for the sponsors," she said. "You should try it."

.The world's top eight players were divided into two groups, with the top two in each group advancing to the elimination stage.

The ninth-ranked Zvonareva is the lowest-ranked player in the eight-woman field but put on a poised performance.

She broke Jankovic at 3-3 in the third set, pressuring the Serbian with deep groundstrokes and occasional trips to the net. The Russian improved to 4-6 against Jankovic.

Williams declined to say whether she would play next year at Indian Wells, California, one of the Tour's nine top tournaments. The Williams sisters haven't played there since 2001, when the family was booed after Venus withdrew just before a semifinal match against Serena.

"We'll see. Who knows," Serena said. "We've had a lot of discussions with a lot of people. I don't want to get into that right now. I just want to keep focused on other things."

Under a restructuring of the WTA calendar and tournaments, top-10 players who miss the top tournaments could be suspended, though players can avoid the punishment if they make promotional appearances.

Jankovic reaches WTA semifinals

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DOHA, Qatar -- Top-ranked Jelena Jankovic of Serbia reached the the semifinals of the WTA Tour's season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships Thursday after beating Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 7-6 (6), 6-4.

The seventh-ranked Kuznetsova saved two set points in the tiebreaker before hitting a forehand into the net to drop the first set.

Jankovic called for a trainer early in the second set before recovering to win her second round-robin match.

Kuznetsova has one more round-robin match to play but can't advance because she has lost twice.

Eight players are divided into two groups of four, with the top two in each group advancing to the elimination stage.

Later Thursday, American Venus Williams was scheduled to play her sister, Serena, and Dinara Safina was to meet fellow Russian Elena Dementieva.

Masters Cup: Federer to meet two Andys

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SHANGHAI, China -- Defending champion Roger Federer will face Andy Roddick and Andy Murray in group play at the season-ending Masters Cup next week. The draw Wednesday of the top eight players -- using numbered fortune cookies -- put Federer in the Red Group along with Gilles Simon. The second-ranked Federer became the top seed when No. 1 Rafael Nadal withdrew because of tendinitis in his right knee. Nadal pulled out of the Paris Masters last week. Federer also dropped out in Paris, citing a sore back, but arrived ready to play in Shanghai. Third-ranked Novak Djokovic is the top seed in the Blue Group, which includes Nikolay Davydenko, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga -- who won in Paris to seal his spot in Shanghai -- and Juan Martin Del Potro. Simon, Tsonga, del Potro and Murray are playing in the Masters Cup for the first time. Simon was added to the field after the withdrawal of Nadal, who could be in doubt for Spain's Davis Cup final against Argentina on Nov. 21-23. Murray, Tsonga and del Potro have dominated in the second half of the year. Murray had a 14-match winning streak ended in Paris by David Nalbandian, while del Potro rose from No. 50 at the start of the year to No. 8 by winning four titles and compiling a 23-match winning streak. Tsonga, who lost the Australian Open final to Djokovic, has improved from No. 38 to No. 7. The Masters Cup winner will take home US$600,000. Next year, the event moves to London.

Zvonareva defeats ailing Ivanovic

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DOHA, Qatar -- Vera Zvonareva defeated an ailing Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4 Wednesday in round-robin play at the WTA's season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships.

The Russian won on her third match point when Ivanovic, who took a medical timeout in the first set, hit a forehand into the net.

The WTA said Ivanovic, the French Open champion, had a virus.

The ninth-ranked Zvonareva has won two White Group matches. Ivanovic has lost two. They have one more round-robin match.

The eight players are divided into two round-robin groups, with the two leaders of each going into an elimination stage.

Later Wednesday, Venus Williams was to meet Elena Dementieva and Serena Williams was to play Dinara Safina in Maroon Group play.

Davis Cup unlikely for injured Nadal

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MADRID, Spain -- Rafael Nadal has tendinitis in his right knee and could be in doubt for Spain's Davis Cup final against Argentina.

Medical tests Tuesday confirmed the tendinitis, and Spain team doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro said the top-ranked player would undergo treatment through Saturday.

Nadal is scheduled to have more tests to assess the injury. Spain plays Argentina in the final on indoor hard court at Mar del Plata from Nov. 21-23.

Spanish Davis Cup captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario will not pick Nadal if he is unfit, Nadal's uncle and coach Toni said Tuesday.

On Monday, Nadal pulled out of the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai citing fatigue after a season in which he's played in 111 matches.

Nadal, winner of a fourth straight French Open title and his first Wimbledon championship, withdrew from the Paris Masters on Friday with a knee problem after losing the first set of his quarter-final match against Nikolai Davydenko.

Nadal also won the Olympic gold medal in a year when he supplanted Roger Federer at No. 1. .Without Nadal, Spain would be regarded as an underdog to win its third Davis Cup trophy in eight years.

Spain beat the United States 4-1 in the semifinals, with Nadal and David Ferrer playing singles and Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco the doubles.

Zvonareva wins opener at season-ender

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DOHA, Qatar -- Vera Zvonareva defeated Russian compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2, 6-3 on Tuesday at the WTA's season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships.

The round-robin match was the first played at the championships, which divides the world's best players into two groups of four before a playoff.

The ninth-ranked Zvonareva capitalized on error-strewn play by Kuznetsova, who often screamed in frustration after making mistakes.

Later Tuesday, top-ranked Jelena Jankovic of Serbia was scheduled to play compatriot Ana Ivanovic while American Venus Williams was to meet Russia's Dinara Safina.

Stars arrive in Qatar for WTA Champ.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DOHA, Qatar -- After a wide open year in women's tennis, with half a dozen players sharing the most coveted spoils, the best in the world are in Doha, Qatar for the WTA Tour's season-ending championship.

Once again, there is no clear favourite with two Serbs, two Americans and four Russians vying for the title.

The women's game lacks the drama of the men's side, where the rivalry between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer reached a peak at the Wimbledon final with a Nadal victory that was hailed as one of the greatest matches in history.

But the Women's Tennis Association says broad parity and a tight race for No. 1 draw fans even after the abrupt retirement of top-ranked Justine Henin in May at the age of 25.

"In the beginning ... there was a spot open for everybody," top-ranked Jelena Jankovic of Serbia said Monday. "I'm really proud of myself that, you know, I could cope with all the pressure, and I could get all the points and secure my No. 1 ranking for the rest of the year."

Five players have held the top ranking this year, but only three of them will play in the US$4.55 million Sony Ericsson Championships that start with a round-robin format on Tuesday at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex. Henin is out of the rankings, and a shoulder injury has sidelined Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova.

That leaves Jankovic, who has won four titles but no major; third-ranked Serena Williams of the United States, who won the U.S. Open for her ninth major; and Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, who won her first major at the French Open, but slid to No. 4 after a string of losses linked to thigh and thumb injuries, as well as self-doubt.

"I think we're all a little bit tired and we have a long season behind us," said Ivanovic, who returned to form last month with a title win at Linz, Austria, her first since Roland Garros in June. "I feel my game is back on a level before my injury."

The other elite contenders are Wimbledon winner Venus Williams and the Russian contingent of second-ranked Dinara Safina, former U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, Olympic gold medallist Elena Dementieva and world No. 9 Vera Zvonareva.

"I'm ready to get off the blocks fast," said Venus Williams, who welcomed WTA plans to reduce the number of compulsory tournaments for top players during a shorter 2009 season. Some events will be mandatory with possible suspensions in the event of non-compliance, but the goals are to generate commercial success and curb the burnout and injury that often come with a heavy playing schedule.

"It creates a stronger business model for not only the players but the tournaments," Venus Williams said. "I feel like the (WTA) road map is a great thing."

The championships were held in Madrid in 2006 and 2007, with Henin winning both times. Prior to Spain, they were mostly held in the United States. The transfer of the event to the Gulf partly reflects the lure of commercial backing from the energy-rich region, even if its tennis culture is not as developed as in the West.

Qatar will host the WTA season-ending tournament for three years, after which the championships will shift to Istanbul, Turkey.

The Doha tournament's White Group includes Jankovic and Ivanovic, along with Kuznetsova and Zvonareva. The American Williams sisters, as well as Safina and Dementieva, are in the Maroon Group. The top two players in each advance to elimination rounds. In addition, a doubles tournament will feature the world's top four teams.

On Tuesday, Kuznetsova plays Zvonareva, Jankovic faces Ivanovic, and Safina takes on Venus Williams.

Although the WTA championships lack the stature and fan interest of the four majors, Serena Williams said she was committed to a strong performance in Doha, with the winner collecting as much as $1.34 million.

"I need the money," joked Williams, who won the championship in 2001.

Rafael Nadal pulls out of Masters Cup

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MADRID, Spain -- Rafael Nadal pulled out of the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai on Monday, citing fatigue after a long season and the need to prepare for the Davis Cup final.

The world's top-ranked player made the announcement on his website, describing his withdrawal as "one of the most difficult decisions in my career."

Nadal, who won two Grand Slam titles and the Olympic gold medal this year as he supplanted Roger Federer at No. 1, said he was physically run down.

"It has been a long and difficult year where I managed to obtain great results, both on a professional and on a personal level," he said. "I have mentioned on various occasions that the tennis calendar has been extremely hard with practically all weeks playing and where it forces players to compete week in, week out, making it impossible for a top-level player to be 100 per cent" for each event.

The Spaniard, winner of a fourth straight French Open title and first Wimbledon championship this year, withdrew from the Paris Masters last Friday with a knee problem after losing the first set of his quarter-final match against Nikolay Davydenko.

"On a personal level I had as one of my goals to become No. 1 during this year and competing at so many events might have harmed, especially at the end of the season, my physical condition, taking away the freshness needed to play at the top level of the game in these last events," Nadal said.

Nadal also said he hoped that his absence would buy him time for the Davis Cup final against host Argentina from Nov. 21-23.

"I want to recover and be ready for the important Davis Cup final with my country that will be played in Mar del Plata, Argentina. That is also another reason for not coming to Shanghai," Nadal added.

Nadal will be replaced in Wednesday's draw in Shanghai by Frenchman Gilles Simon..

The Spaniard's absence should boost the chances of Federer of winning his fifth Masters Cup, following his triumphs in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007.

Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga clinched the final singles berth at the Masters Cup by winning the Paris Masters title on Sunday.

The field also includes Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Davydenko, Andy Roddick and Juan Martin Del Potro. Toronto's Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia have qualified for the eight-team doubles event.

Tsonga tops Nalbandian at Paris Masters

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PARIS -- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat defending champion David Nalbandian of Argentina 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 Sunday to win the Paris Masters and qualify for the season-ending Masters Cup. The 13th-seeded Tsonga clinched his second career title and becomes the first Frenchman since Sebastien Grosjean in 2001 to win the indoor tournament in Bercy. He clinched victory when Nalbandian hit the ball into the net after having missed three break points to pull back to 5-5. "I think everyone contributed to my victory today, this one's for you," Tsonga told the home crowd. "This ends a great season for me. I've played really well and the cherry on the cake is that I will go to Shanghai." Nalbandian was gracious in defeat. "He's a great player and has played brilliantly all week," Nalbandian said. "He deserves this title." Tsonga joins seven other players for the Masters Cup in Shanghai, starting Nov. 9, while Nalbandian missed his chance to qualify. The eighth-seeded Nalbandian had only four aces compared to 25 for Tsonga, the Australian Open runner-up. Tsonga broke Nalbandian's serve for a 2-1 lead in the deciding set, and saved a break point in the sixth game with an ace. Nalbandian's frustration showed in the eighth game when he slammed his racket to the ground. But he kept his composure to hold serve in the ninth game and then had Tsonga down 0-40. Tsonga saved all three break points, then hit an ace to set up match point and get the crowd on their feet. Tsonga's first serve flew into the net, but his second pinned Nalbandian to the back of the court before winning the resulting rally. Nalbandian couldn't match Tsonga's whirlwind start to the match, dropping serve with a double fault to trail 2-0 in the first set. The 23-year-old Frenchman was rarely troubled on serve, needing to save only one break point in the seventh game. Nalbandian served an ace to save a break point in the opening game of the second set. Both players then found their range, with four straight love service games. Tsonga's level started to dip. In the eighth game, he fell to 0-40 on serve before rallying with four aces to hold for 4-4. But he was 0-40 down again in the 10th game, and Nalbandian broke him to level the match.