TennisToday

Top 8 ATP Men's Tennis Players Pose for Sweet Portraits Ahead of the World Tour Finals in London

What a handsome group. Let's get this thing started already!

Photos: Getty Images

ATP London O2 Finalists Photo Op Along the Thames

All 24 of them - singles and doubles.

3 of the Group B'ers...

Ah, Dave finally got the black suit memo. Nice.

Kinda sucks to be the invisible alternate...

Photos: Reuters

Andy Roddick Goes Paintballing for the O2

The ATP O2 Finalists Visit 10 Downing St. in London

Loving these dapper photos. But Dave - didn't you get the black suit memo?

Photos: Getty Images

Rafael Nadal is on his way to London y'all...

I never believe it until I see news footage from the Mallorca airport!

Tomas Berdych Goes Paintballing for the O2

Tomas plays in his 1st Tour Final Championships - starting Sunday at the O2.

This went up today on eBay for charity. Go bid on it.

Draw Announced for ATP World Tour Finals in London

Group A: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Tomas Berdych, Andy Roddick

Group B: Roger Federer, Robin Soderling, Andy Murray, David Ferrer

Ah yes, and Rafa & Roger fans are fast saying their man has it tougher.

Get over it: I think they are pretty even.

VS their groupings: Rafa is 28-13 & Roger is 29-9. See. Stop bitching.

Hell, take Murray out of Fed's equation and he's 24-1...

3 of the 4 Slam finals will be re-matched in the round robin stage:

Aussie: Rog vs Murray, Wimby: Rafa vs Tomas, US: Rafa vs Novak.

Roger & Novak are the only past champions in the 8-man field:

Roger held aloft the trophy 4 times: '03-4, '06-7 - Novak in '08.

Roger is looking to tie Ivan Lendl & Pete Sampras with their record 5 titles.

Rafa is looking to cap a remarkable year with his 1st ATP Tour Final title.

Hmm: Of Rafa's 43 career ATP titles he ha only won 1 indoors.

This is the 1st time since '98 that the previous years finalists are a no show:

'98: Alex Corretja d Carlos Moya - '09: Nikolay Davydenko d JM Del Potro

The fun starts Sunday - on Tennis Channel here in the States.

This ought to be ome jolly good fun.

Photo: Getty Images

David Ferrer Qualifies for London & Goes Paintballing!!!

The last time he played the World Tour Finals in '07 he made the final.

What a year: 11 semi's, 5 finals and 2 titles - Acapulco & Valencia.

Bueno guapo: He done the Spanish Armada real proud.

Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer & Andy Roddick Seal Last 3 Spots for Year-End Championships in London

Tomas - debut. David - 2nd trip. Andy - qualifies for the 8th straight year.

Let's go paintballing boys!

The O2 8: Rafael, Roger, Novak, Andy, Robin, Tomas, David & Andy.

Maybe we can squeeze in one last Rafa/Roger match this year?

Defending champ Nikolay Davydenko didn't even come close to qualifying.

Consoling Fern: I can't make it to London this year either.

Rafael Nadal Injury Presser in Paris - London Calling

The year-end title is really the only thing missing from his resume. It would make a fitting cap to an incredible year, no?

Some quotes from his press conference in Paris today:

The injury is not a big problem but I have to be careful, because if I had an injury now it could be difficult to play London and to play well at the beginning of the season next year.

It is a goal for me to try to improve the image of last year in London. I think I am focused to try to do this. We will see what happens; I am focused on trying to play well there.

It is probably the most difficult surface against the most difficult opponents for me, so probably is the most difficult tournament for me to win during the year.

Photo: Getty Images

Robin Soderling Becomes the 5th Man to Qualify for Season-Ending Championships in London

That really just means on thing...

Paintball. Paintball. Paintball.

Photos: Chris Cone Photography

And it's Andy Murray's turn to go paintballing...

As the 4th player to qualify for the Tour Championships at London's O2 Arena it was Andy Murray's turn to create his charity masterpiece. It will be diplayed along with the ones fashioned by Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and four others who've yet to be determined.

Andy: "I can't say I've ever created a self-portrait quite like this before - it was good fun but I don't think I'll be giving up my day job just quite yet! I'm looking forward to seeing it in the gallery, hopefully it can raise some money for charity!"

More from Andy: "If I play well I've got a chance of beating any of the guys. I'm excited to be playing in front of my home crowd; the atmosphere was great last year. I could be playing against Federer or Nadal in my first match in the Finals so I'm going to have to be on top of my game from the very start."

Oh, and of course - a video:

Photos by Chris Cone Photography

Fernando Verdasco: Disastrous Asian Swing

This has to be the most frustrating 3 weeks Fern has had in awhile.

He played all 3 weeks of the Asian swing. Didn't win a match. Or even a set.

In Bangkok he lost to Becker, Beijing: Kohlschrieber & Shanghai: De Bakker.

Long way to travel for nothing.

He is in a real dog-fight to earn a spot for the tour finals in London.

He's going to have to do something special in Valencia & in Paris.

Interesting: Add all the points of #2 & #3 and you still don't equal #1.

He may have lost today but he still managed to give me us a shirt change!

Photo: Getty Images - Ranking Chart: ATP - Shirt Change: My TV

Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer go Paintballing

Now this is an ad campaign I really really like.

I can't wait to see what they do with the other 6 who qualify.

These pieces will eventually be auctioned off for charity.

Rafael Nadal: Making the artwork was fun and something I've never done before. It's a great way to celebrate the World Tour Finals coming back to London. It was a little bit of a challenge to put the balls on the silhouette! Of course this is the least we can do for charity and for those who need it the most. It's very important that people in our position help those who really need help. I'd like to thank everyone for the support they give us.

Roger Federer: It was great fun being invited to create my self portrait and I'm excited to see how the finished piece looks. Raising money for charity is always a great thing so already I would like to thank people who will buy these pictures and it's going to be for a good cause. I'm happy I can help a bit. I am very happy as it is the ninth consecutive year I have qualified for the year-end event. I have played in a lot of different venues during my career and I can say they staged a fantastic event at The O2 last year. I look forward to returning there in November and finishing the season strong.

And here is a fun 'how'd they do it' video:

Quotes courtesy of BarclaysATPWorldTourFinals.com