The 2009 ATP World Tour Finals (also known as the 2009 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for sponsorship reasons) was held in London, United Kingdom between 22 November and 29 November 2009. It was the first time the O2 arena hosted the ATP World Tour Year-End Singles and Doubles Championships. The event was renamed from Tennis Masters Cup to ATP World Tour Finals following the rearrangement of the ATP Tour.
Spots were awarded to the top seven players highest ranked single players in the world ranking and the top seven doubles teams in the 2009 ATP Doubles Race, with one spot reserved for Grand Slam champions who finish outside of the top 8, but within the Top 20 players or teams. As this did not happen, the final spot went to the next player or team in the top 8. Two additional players and teams were also in London as alternates in case of withdrawals.
On 5 July – after the 2009 Wimbledon Championships – Roger Federer of Switzerland who won his 15th Slam at the tournament over Andy Roddick was announced as the second qualifier.
On 20 August – After his title in the 2009 Rogers Masters defeating Juan Martín del Potro, Andy Murray of Great Britain was announced as the third qualifier.
On 10 September – Novak Djokovic of Serbia the defending champion was the Fourth to qualify following his third straight semifinal appearance at the 2009 US Open.
On 15 September – after his first Slam win at the 2009 US Open over Roger Federer, Juan Martín del Potro of Argentina became the fifth qualifier.
Juan Martín del Potro produced a break-out year, as he reached a career-high no. 5 and won his first Slam at the 2009 US Open defeating Roger Federer 3–6, 7–6, 4–6, 7–6, 6–2 in the final.[35] He is also the tallest ever Grand Slam champion and the first player to defeat both Nadal and Federer in the same Grand Slam tournament. He also won two other titles at the Heineken Open defeating Sam Querrey,[36] and the Legg Mason Tennis Classic defeating Andy Roddick.[37] He also reached his first Masters final at the Rogers Cup losing to Andy Murray. He also reached the semi-finals at the French Open losing to Federer.[38] Del Potro has a 1–2 record at the championship and is making his 2nd appearance.
On 12 November – After Verdasco fell to Čilić in the third round of the 2009 BNP Paribas Masters last years runner-up Nikolay Davydenko of Russia took one of the last two remaining spots.
On 13 November after both Söderling and Tsonga fell to Djokovic and Nadal respectively in the quarterfinals of the 2009 BNP Paribas Masters Australian Open semifinalist Fernando Verdasco occupied the last remaining spot.
The first two teams qualified for the year-end doubles tournament on 5 July. They were the defending champions Daniel Nestor of Canada and Nenad Zimonjić of Serbia and the American brother duo of Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan from the United States following their doubles final at the 2009 Wimbledon.
Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan began with back-to-back titles in Australia by winning the Medibank International Sydney[67] and winning their 7th Slam at the Australian Open.[68] They won their third title of the year at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships.[69] The brothers added the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships.[70] They won the LA Tennis Open[71] and China Open.[72] They also reached 5 other finals, Monte-Carlo, Internazionali BNL d'Italia, Wimbledon, Western & Southern Financial Group and Davidoff. They were the only team to reach the semifinal or better at all 4 slams. Bob Bryan also won the French Open Mixed Doubles playing with Liezel Huber.[73] This is their 10th appearance.
Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles only win came at the Rogers cup.[74] They also finished as runner-up at the Australian Open and at the US Open. As well as at the Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell. Separately Bhupathi won the Australian mixed doubles with Mirza. Knowles won the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships with Fish[75] and the Wimbledon mixed doubles with Anna-Lena Grönefeld.[76] and the final of the China Open with Roddick.
Lukáš Dlouhý and Leander Paes won two out of four Grand Slams. They won the French Open.[77] and the US Open.[78] They finished as runners-up at ABN AMRO. They reached the Australian Open semifinals. Paes separately reached and lost three finals, the Heineken Open with Scott Lipsky and the Mixed doubles finals of both Wimbledon and the US Open with Cara Black.
Max Mirnyi and Andy Ram reached three finals, all Masters 1000 events. They won one of these finals at the Sony Ericsson[85] and lost the BNP Paribas Open and the Rogers Masters. They reached the US Open semifinal. Ram separately finished as runner-up at the Australian mixed doubles with Nathalie Dechy and at the Open 13 with Julian Knowle.
The tournament was conducted in a round robin format. The eight players/teams divided in two groups. The eight seeds were determined by the South African AirwaysATP rankings and the 2009 ATP Doubles Team Rankings of Monday, 16 November 2009. The top seed was placed in Group A and the second seed placed in Group B. Players/teams seeded three and four, five and six, seven and eight, were then drawn in pairs placing the first drawn in Group A.
Singles grouping
Group A: Consisted of Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Juan Martín del Potro and Fernando Verdasco. Against the rest of the group, Roger Federer was 12–7, Andy Murray was 17–5, Juan Martín del Potro was 2–10 and Fernando Verdasco was 1–10.
Andy Murray led 6–3 against Federer, having won 4 of their last 5 meetings at that point. Murray was 4–1 against del Potro and 7–1 over Verdasco. Federer was 3–0 against Verdasco and 6–1 over del Potro. Verdasco and del Potro faced each other for the first time.
Group B: Against the rest of the group, Rafael Nadal was 21–10, Novak Djokovic 13–16, Nikolay Davydenko 8–12 and Robin Söderling 7–11.
Nadal was 14–6 with Djokovic. Nadal led 4–3 against Davydenko. Nadal edged Soderling, 3–1. Djokovic was tied with Davydenko at 2–2, and was 5–0 against Söderling. Söderling led Davydenko 6–3 including 5 of their last 6 meetings.
Doubles grouping
Group A: Nestor/Zimonjić were joined by Bhupathi/Knowles, Čermák/Michal Mertiňák and Fyrstenberg/Matkowski. Against the rest of the group Nestor/Zimonjić were 8–3, whilst Bhupathi/Knowles were 7–1. Čermák/Mertiňák were 0–1 and Frystenberg/Matkowski were 2–8.
Nestor/Zimonjic were 3–1 against Bhupathi/Knowles, 4–2 against Fyrstenberg/Matkowski and 1–0 against Cermak/Mertinak. Bhupathi and Knowles had never played Cermak/Mertinak but were 4 and 0 against Fyrstenberg/Matkowski. Cermak/Merinak had never faced Fyrstenberg/Matkowski.
Group B: Against the rest of the group the Bryans were 7–3, while Dlouhý/Paes were 1–3 while Ram/Mirnyi were at 2–2 and Kubot and Marach were 0–3.
The Bryans were 3–1 up against Dlouhý/Paes, 2–2 with Ram/Mirnyi and 3–0 against Kubot/Marach. Ram/Mirnyi and Dlouhý/Paes had never faced their other opponents.
Player head-to-heads
These are the head-to-heads as they approach the tournament.
2 Pro-rated on a per match basis: $70,000 = 1 match, $95,000 = 2 matches, $120,000 = 3 matches
3 Pro-rated on a per match basis: $30,000 = 1 match, $50,000 = 2 matches, $65,000 = 3 matches
Day-by-day summaries
Day 1: 22 November 2009
Andy Murray claims victory over Juan Martín del Potro
The tournament started with group A doubles action. In the opening match the top doubles team and defending champions Nestor/Zimonjić being upset by Fyrstenberg/Matkowski 6–4, 6–4. The Polish team faced no break points.
In the first singles match, 2008 semifinalist Murray fought del Potro. Murray went up 5–0 over Del Potro, who took a medical timeout at 3–0, for a nosebleed. Del Potro dropped to 15–40, but eventually saved two set points and won the game. At 5–1, on the second break point Del Potro challenged Murray's apparent ace and won the break. Both players then held, giving Murray the first set 6–3. In the second set, Del Potro looked rejuvenated taking the first 3 games; breaking at love in the second game. Murray broke in the 5th game to bring it back to serve. The Argentine broke again and held to lead 5–2. Both players held, requiring a third set. The decider saw a change of roles as Murray broke in the second game at his second chance to lead 3–0. The servers held the next four games to 5–2. At 5–2 Del Potro went down 15–30, and then double-faulted, giving Murray 2 match points. Murray converted the second.
Number 3 Bhupathi/Knowles dominated Čermák/Mertiňák 6–3, 6–3.
Federer/Verdasco started with Verdasco breaking Federer and holding to lead 2–0. At 3–2, Verdasco was warned for taking too much time. Verdasco held for a 4–2 lead. In the next game Federer saved two break points. The two players then held, giving Verdasco the set 6–4. In the second set both players held serve comfortably to 6–5, when Federer broke to win the set 7–5. In the 3rd, Federer took a 5–0 lead and won 4–6, 7–5, 6–1.
1st match starts at 12:30 pm, 2nd at 2:15 pm, 3rd at 7:00 pm and 4th at 8:45 pm
Day 2: 23 November 2009
Nadal/Söderling was a sequel to the fourth round of the French Open. Söderling broke in the second game and led 3–0, quickly reversed by Nadal for 3–3. From there both players held to 5–4. At 40–30 Nadal made three unforced errors, giving Söderling the first at 6–4. In the second set Nadal broke in the 3rd game for 2–1. Nadal then saved two break points before Söderling challenged a backhand from Nadal. Both players then held. At 5–4 Nadal faced match point at 30–40, which Söderling converted to win the set 6–4 and the match.
The final match repeated last year's final pitting Djokovic against Davydenko. At 2–2 in the 1st Davydenko broke at love. Then the Russian saved one break point for 4–2. Both then held. Djokovic faced two set points and gave Davydenko the first set 6–3. At 2–2 on serve in the 2nd Davydenko saved two break points to lead 3–2. At 4–4 Davydenko's unforced errors gave Djokovic a break and he served out the set 6–4. In the decider Djokovic broke early for 2–0. He served for the match at 5–4 but Davydenko broke back. Djokovic broke back and served the match out.
The doubles competition produced two upsets as Mirnyi/Ram beat World no. 2 the Bryans 6–4, 6–4. Kubot/Marach defeated Dlouhý/Paes in straight sets.
1st match starts at 12:30 pm, 2nd at 2:15 pm, 3rd at 7:00 pm and 4th at 8:45 pm
Day 3: 24 November 2009
The next day del Potro and Verdasco played each other for the first time. In the 3rd game del Potro broke at 15. Both held giving del Potro the first set 6–4. At 4–3 in the second Verdasco converted the first break point to lead 5–3. Verdasco won 6–3 triggering a deciding set. Verdasco went down 3–2 and 0–40. He saved 2 break points but at 30–40, del Potro challenged a Verdasco forehand called in. Hawk-Eye reversed the call giving del Potro a 4–2 lead. Verdasco saved match point at 5–2, then Verdasco broke and held to level the set at 5–5. Del Potro won the eventual tie-break 7–1.
Federer then took on Murray. Both players immediately broke, then at 3–2 Federer held only 2 of 3 break points. The first set went to Murray 6–3. In the 6th game of the second set the Swiss was able to break and served it out for 6–3. Federer then broke in the third, fifth and seventh games to finish 6–1.
Bhupathi/Knowles outlasted Fyrstenberg/Matkowski 3–6, 6–3, [10–7], taking them to the semifinal. Defending champions Nestor/Zimonjić lost to Čermák/Mertiňák 6–3, 6–4.
1st match starts at 12:30 pm, 2nd at 2:15 pm, 3rd at 7:00 pm and 4th at 8:45 pm
Day 4: 25 November 2009
Robin Söderling advances to the semifinals with first victory over Djokovic
First Söderling battled Djokovic. No break opportunities emerged until 5–4 when Djokovic saved 3. In the following tie-break, the Swede took a 2–0 lead and then the Serb took three. Söderling got a mini-break for 6–4, and won at 7–5. Djokovic then won the opening game but then Söderling won the next six to advance to the semifinal.
The next match was a Shanghai final rematch between Davydenko and Nadal. Davydenko raced into a 3–0 lead. In the 6th game Davydenko broke again, and served it out at 6–1. Davydenko broke Nadal in the 5th game of the 2nd and then saved two break points in the 6th for 4–2. Nadal then broke Davydenko to level it at 4–4. Both held through to a tie break. Nadal got a mini-break for 2–1, but gave it back for 3–3. Davydenko then broke for 5–3. Davydenko converted his second match point to win at 7–4. For the first time in his World Tour Finals history, Nadal failed to reach the semifinal.
In Doubles, in the first match Kubot/Marach outlasted Mirnyi/Ram in a marathon 4–6, 6–4, [16–14] to advance in the top spot. The second match saw the Bryans eliminated Dlouhý/Paes.
1st match starts at 12:30 pm, 2nd at 2:15 pm, 3rd at 7:00 pm and 4th at 8:45 pm
Day 5: 26 November 2009
Murray played Verdasco, hoping for a straight set shot through to the semi-final, leaving Federer and Del Potro to fight for the other spot. A loss for Murray would eliminate him. And a three-set win required a complicated tie break.
In the first eight games, Murray failed to convert multiple break points. In the ninth game, Murray finally succeeded and served it out for 6–4. Verdasco saved break points in the fifth game for 3–2. Verdasco saved two more break points in the 11th game, leading to a tie-break. Verdasco won the early lead 4–2 but Murray recovered to reach 4–5 on serve. Verdasco won the next point before Murray double faulted to give Verdasco the set. In the third Verdaso save the only break point in the second. Verdasco double faulted to give Murray a 4–2 lead who held on to win the breaker 7–3.
The last match repeated US Open final as Federer took on del Potro. Del Potro broke in the 1st and 5th games thanks to a Federer double fault, winning the opening set 6–2. Federer saved a break point in the next game, eventually reaching a tie break. Del Potro claimed a 4–2 lead, but Federer fought back to win 7–5. That put Federer into the semi-final. Murray needed Federer to win four games in the final set for him to advance but Federer did not oblige. At 4–3 Federer went down 0–40. He saved one break point but del Potro got the next and closed out the match 6–3.
Murray was thereby out, with Federer and del Potro advancing. The three players won the same number of matches and leaving it to game percentage. All of the Group A matches went three sets.
In the doubles Nestor/Zimonjić were eliminated despite claiming their first victory over Bhupathi/Knowles at 6–4, 7–6. The second match saw Čermák/Mertiňák move on by defeating Fyrstenberg/Matkowski, finishing second in the group.
1st match starts at 12:30 pm, 2nd at 2:15 pm, 3rd at 7:00 pm and 4th at 8:45 pm
Day 6: 27 November 2009
Nadal began the day by taking on Djokovic. Djokovic broke in the opening game. Nadal struck back in the next game after Djokovic saved two break points. In the third game, Djokovic broke again. In the next game, Djokovic held, taking a 3–1 lead. Nadal held and then broke. Both players then held to force a tie-break. Djokovic took the mini-break to lead 4–2 and held on for 7–5. Djokovic broke for the fourth time, gaining a 3–1 lead. Djokovic took the match at 6–3.
Nikolay Davydenko advances to the semifinals with victory over Söderling
Söderling still had to battle Davydenko, who was trying to claim the second semifinal berth. In the 7th game Davydenko failed to convert break points, as did Söderling in the next 8th, eventually leading to a tie break. There were no mini-breaks until the changeover, which was followed by three straight, giving Davydeno the set 7–4. In the 9th game of the second set Söderling broke at love and won the set 6–4, giving him the top spot in Group B. At 3–2 in the final set Davydenko broke to lead 5–2. Söderling held. At 5–3 with two match points, Davydenko double-faulted, but converted the next match point to win 6–3. This win meant that Davydenko would face Federer, becoming the only 2008 singles semifinalist to go through to the 2009 semifinals.
In doubles, Dlouhý/Paes lost their final round robin match to Mirnyi/Ram 7–6, 6–4. Then the Bryans had to win their match against Kubot/Marach in straight sets to reach the semi-final, which they did 6–3, 6–4.
1st match starts at 12:30 pm, 2nd at 2:15 pm, 3rd at 7:00 pm and 4th at 8:45 pm
Day 7: 28 November 2009
Play began between Federer and last year's runner-up Davydenko. Federer had won all 12 prior encounters. Davydenko saved two early break points. In the next game. Davydenko broke, then held and broke again at love. Federer broke back immediately for 2–4. Federer saved only one of two break points, for a third consecutive break. Davydenko held for 6–2. At 5–5, Davydenko converted a break point and in the next game saved one of his own before serving it out in his first win over Federer.
In the evening semifinal, Söderling played del Potro, having split their last two meetings. In the third game, Söderling saved three break points from 0–40 for 2–1. Both players continued to hold, creating a tie-break. Söderling went up 5–0, before winning it 7–1. At 4–3 in the second set, del Potro broke Söderling and held on for 6–3. The third set saw Söderling break to lead 4–2 and del Potro break for 4–3. From there, both players held. In the tie-break, del Potro went up 4–0 lead and won 7–3.
Mirnyi/Ram defeated Čermák/Mertiňák 6–4, 7–6 to reach the finals. Then, there was an Australian Open final rematch pitting the Bryans against Bhupathi/Knowles. The result was the same, with the Bryan twins taking it 6–4, 6–4.
1st match starts at 12:30 pm, 2nd at 2:15 pm, 3rd at 7:00 pm and 4th at 8:45 pm
Day 8: 29 November 2009
The Bryans got a first set chest bump after taking the first set point on a down-the-middle backhand. A single break in game eight of the second set was enough for the brothers to serve for the match. The pair thrilled to have regained the title and the top ranking.
Nikolay Davydenko is the first Russian player to win the year-end championships
Finally, del Potro and Davydenko having both defeated Soderling, Federer, and one Spaniard along the way faced off. This was their fourth meeting, with Davydenko leading 2–1. Davydenko broke at his second chance and then easily served out the set. In the second set at 2–2, del Potro saved a break point. Davydenko did the same, for 3–3. At 4–4 Davydenko broke at love. Davydenko then served the match out for a 6–3, 6–4 win. This was Davydenko's biggest title to date.
Del Potro commented "Congratulations Nikolay, you had a great week, you beat everyone and you're a great champion. Thank you the crowd, you support me a lot and helped me. I hope to see you next year." Davydenko added; "Yeah!... I just want to congratulate Martin: he had a big season. For me it was amazing, coming in as number seven and winning the tournament. I surprised myself. Maybe I now have English fans... I hope. I really enjoy coming to London, I will try to come back again." He also added "Trophy, it's always something important, you know, in career for the tennis player. Something important for me because Federer I beat in semifinals. It was a great match, good feeling. Never beat him before. And beat him once here in semifinals. But, you know, finals different".
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