BBC Sporttennis

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Related BBC sites

Page last updated at 12:24 GMT, Wednesday, 18 November 2009

Murray to face Federer in London

ATP World Tour Finals
Venue: O2 Arena, London Date: 22-29 November
Coverage: BBC Two and streamed on BBC Sport website, 22/28/29 November, 1430 GMT; every match live on 5 live/5 live sports extra; live text commentaries on BBC Sport website; live coverage every day on Sky Sports

Advertisement

Murray ready for tough London draw

Andy Murray has been drawn in the same group as world number one Roger Federer for the ATP World Tour Finals, which start in London on Sunday.

The British number one will also face US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro and Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in Group A at the O2 Arena.

Group B is made up of Rafael Nadal, defending champion Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko and Robin Soderling.

Soderling is filling in for injured Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick.

Murray and Federer were most recently in action at the Paris Masters, where both made early exits from a tournament won by world number three Djokovic.

You might even have to beat a Federer or a Nadal twice, so it's a very tough thing to win

Andy Murray

Murray is looking to win the title on home soil while Federer and Nadal are battling it out for the right to finish the season as world number one.

With such a strong line-up, the Scot said neither of the groups could be regarded as easy.

"In my group Federer is the best in the world, Del Potro has won the US Open and Verdasco has just had his best season to date - there are no easy matches regardless of what group you're in," he told BBC Sport.

"At the end of your career you're remembered for Grand Slams, but to win something like this, you have to beat five of the best players in the world in consecutive matches if you want to lift the trophy which is a very difficult thing to do.

"You might even have to beat a Federer or a Nadal twice, so it's a very tough thing to win."

The tournament, which used to be known as the Masters Cup, is being held in London for the first time after moving from Shanghai.

The winner will take home nearly £1m if they win all their matches, more than the £850,000 Federer picked up for winning Wimbledon earlier this year.

However, the strain of the tour has taken its toll on the tournament in recent years.

In 2008, Nadal pulled out and Roddick was forced to quit after one match.

Roddick's withdrawal this year gives Soderling the chance to make his debut, with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga standing by if any more players fall by the wayside.

At the draw on Wednesday, Murray joined calls for a shorter season.

606: DEBATE
AJ fae Fife

"As soon as the O2 is finished, I have four or five days off before I go out to Miami to train in warm conditions," he said.

"It's a long year, tough for all the players and the more matches you play, the tougher it gets.

"You have to pace yourself and get rest during the year - hopefully there will be a change to that soon."

Murray has winning records against each of his opponents in Group A, although he has suffered defeats against all three this season.

The matches in London are all best of three tie-break sets with two players from each group going through to the semi-finals.

The final is scheduled for Sunday 29 November.



Print Sponsor


see also
London hosts season climax
20 Nov 09 |  Tennis
Stepanek knocks out tired Murray
12 Nov 09 |  Tennis
Benneteau stuns Federer in Paris
11 Nov 09 |  Tennis
Roddick pulls out of Tour Finals
17 Nov 09 |  Tennis
Injury hits Soderling London bid
24 Oct 09 |  Tennis
Roddick earns London finals place
20 Oct 09 |  Tennis
Tennis on the BBC
26 Oct 11 |  Tennis


related bbc links:

related internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites