1645: Right, I'm off to eat something - which I didn't manage to do with all the mathematical drama of yesterday. Join me at around
2000 GMT for Robin Soderling v Nikolay Davydenko - a win for Davydenko will send him through at Novak Djokovic's expense... and see him join Soderling, Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro in the last four of the ATP World Tour Finals. See you very shortly.
From anon, via text on 81111: "Is this tournament going to have a massive twist to it? It looks like an underdog victory in the form of Doderling or Davydenko - they seem to be on form and, with Djokovic, Federer and Del Potro scraping through, I would bet on Soderling to shock the world by winning the title on Sunday."
1638: A lot of chat about Rafa from you lot on 606... I think it's a little premature to write him off just yet. As for Djokovic, if he is to go through, he will face Roger Federer next - tomorrow. By the looks of things today, he's still struggling for fitness and that is hardly likely to improve significantly in the next 24 hours is it?
sarab123 on Twitter: "I hope Rafa gets his mojo back soon - tennis is a sadder place when Rafa's not on fire..."
1632: Nadal, by the way, has played six sets at the O2 Arena this week - and lost all of them. He's not won a match in London since that epic Wimbledon final against Roger Federer in 2008.
1630: That was a nice bit of drama a the end there wasn't it? Now it's down to Robin Soderling v Nikolay Davydenko to decide whether Djoko's hard work will bring him any reward. If Soderling wins, Djoko is through to the last four. A victory for Davydenko will see the Russian progress.
Nadal 6-7 (5-7) 3-6 Djokovic Amazing show of effort by Nadal, considering the circumstances. It would be easy for him to tank this and leave London as quickly as possible but instead he is all over the court, running down everything Djoko can throw at him and clawing his way to 0-30. Djoko needs a stroke of luck with a net-cord assisted drop-volley at 15-30 but then has two chances to wrap this up. Nadal, typically, digs in and survives both of them but, at the third time of asking, a big serve is enough for Djoko to clinch victory.
1625: NOVAK DJOKOVIC BEATS RAFAEL NADAL 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 TO KEEP ALIVE HIS HOPES OF REACHING THE ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS Nadal 6-7 (5-7) 3-5 *DjokovicYep, Djoko is going to have to serve this out. The Serbian goes for every shot in this game - and misses most of them. He wants to get this one over with as quickly as possible.
* Denotes NEXT server *Nadal 6-7 (5-7) 2-5 DjokovicDjokovic might be stumbling home a tad but he is definitely getting closer to the finishing line. He serves solidly enough here and is now just a game away from victory. Still, we can expect Rafa to battle on until the bitter end.
* Denotes NEXT server Adam Lees on Twitter: "Nadal simply doesn't have the weapons to hurt someone as good as Djokovic on an indoor hard court any more, it's a sad sight."
Nadal 6-7 (5-7) 2-4 *Djokovic The game appears to be up for Nadal when he trails 0-30 after a couple of limp groundstrokes land halfway up the net. We know him better than that though, don't we? He keeps fighting and gets his reward, saving a break point on the way. Djoko is outgunning Nadal in the longer rallies now too but grit and determination are keeping Rafa in the match. Not sure how much longer that will be the case though.
* Denotes NEXT server *Nadal 6-7 (5-7) 1-4 Djokovic I admire the way Djoko keeps wheeling out that drop-shot, even when it is not working for him... he knows it will come up trumps eventually and it does here. Twice. On the other side of the net, Nadal seems to have run out of ideas, if not steam, and Djoko holds to move within two games of the victory he needs to keep his semi-final hopes alive.
* Denotes NEXT server Nadal 6-7 (5-7) 1-3 *Djokovic You've got to admire Rafa's pluck - he doesn't have to be out here - but, sadly for him, his form is not matching his attitude. A breathtaking backhand volley apart, he is all over the place here - and dumps a forehand into the net to give Djoko the first break of this second set. The end could be close...
* Denotes NEXT server 1557: Ah, Rafa's clearly got more steel about him than me... (not that difficult really) He's back out on court and ready to serve... trailing 7-6 2-1.
1555: Rafa is grimacing as he has his back massaged. He looks in a bit of trouble if I'm honest... and, given he is already out of this tournament and has a Davis Cup final in seven days or so, I'm not sure he will be too keen to play through the pain barrier.
1552: We're going to have a slight delay folks... Rafael Nadal has just called a medical time-out so he can have treatment on his back... which is what he must have tweaked in his last service game.
*Nadal 6-7 (5-7) 1-2 Djokovic A blink-and-you-miss it service game from Djokovic who holds to love in double-quick time... probably because he knows he can sit down for a while afterwards.
* Denotes NEXT server Nadal 6-7 (5-7) 1-1 *Djokovic Nadal seems to have picked up a bit of an injury, meaning both men are limping around court like a pair of pensioners. At least Nadal is still trying his heart out - not that I'm doubting Djoko actually wants to win this, despite his body language suggesting the opposite. Nadal holds, and he is not ready to throw in the towel just yet... does he ever?
* Denotes NEXT server From DC, courtside at the O2, via text on 81111: "It's only Nadal's poor form that is making this match close. Djokovic looked shattered in the warm up and looks like he needs a lie down after every rally longer than three shots. Don't think he'll be much use even if he does go through!"
*Nadal 6-7 (5-7) 0-1 Djokovic Nadal is still putting everything into this, but is still not happening for him - he is still making far too many unforced errors. Djoko, who looks a bit happier (although still fairly miserable) now he has won that first set, holds easily enough. By the way, do me a favour and give this page a manual refresh... I got the first set scoreline slightly wrong below. Apologies.
* Denotes NEXT server 1540: Annabel Croft at the O2 Arena on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra: "It's sad to watch Rafa at the moment - so many cheap points are being given to his opponent and he is clearly still struggling with his confidence. The things in his game that should be flowing are not."
FIRST SETNadal 6-7 (5-7) 0-0 Djokovic
Djoko holds with his next serve too, putting him 5-2 up and within two points of the first set. What has Nadal got up his sleeve? Sadly for him, it's not enough - Djoko comes out on top of a ding-dong rally of drop-shots and lobs to give himself four set points. Nadal saves the first with a big serve, a mis-hit helps him save number two and a terrible attempt at a drop shot means we are back on serve at 6-5. Chance gone for the Serb? Nope... a sloppy forehand flies wide by Nadal and that's the first set in the bag for Djoko. It's been a comedy of errors so far, so that was quite an apt way to finish things.
Nadal 6-6 (2-4) Djokovic The first mini-break goes to Djoko after a wild swipe of a forehand by Nadal loops into the tramlines. The Spaniard puts in a huge effort on Djoko's serve to level things up before the change of ends but he puts a backhand into the net after a marathon rally... meaning Djoko has his nose ever so slightly ahead in this first-set tie-break.
From Barry via text on 81111: "I am in a stats lecture at Plymouth Uni and, having been up to London all week including watching Murray v Fed at the O2, I'm struggling for enthusiasm to listen to the lecturer. Come on Nadal! Hope you're over your injuries and your parents' divorce to resume your Slam winning next season."
Nadal 6-6 Djokovic Djoko's turn to hold to love, albeit after Nadal puts up a bit more of a fight. Tie-break time - and here's a stat: Djoko has lost all five of the tie-breaks he has played against Nadal.
* Denotes NEXT server From wolfreen on 606: "This match shows the difference between the good and the great. Did you ever see Federer step on to the court with this attitude!!??"
Nadal 6-5 *Djokovic Probably Nadal's best service game of the tournament. Four big serves land in, and four points later he has held to love. Over to you, Djoko...
* Denotes NEXT server *Nadal 5-5 Djokovic As I said earlier, Djoko's been generally woeful at the net so far today but he comes up with the goods at 15-15 with a delicate drop volley that Nadal couldn't reach if he were on a motorbike. Quality stuff, but the mistakes from both players that follow are a reminder that this match is mediocre, not magnificent. Djoko eventually holds, with another decent volley, but he trudges to his chair as if he has actually just lost the set. He doesn't look happy.
* Denotes NEXT server 1515: Annabel Croft at the O2 Arena on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra: "Djokovic just looks a forlorn figure at the moment. He is going through the motions out on court and he doesn't look like he wants to be here."
Nadal 5-4 *Djokovic Interesting. Nadal is in trouble again at 15-30 but responds by playing his best backhand since ooh... June for a stunning winner from out wide. He serves out for game and is ahead for the first time in this match. Time to see how much Djokovic really wants this... he will serve to stay in the first set next.
* Denotes NEXT server *Nadal 4-4 Djokovic Thanks Rafa, yep - I was wrong (see below). At 30-30, Djoko throws a double fault into the mix and Nadal seems to perk up immediately. A backhand into the net from the Serb means he is broken again and we are level again in this first set. It's not exactly top quality so far, but we might just have a match on our hands.
* Denotes NEXT server Nadal 3-4 *Djokovic You wouldn't blame Nadal if his mind was elsewhere... like Barcelona for example, where he will play in the Davis Cup final for Spain next weekend. Despite a lack of any real spark in his play he is still digging in here, and holds comfortably enough too. We even see a fist pump by the Spaniard as he heads for his chair - the start of a comeback? I'm not so sure...
* Denotes NEXT server *Nadal 2-4 Djokovic Djoko's definitely not convincing me at the moment but he is just about doing enough to hold off Nadal, despite making his own silly errors. The Serb's groundstrokes are the big difference between him and Nadal but if Djoko comes into the net he is an accident waiting to happen. A couple of poor volleys give Nadal a sniff but Djoko still holds comfortably enough.
* Denotes NEXT server 1455: Annabel Croft on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra: "At the moment, these two are playing at a slightly lower level than you'd expect. So many times already in this match, Nadal has gone for big winners and missed by a couple of inches."
Nadal 2-3 *Djokovic Nadal is rocking again on serve, with big returns by Djoko taking him to 30-all then deuce before a couple of decent deliveries see the Spaniard through. He holds, for the first time today.
* Denotes NEXT server From Peter via text on 81111: "This is a bizarre situation for Robin Soderling as he is actually in a position to pretty much determine his semi-final opponent. In fact he can effectively dictate whether Djokovic goes through to the semis even if Djkovic wins this match in two. I wonder what tactics he and Magnus Norman are talking!?"
*Nadal 1-3 Djokovic So far, Djoko's forehand has been either fantastic or feeble. This game's no different - and, after hitting another fabulous inside-out winner, he shanks a couple into orbit to face another break-point at 30-40. Another break? Not this time folks, as a big serve takes us to deuce before an exquisite lob and a wide forehand by Nadal means Djoko holds... just.
* Denotes NEXT server Nadal 1-2 *Djokovic Oh dear. More problems for Nadal, who is chasing this game from the start and seems to be on the backfoot on his serve. Another forehand droops into the net to leave him 15-40 down and his misery is completed by a double fault. Three games so far, three breaks.
* Denotes NEXT server From slashermcguirk on 606: "The thing about Nadal-Djokovic head to head is majority of matches are on clay. outside of clay there matches are very close (actually on clay they are really close too but Nadal obviously has edge there on everybody). On hard court you would probably fancy Djokovic most of the time."
*Nadal 1-1 Djokovic Mind you, Djoko's hardly flying on serve either - he kicks off with a double fault and a rasping Rafa return leaves him at 0-30. It doesn't get better for the Serb either... he plonks a forehand into the net on the next point and faces three break points. He saves the first with a backhand volley and the second with an ace - but another forehand into the net at 30-40 means we are a break apiece after two games of this first set.
* Denotes NEXT server Nadal 0-1 *Djokovic Hmmm. Not the start Nadal or his legion of fans wanted - Djokovic hits a couple of stunning inside-out forehand winners to set up a break point and, when Nadal puts his own forehand in the net, Djoko has broken him in the very first game.
* Denotes NEXT server 1429: We're about to get started. Nadal will serve first.
From benny007 on 606: "Come on Novak! I'd like to see him in the finals, especially if he does his infamous impressions!! But a part of me wants to see Rafa win at least one set. Just to prove he's not really lost it all..."
1425: Nadal and Djokovic have met 20 times before - with the Spaniard prevailing on 14 occasions. He's not firing on all cylinders at the moment, though, as I'm sure you've noticed. But, having said that, Djoko is hardly full of beans himself either. Who will win this one then? Your guess is as good as mine but I'm going for Djoko in two...
1420: While the players warm up, I'll remind you lot how to get involved today.
Tweet me on Twitter, text me via
81111, or drop me a line on
606. I'm waiting...
1416: Did you know that you can listen to commentary of this match on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra? You do now - just click on the link on the top right of your screen and you're away.
1415: Here's Rafa too. "I've got nothing to lose," he says. He hasn't won so much as a set here this week... time to change that, surely?
1413: Here's Djoko, now in his pre-match interview. How's he feeling? "I'm trying not to think about the exhaustion I am feeling, and hope to take my chances in this match." Hmmm, not great then. You might remember that the Serb was practically out on his feet after losing to Robin Soderling on Wednesday.
1410: It's as simple as this: Robin Soderling is already through. Rafael Nadal is definitely out. Novak Djokovic needs to beat Nadal in today's first match and hope Soderling beats Nikolay Davydenko later on. Any other outcome, and Davydenko joins Soderling (and Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro) in the semi-finals.
1405 GMT: Afternoon folks. So, is your brain still fried from last night's extraordinary events at the O2? Thought so - mine too. Here's the good news then: The shakedown in Group B today is an awfully lot easier to understand (and explain), even for an idiot like me.
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