Novak Djokovic

Roger Federer, appearing in his eighth successive end-of-year finals, is favoured to win his fifth, which would simply add to the majesty of his career. He was the last of this year's eight to speak his mind yesterday and, as ever, the most beguiling. Reflecting their status in the sport , Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray - the top four players in the world - took their places at the big three-sided tables with the more intimate, ...  

Defending champion Novak Djokovic can be considered the man to beat at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals after concluding the regular ATP World Tour season with consecutive titles, but the 22-year-old Serbian downplayed his status as the 'favourite' during the media round tables Friday in London. "It's not for me to say if I'm favourite or not, considering the players who are participating in this tournament," he said. "I don't think any of us are big favourites because it's the best eight players in t

It’s not for me to say if I’m favourite or not, considering the players who are participating in this tournament   -Novak Djokovic

 

In theory it should be a treat for London to host the ATP World Tour Finals, featuring the top eight men's singles players – well, top seven plus Sweden's Robin Soderling. What makes it tricky is finding a player who isn't physically exhausted or mentally switched-off. Andrew Murray will try for an upbeat end to the year but he's in the toughest group, facing Roger Federer, who rarely goes out with a whimper, and the big-hitting leftie Fernando Verdasco.  

Whether he wins or loses in London next week, this will still be Roger Federer's tennis year. No matter how big the buzz at the tour championships that start Sunday in their new, trendy digs by the River Thames, the truth is that the most significant trophies have been handed over. By reaching the finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments and by winning his first French Open and securing his record 15th major singles title, at Wimbledon, Federer has already become the indispensable man of 2009.

Maybe it's even Roger's finest year when you think about it   -Novak Djokovic

 

Nearly a year ago, Adam Helfant made a whirlwind December pilgrimage to meet some of his potential employers. First stop: Dubai for a rendezvous with Roger Federer at his training base. Next stop: Majorca for a get-acquainted chat with Rafael Nadal on his home island.

It was three places in I think three days, and it ended with dinner Christmas Eve   -Adam Helfant

 

It has been a perplexing, exhausting, ultimately encouraging year to be Novak Djokovic. There was a racket change along with all the usual time changes; there were 76 singles victories but no major tournament victories; there was tactical progress but no ranking progress, at least not yet. Still only 22 years old, the young Serbian polyglot with the Monte Carlo address has been showing unmistakable signs of vitality in recent weeks, winning three of his last four tournaments and beating first Roger Fe

Basically, I’m at this stage in the last two months where I feel very comfortable on the court   -Novak Djokovic

 

As we embark on the ATP Tour World Finals, the top guns aren't exactly playing up to snuff. Roger Federer has struggled since the U.S. Open final, Rafael Nadal hasn't fully regained his form and Andy Murray has been virtually nonexistent. That leaves Novak Djokovic, who, for the past few weeks, has regained his on-court bravado, while notably leaving his off-court hubris home.  

The Independent Complaints Authority for Radio and Television (ICA) has rejected a complaint against the Davidoff Swiss Indoors tennis tournament. The Basel event, one of the last in the world to be sponsored by a tobacco company, is broadcast every year by TSR, a Swiss French-language television channel. Davidoff has sponsored the tournament since 1994 and its name is visible on advertising hoardings and on the court itself behind both baselines.  

The United States finished its 2009 soccer schedule with a 3-1 loss to Denmark in Aarhus, losing its second straight match on a quick tour that was the last time Europe-based players will gather before March. Jeff Cunningham gave the United States the lead with a 26th-minute goal, but substitutes Johan Absalonsen, Soren Rieks and Martin Bernburg beat goalkeeper Brad Guzan during the first 10 minutes of the second half. The United States finished the year with 13 wins, eight losses and three ties, qual

It kind of stinks that we ended it this way. You never want to go out on a loss   -Carlos Bocanegra