World ATP Finals: Federer v. Davydenko, Soderling v. del Potro

Despite losing to Juan Martín Del Potro in their round robin match 2-6 7-6(5) 3-6, World #1 Roger Federer (and the 20-year-old reigning US Open Champion who beat him) advanced to the semifinals of the World ATP Finals in London on Thursday in Group A. Local favorite Andy Murray became the first person ever eliminated in the year-end round-robin fault due to the percentage of games won (50.57% to del Potro's 51.14% and Federer's 52.38%). If Federer had won one more game against del Potro or Murray had lost one less game against Federer (or won more game against Verdasco), the Brit would have qualified instead.

In the other group, defending champion Novak Djokovic was eliminated after winning 4 sets and losing 3 compared to Nikolay Davydenko who won 5 sets and losing 3 and Robin Soderling who won 5 sets and lost 2. In both groups the Spanish player lost all 3 matches (Fernando Verdasco and Rafael Nadal) and the other players all won 2 matches and lost 1. In group A, all matches went to three sets!

In the semifinals, Federer will face Davydenko, whom he has never lost to in a dozen ATP Tour matches while Soderling will face del Potro. del Potro has beaten the tall Swede in hard courts once this year (and also had a walkover over Soderling on his way to winning the Washington ATP tournament this summer over Andy Roddick). However, Soderling has beaten del Potro on carpet indoors in his hometown tournament (in 2007).

I predict another del Potro versus Federer match-up in the final. It will be interesting to see if the 15-time champion can come up with a solution to the 6'6" powerful young Argentine player with the 135+ mph first serve and the ability to his 100 mph winners on both wings. I suspect it will be another three set match, with Federer prevailing this time.

MadProfessah's pick: Federer over Davydenko in straight sets, del Potro over Soderling in three sets.