Next week it's time for the End of Season Championships to be decided.

Catch up on all the information for the championships here...

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Federer, Davydenko, Roddick, Gonzales

Nadal, Djokovic, Ferrer, Gasquet

Easier on Fed obviously!

Interesting groups. Do we know for definite that Roddick will be playing now?

Hmm. I must say when I saw these groups I was rather disappointed - it does look as though Fed got it rather easy. I would have liked to have seen at least one of Djoko and Gasquet in his group. Of course, if Roddick *did* drop out, and Nalbandian was in, that would spice things up a little bit ... but I have not seen any suggestions recently that that is going to happen. :shrug:

Andy did give Rog a mighty scare at Shanghai last year ... but then he was on a bit of an ascendancy, before being slapped down by Roger in the AO. I wouldn't be surprised if Djoko came out on top in the Gold group; anyway it's difficult to see beyond him and Nadal coming out of the Gold group, unless Gasquet manages to spring a surprise (unlikely imo).

In the Red group, the second place is much more open - I can see any of the three guys coming through.

No I don't but those kinds of news are usually left out to the last minute for ticket booking purpose.

I am quite happy with the grouping on my side and even more so if Nalby ends up replacing Roddick.

Having the 3 young guns in the same group is great and I have always been in favour of having nber 2 and 3 fighting for the right to face number 1. I dislike the 1v3 and 2v4 alternative.

Nalbandian is taking a pass as the alternate. Robredo will take his place.

I hope the surface is a lot faster than in Paris.

:angry:

that's annoying.......

Martin Jaite, Nalbandian's coach, revealing that he probably won't go to the Masters, even if there is a withdrawal. The article also states that Roddick and Davydenko are both unlikely to pull out, which is a good thing - I was hoping for Roddick to withdraw so that Nalbandian could replace him, but now I'm praying he doesn't, to prevent Robredo sneaking in.

Anyway, Group 1 is desperately poor. I don't even want to talk about it.

Group 2 though should be interesting... hopefully Ferrer will be the whipping boy and we'll see an entertaining three way fight between Rafa, Djoko and Gasquet for qualification. I think that if Gasquet doesn't freeze, he should beat Rafa and qualify along with Djokovic.

That's bloody annoying indeed. I thought with Nalby in this kind of form he would have loved to have continued it if he had the chance... :angry: :angry: He probably deserves a doughnut break though after the last few busy weeks!

roflmao Poor Robredo..I personally find the guy boring to watch but still a very honest worker: He has few weapons available but still he is always there and trying to do his best..I really believe people are to strong with him in general...

Said that I agree group 1 should be quite easy for FED..To be honest I am wondering if he will be concentrate enough and he will not take this first round as being too easy (which would be in any case a mistake..AROD is able to challenge him in a 3 sets match as well as Davy IMO)...

The other group is very interesting and open..I hope Djoko will be able to perform as well as Gasquet..These are the two players I will support the most..But Rafa is there and he will be difficult to past for both of them..And Ferrer is far from being out as well: Great matches to be expected... :rolleyes:

Im not sure, i would much rather pay to see Nalbandian giving Fed a match than Fed whipping Roddicks arse-again

Federer's group should be easy enough for him,but I think his real challenge will be the semi and the final.
Despite his record in majors this year,I really feel he needs to a reclaim his aura a bit.He's vunerable to a growing queue of 3-4 players who can match him,although not with the regularity to suggest his undoing as the elite player.

What I'm trying to say is that this tournament will set the tone for 2008,when Roger will probably come under the most intense pressure for the first time in 4 years.

I am glad as Roddick has a shot to get to the Semis at least if not the finals..

Federer and Djokovic will win their groups - battle for 2nd place should be quite evenly contested in each group. Davydenko, providing he's in right frame of mind, will give Roddick and Gonzo a good run for their money, whilst Gasquet can beat Nadal away from clay, and Ferrer will fight to the end.

We'll see. Gasquet has never beaten Nadal, Djokovic or Ferrer. :unsure: He is playing pretty well recently, though.

Whipping-boy Ferrer, on the other hand, has wins this year over all three of the others.

....but does anyone know if the "Tenez predictions" are out?
look what i found;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbfivelive/F21485...&skip=0&show=20

I wonder if this (pre FO) prediction of another poster will come true;
:whistle:

;)

Excellent GP!!! No prediction from me this year. The chances of getting it right again are close to nill so I'd rather keep my -good- reputation spotless! :P

Federer has got an easy group and should remain undefeated for another year in the group stages.He does however have an hard semi final lurking with either Novak or Nadal given how that group turns out.Nadal on the other hand has got it quite hard.If the surface is as fast as last year then he might fall short in the group stages.However Gasquet,Mr Choke Deluxe is another 1 thats unpredictable. :)

All in all the tournament is looking pretty ordinary! :unsure:

Oh I dont know... I think it could be interesting in the gold group at least Dark...

from the Red, Fed, and I think A-Rod to make the semis - Davy would have been a good bet till he got so demoralised at having to watch his every step that he will be good for nothing..

The Gold group, as already suggested, is the one to watch and I really dont know who to pick... I would say Nadal and Djoko but I am not sure its as cut and dried as all that so will try to follow the scoreboard on some of those matches for sure!

:ok: :ok:

More in FED group..well you will never know...Can we really exclude the possibility of a fire Gonzo, repeating the AO run?? Or even an AROD at his top just back from a long rest??

It will be interesting in any case..Even more because FED does not seem to be at his best at the moment so..

:D :D

Even with A-Rod all rested I still think Fed will spank him TV... I guess the main contention for Roddick will be Gonzo - but I am still going with Fed and Roddick to be the two to come out of that group..

like you say, its interesting with Fed not seemingly at his best at the moment - but that will be demonstrated, one way or another, when he hits the semis and runs into.... well, I have no idea! I know I would like it to be Djoko and Gasquet but... wide open that one!

Something's wrong.... I don't see Boris in either group? :shrug:

Somebody sort that out and get him in so he can win.... while I get my pipe and slippers....

That is strange ... :unsure:

Its looking a bit plain love :( You are right though,the gold group is the one to watch and its going to be interesting to have Nadal and Djokovic squaring off in the group stages.Its going to be hard for Nadal though.Interesting times ahead ;)

:D

I have to agree that Roddick is another one of Federers bitches and will spank him at will regardless.I mean look at Kooyong this year Federer was playing experimental tennis and lost in 3.Then Aussie Open came and Roddick got a tennis lesson of note.

In terms of the semis especially for Federer,its going to be a tough one.I would have liked for Novak to be in his group and then for them to meet in the final.However as things turn out,the winner of the winner of the Federer semi,assuming he tops the group, will be poised to win the title.
:ok:

So do I. Not sure though. It's a medium paced surface is all I know, taraflex.

All i say is dont count out Ferrer. He's an indefatiguable character and if it's a slightly slower court, his uber-solid groundstrokes could ruffel a few feathers. Wont get out of the RR realisticaly, but he'll be a threat nonetheless.

I think Roddick is going to be the ineffectual member of this YEC. His blase schedule post US Open leaves him with zilch match practice. It will become even more apparent against Fed............

Much agree again. :ok:

I don't think it's been mentioned, but the groups are pretty much divided by age --- everyone in one group is 25 and over, while in the other group Ferrer is by far the oldest at 25, with Nadal and Gasquet and 21 and Djoko at 20.

Somehow I didn't realize Gasquet was still quite that young. Maybe I've been too harsh on him so far; he seems to be on the way up now. We shall see.

Good observation.

Yes Gasauet is still young but listening to his Shanghai interview, he does not sound like someone who believes in his chances and it is a shame as he clearly has the talent to beat them all. It is sooooooo frustrating , Apparently when Nadal and Gasquet were juniors, they played a few times and Gasquet had easily the upper hand. Obviously, Nadal, later physical development completely changed the deal while Gasquet had so much pressure from the media from the age of 15 that it may have destroyed his mind. I find it also annoying that he is not given a coach who is himself strong enough to give him confidence back. This is where the French system fails in my view.

Well like someone pointed out,dont count out Ferrer.He just spanked Novak yesterday. Interesting indeed.
Gasquet put up a fight but went down anyway.

That whipping-boy hope isn't working out too well for you, eh Wise? :P

David Ferrer has just shot up to second favourite for the whole tournament with betfair.

He is the whipping boy Nick,he is whipping the players :P

am i right in thinking that Ferrer will now go through and it'll be between gasquet and Nadal for the second place??? :unsure:

How come BBC have written that Novak is out of the competition? He stillhas to play Nadal? If Ferrer wins against Gasquet then the rest will have only one win per head - Ie: Novak beats Rafa.

Because he can qualify for the semis He doesnt have any sets won.

Not exactly. Depending on the outcome of the last couple matches, you could have Gasquet, Ferrer and Nadal all tied at 2-1 or you could have Djokovic, Gasquet and Nadal all tied at 1-2. I haven't been through analyzing all the tiebreak possibilities, but I don't think Djoko is out or Ferrer in yet for sure.