TENNIS in DEPTH.

Rafael Nadal survived a stern examination of his title credentials to edge out the brilliant Mardy Fish in a late-night classic at the ATP World Tour Finals. Nadal had not played a competitive match since 13 October and it was all-too apparent as eighth seed Fish fought back from losing the first set to threaten a massive upset. The crowd at London’s O2 Arena were treated to a titanic decider as the clock ticked and both men gave absolutely everything to secure an opening-day win. Nadal eventually emerged triumphant at 2329 GMT, winning 6-2 3-6 7-6 (7-3) in two hours and 53 minutes of enthralling competition.

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All three players earned their spots for the tournament in London after Berdych beat Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 7-5, 6-4 Thursday in the third round of the Paris Masters. Tipsarevic needed to win the title in Paris to qualify for the season-ending event, which starts on Nov. 20.

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and David Ferrer have already qualified for the tournament for the top eight players in the world.

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With three spots still up for grabs in the chase to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, the fate of several players’ year-end championships hopes will come down to their performances this week. No. 6 Tomas Berdych, No. 7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and No. 8 Mardy Fish all control their own destiny – reach the final and they’re guaranteed a berth to London. Nicolas Almagro (9th) and Janko Tipsarevic (11th) each need to make the final to have a shot at qualifying. Frenchmen Gilles Simon (12th) and Gael Monfils (14th) have to win the title to keep their hopes alive.

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Two Barclays ATP World Tour Finals hopefuls, Tomas Berdych and Mardy Fish, both fell at the first hurdle. The fourth-seeded Berdych bowed out 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to Japan’s Kei Nishikori, who recently became the highest-ranked Japanese player in history. The 21 year old scored a Top 10 win for a second straight tournament, having also beaten Jo-Wilfried Tsonga en route to his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-final in Shanghai. ”I’m really happy the way I played today,” said World No. 32 Nishikori. “It was a slow start for me, but getting rhythm in the second set and playing really well in the third, so I’m really happy.

Earlier in the day, No. 5 seed Fish retired due to a left hamstring injury after one game of his match against fellow American James Blake. Berdych and Fish respectively hold down the No. 6 and No. 8 spots in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Year-To-Date Rankings and will be looking to maintain their places in the Top 8 at the conclusion of the regular season next week in Paris.

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It was the sort of match that could have tripped up the pre-2011 Djokovic but, although it was not easy for the world number one, he never looked in any danger. Not that the Serb has any reason to fear anyone after a season that has brought nine titles, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and only two defeats. Djokovic, who dropped only two games in the previous round against Carlos Berlocq, began well, breaking Davydenko in the fourth game. The Serb’s powers of defence really are extraordinary and, although Davydenko has made a career of toughing out rallies, his opponent was simply on another level.

Djokovic, who next faces Alexandr Dolgopolov, finished his on-court interview with a dance but he was not entirely happy with his performance. He said: “I played well in the important moments and managed to make crucial breaks in all three sets. He was playing very aggressively and I was aware of that before. I was very passive so I wasn’t really happy with the game. ”I didn’t feel great from the back of the court but I knew what to play and that’s what matters the most.” On 22nd seed Dolgopolov, he added: “He’s an up-and-coming player, he hits the ball really well, really hard. He’s quite similar to Davydenko in that respect. I need to be focused from the first point.”

Eighth seed Mardy Fish did not have things all his own way against 6ft 8in South African Kevin Anderson but he kept his nerve when it counted to win 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-3). The 29-year-old now faces a very tricky test against 11th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who has been in superb form and won a big-hitting contest with Spain’s Fernando Verdasco 6-3 7-5 6-4 on Saturday night.

Federer, meanwhile, will meet Argentina’s Juan Monaco after he ended the run of veteran Tommy Haas, beating the 33-year-old German 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-2 6-3.

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Novak Djokovic won the Rogers Cup on Sunday for his ninth tournament victory of the year and record fifth in a season in an ATP Masters 1,000 event, beating Mardy Fish 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. The 24-year-old Serb, the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, is 29-0 this year on hard courts and 53-1 overall. He also won the Rogers Cup in 2007. The sixth-seeded Fish was the only player to win a set a set against Djokovic this week. Fish has lost all seven career meetings with Djokovic, but gave the top seed a battle with his awkward mix of baseline and attacking play.

Djokovic, who played night matches this week, looked uncomfortable from the outset and needed to save six break points to get through the opening set. He saved his eighth of the match before Fish finally broke him with a perfect forehand down the line to take a 3-2 lead in the second set. Djokovic looked lost as he was broken again to close out the set. But Djokovic was near-perfect on his service in the final set, although he needed four break points, one of which he challenged a call and lost, before finally putting away Fish. Djokovic was in his first event since winning Wimbledon, while Fish has been the hottest player of the hard court season leading to the U.S. Open later this month. He has reached finals in three straight tournaments in the last month, winning in Atlanta.

In the doubles final, Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia and Michael Llodra of France beat American brothers Bob and Mike Bryan 6-4, 6-7, 10-5.

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Tsonga had been expected to ask questions of Djokovic after a fine run through to the semi-finals, including a win over Roger Federer, but he pulled out of their contest when trailing 6-4 3-0. A right arm injury was cited as the problem affecting Tsonga, who had dropped serve in the the second game of the second set.

It goes down as a 52nd victory in 53 matches in 2011 for Djokovic, who is chasing his ninth title of the year. The 24-year-old Serbian should approach the clash with Fish full of confidence, not only because of his record on tour this year but also a head-to-head record which shows he has won on all six of their previous meetings. However Fish, the sixth seed, is having the best year of his career, with the 29-year-old up to number eight in the world rankings. He is the leading United States player, comfortably ahead of Andy Roddick. He beat another Serbian, unseeded Janko Tipsarevic, 6-3 6-4 to reach his third final inside a month. Fish took the Atlanta Tennis Championships title and was runner-up at the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles in July.

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Ernests Gulbis had to come from behind before finally beating top seed Mardy Fish 5-7 6-4 6-4 in the final of the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles. The talented Latvian had made life hard for himself as handed the first set to Fish with a double fault, but held his nerve to claim the second with a single break. Gulbis then seemed to be storming to the title when he went 5-1 up in the third, but the American won three games in a row and then earned a break point for 5-5. Gulbis steadied himself though and claimed the game to seal his second ATP Tour title.

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