LONDON -- They're all coming out for the year-end championships.
After scruffy, brawny soccer icon Diego Maradona showed up at London's packed O2 arena, a trio of blondes -- Aussie pop sensation Kylie Minogue, actress January Jones and Brooklyn Decker -- surfaced for Monday's night session in Group A.
Decker, a model trying to make the transition to acting, probably couldn't have been more proud of hubby Andy Roddick, even in defeat. In a true heavyweight slugfest, returning world No. 1 Rafael Nadal overcame the Nebraska native and his 18 aces, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. The pulsating 2-hour, 34-minute encounter brought the tournament to life following three drab, straight-sets affairs.
"For me, it's a very important victory," Nadal, who was unable to win a set at the World Tour Finals in 2009, told the crowd after the match. "Last year [in London] was tough for me. The tournament was fantastic but I didn't have a chance to enjoy it because I played too bad."
Nadal hadn't competed for about five weeks thanks in part to shoulder tendonitis. Coming back against the cream of the crop, instead of a first-round pushover, isn't simple.
He sprayed forehands the first set and a half, highly unusual, and connected on only three of his opening 10 first serves. That was worrying, given the shoulder malaise. Also rare for Nadal, the lefty let frustration get to him, hitting his forehead when he missed a forehand sitter at 1-0 in the second.
"I started a little nervous, without rhythm," Nadal said.
However, let's give Roddick, who was disappointed to miss out last year because of a knee injury, ample credit. Rather than revert to his passive baseline game, he went with the formula that brought him success against Nadal in Miami in April and Dubai two years ago.
Roddick let rip from the back of the court, leaning into backhands, clubbing the forehand and taking cracks at Nadal's second serve. Typically not one of the game's grunters, Roddick turned into a Maria Sharapova at times, going for broke from the baseline.
He routinely served and volleyed -- on second serve. Up 3-1 in the first, Roddick did it on four straight points.
The turning point came midway in the second set. Having broken to lead 2-1, Roddick immediately dropped serve to give Rafa a second chance.
Commendably, Roddick held to love in his ensuing three service games. In the tiebreaker, with Roddick leading 3-2 and holding two serves, he lost the next four points.
It was just a matter of time, five games in this case, before Nadal got the upper hand in the third, breaking with a brilliantly angled backhand pass near the net. Nadal's vintage form was sporadic in this match, although the way he pummeled Roddick into submission at 3-2, deuce, and subsequently connected on a forehand down the line was breathtaking.
"At the end, I think I played much better," Nadal said.
We can only hope Tuesday afternoon, when 16-time Grand Slam champ Roger Federer tangles with home hope Andy Murray, is as good.
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