ATP World Tour Finals 2013: Schedule and Predictions for Friday

After Friday, only one semifinalist will remain to be decided at the ATP World Tour Finals. 

Not surprisingly, the top two players in the world—Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic—have already booked a spot in the Final Four in London, but the picture after Rafa in Group A is still quite muddled heading into Friday.

If Tomas Berdych somehow finds a way to defeat Nadal, then the 28-year-old Czech is through to the semifinals. 

However, should he slip up against the world No. 1, that opens a prime opportunity for No. 7 Stanislas Wawrinka if he can defeat David Ferrer. 

If Nadal and Ferrer both win, then there will be a three-way tie for second place, with Ferrer, Berdych and Wawrinka all finishing 1-2. In such a scenario, it would come down to the number of sets won (and games won, if necessary) along with head-to-head records. 

Got all that? Good, let's take a closer look at Friday's slate. 

Time (EST)	Time (GMT)	Player	vs.	Player	Predicted Winner
7 a.m.	12 p.m.	Marcel Granollers/Marc Lopez	vs.	Leander Paes/Radek Stepanek	Granollers/Lopez
9 a.m.	2 p.m	David Ferrer	vs.	Stanislas Wawrinka	Wawrinka
1 p.m.	6 p.m.	Alexander Peya/Bruno Soares	vs.	David Marrero/Fernando Verdasco	Marrero/Verdasco
3 p.m.	8 p.m.	Rafael Nadal	vs.	Tomas Berdych	Nadal

David Ferrer vs. Stanislas Wawrinka

Heading into the action in London, the Spaniard would have probably been the favorite in this one. 

Ferrer played really well in Paris, advancing to the finals there and battling Djokovic in two hard-fought sets. Wawrinka's indoor season has been far less ideal. The Swiss international lost in his home country to world No. 50 Edouard Roger-Vasselin before falling easily to Djokovic in the quarters in Paris. 

Both players were seemingly moving in opposite direction. 

But Ferrer has dropped all four sets at O2 Arena while Wawrinka beat Berdych and played Nadal as close as he has in his career, taking both sets to tiebreakers. 

Ferrer holds a 7-4 career advantage over Wawrinka, but Wawrinka has taken monstrous strides in 2013 and has looked far better in London. 

Rafael Nadal vs. Tomas Berdych

Nadal has won 17 out of 20 career meetings with Berdych and has not lost since 2006, dropping just two sets in that span. Even if he did show signs of finally tiring in Paris, Nadal has looked better in London and will hold a major advantage over Berdych. 

The only thing that might sway this match in another direction is Rafa's level of interest. He has already qualified for the next round and could decide to take it relatively easy on Friday. 

Still, I don't see that happening. Nadal has the No. 1 spot in the group at stake and should handle the Czech much like he has throughout the rest of his career.

That should be enough to push Wawrinka through to the semis.