Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic Highlight Barclays World Tour Finals

As the 2010 season winds down, eight elite tennis players will soon travel to London to showcase their talents in the year-end championships.

Instead of a single-elimination format, the tournament has a round-robin draw and is split into two divisions of four. The top two players from each side advance to the semifinals and play single-elimination from there on out.

Last year's winner, Nikolay Davydenko, will not qualify this year so there will be a different winner than in 2009. Let's see who has already secured a spot and who I think will round out the top eight.

1. Rafael Nadal

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SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 14: Rafael Nadal of Spain acknowledges to the crowd after loosing his match against Jurgen Melzer of Austria during day four of the 2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters at the Shanghai Qi Zhong Tennis Center on October 14, 2010 in Shangh

Rafael Nadal seemingly sealed up his spot in July with his Wimbledon triumph and has accumulated almost double the points of second-place Roger Federer with 11,450 points.

He'll be in action again in Paris, but is sitting out this week watching all the others battle and scrape for points.

Nadal is the favorite in any tournament he plays and if he's playing his best, he'll capture the title.

My prediction: Loss in finals

2.) Roger Federer

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BASEL, SWITZERLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Roger Federer of Switzerland serves to Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine during Day One of the Davidoff Swiss Indoors Tennis at St Jakobshalle on November 1, 2010 in Basel, Switzerland. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

Although Roger Federer hasn't seemed to be his dominant self this year, he's still capable of some of the most brilliant tennis on tour.

The Swiss phenom hasn't won the year-end tournament since 2007 and looks to regain his spot on top of the world and the hefty sum that comes with it.

Federer snagged one Grand Slam this season, but still brought in almost $5 million in prize money.

Hopefully, he started a college fund for the baby twins...and maybe their kids too.

My prediction: Loss in semifinals

3.) Novak Djokovic

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SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 16: Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a ball to Roger Federer of Switzerland during day six of the 2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters at the Shanghai Qi Zhong Tennis Center on October 16, 2010 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Victor Frail

It's no Djok, this hard-hitting Serbian may be playing the best tennis of his career in the past month.

He's 15-2 in his last 17 matches with his only losses being to the top two players in the world.

Also, 11 of his wins were in straight sets. If he can keep his first-serve percentage high, his return game could easily carry him to his second ATP World Tour Finals title (won in 2008).

My prediction: Champion

4. Andy Murray

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VALENCIA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 01: Andy Murray of Great Britain serves the ball during a training session for the ATP 500 World Tour Valencia Open tennis tournament at the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias on November 1, 2010 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by

The young Scot has had an up and down year, but with such a hot start (loss to Federer in Australian Open final) the Murray contingent are generally disappointed with his output.

With losses before the quarterfinals in both Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows, Murray looks to finish the season on a high note.

He found his form in Shanghai, dropping only 25 games en route to a title while beating the likes of Federer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Monaco, but I don't see that result carrying over on the big stage just yet.

My prediction: 1-2 in RR play, doesn't advance

5.) Robin Soderling

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SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 13: Robin Soderling of Sweden returns a shot to Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia during day three of the 2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters at the Shanghai Qi Zhong Tennis Center on October 13, 2010 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Matthew Sto

The ATP's version of a giant-killer has cracked the Top 5 and any avid tennis fan knows he has all the shots to go even further than that.

Last year at the ATP World Tour Finals, he beat Djokovic and Nadal in round-robin play, making a statement in his first appearance.

This year has been a consistent one for Soderling, but other than his stunning defeat of Federer at the French Open, he hasn't posted any other significant wins.

Look for the Swede to push someone to the brink in the semifinals, but fall short.

My prediction: Loss in semifinals

6.) David Ferrer

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SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 14: David Ferrer of Spain returns a shot to Robin Soderling of Sweden during day four of the 2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters at the Shanghai Qi Zhong Tennis Center on October 13, 2010 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Matthew Stockman

David Ferrer is currently seventh in the year-to-date rankings, but I think he'll skip by Czech Tomas Berdych to claim the No. 6 spot.

The 28-year-old Spaniard is playing in Valencia this week, the place he currently lives and won a title in 2008.

The grinder has won 54 matches this season and he has yet to lose in the first round of any tournament he has played in.

Unfortunately, I don't think Ferrer has a go-to shot to make a run in London.

My prediction: 0-3 in RR play, doesn't advance

7. Tomas Berdych

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SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 12: Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic returns a ball to Tommy Robredo of Spain during day two of the 2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters at the Shanghai Qi Zhong Tennis Center on October 12, 2010 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Victor Frai

Czech Tomas Berdych is stumbling into the year-end tournament. Since a semifinal appearance at the French Open and a impeccable run to the Wimbledon final (loss to Nadal), Berdych has failed to impress on court.

He hasn't made it past the quarterfinals of any tournament and has yet to earn a title in 2010. I think Berdych will squeak out a win, but ultimately fail to advance at the ATP World Tour Finals.

My prediction: 1-2 in RR play, doesn't advance

8. Andy Roddick

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SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 12: Andy Roddick of USA serves to Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during day two of the 2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters at the Shanghai Qi Zhong Tennis Center on October 12, 2010 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Victor Fraile/Getty I

Once again, Roddick will prove to be the only American at the year-end tournament.

Behind his big serve and savvy court presence, I think that Roddick will hold off Fernando Verdasco and Mikhail Youzhny to round out the top eight.

This year, Roddick is 3-0 against Berdych and 2-0 against both Nadal and Soderling and has not played any of the other players I predicted to qualify.

For some reason, I feel Roddick is going to struggle here and his return game is going to let him down.

My prediction: 1-2 in RR play, doesn't advance