Rafael Nadal Vs. Tomas Berdych, Roger Federer Vs. Robin Soderling In Abu Dhabi

Get your tennis news from www.TennisNow.com

(December 31, 2010) The Mubadala World Tennis Championships Semifinals began a day shy of the new year. Rafael Nadal faced Tomas Berdych and Roger Federer defeated on Robin Soderling, which were both rematches from 2010 major matches in which the No. 1 and 2 were victorious. 

The final will be played between Nadal and Federer at the Zayed Sports City's International Tennis Complex, which will be a rematch of the recent exhibitions and ATP World Tour Finals final after Marcos Baghdatis, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Berdych, and Soderling were eliminated.

Roger Federer struggled in the first set to Robin Soderling, but in "Federer" fashion he came back in the next two sets, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-3 while getting his revenge for the French Open loss. Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal repeated his Wimbledon strait sets win over Tomas Berdych, 6-4, 6-4.

The winner of the final could very well set up the results for the rest of the season to be in favor of Federer's or Nadal's success at the Australian Open. Though these two players have been pinned as rivals, they both admit that the results every final they face could go one way or the other. Both now have career Grand Slams, and now Nadal is going for a non-calendar year Grand Slam.

In Paris, Nadal admits that their rankings have nothing to do with who will win.

"Well, I am No. 2 in the world for five years, so I think I am a good player, too. Sure, I can beat him. No. 2 can beat No. 1. That’s the thing. It’s not a lot of difference between No. 2 and No. 1 or between No. 1 and No. 10. That’s the tennis, and the tennis very close, the level, all the time. But I can beat him, yes. The same time, the thing is I beat him a lot of times on clay. I beat him on other surfaces, too."

May the rivalry and question for who is the true GOAT continue in Saturday's final in Abu Dhabi!

Get your tennis news from www.TennisNow.com