Nadal throught first around after bumpy start against Roddick

London, November 22 : Rafael Nadal reaction after beating Andy Roddick 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, in an awesome comeback by Nadal after losing first set to Roddick during ATP Barclays World Tour Final. Can Nadal really get throught the whole match after this heated match against Roddick in the first round match ?

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Murray dump Soderling straight sets in first round match

Andy Murray made a solid start to the ATP World Tour Finals in London as he thumped Robin Solderling 6-2 6-4 in his opening match at the imposing O2 Arena. Murray, the world number five, came into the match a spot below Soderling in the world rankings after the Swedish player's success in winning the Paris Masters last week, but he made a mockery of those standings in the opening set.

Soderling could not live with Murray's court coverage, movement, pace of shot or, indeed, the consistency of his serving as the opening set turned into what could be described as a 'tennis clinic' on how a Tour professional should play the game. "I think tactically it was a great match.

I think I played very smart tennis today," commented Murray, who completed his win in one hour and 20 minutes. "Obviously it was getting tough in the second set with a lot of long rallies, but I stuck to my tactics well and managed to come through.

" He broke to move 2-1 ahead with a lovely backhand winner down the line before letting out a huge yell of "c'mon".

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Federer beat Ferrer straight sets in Barcleys ATP World Tour Opener

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 21: Roger Federer of Switzerland (R) and David Ferrer of Spain pose for press on court after their men's singles first round match during the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at O2 Arena on November 21, 2010 in London, England. Federer won 6-1,6-4 against David Ferrer.

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Biography of Mikhail Youzhny

Mikhail Mikhailovich Youzhny born 25 June 1982, in Moscow, USSR (now Russia), is a professional Russian tennis player, noted for his consistency and all-court play style. He has been coached by Boris Sobkin for 17 years.

The highest singles world ranking of his career was number seven, achieved on 18 October 2010.

Playing style and equipment :

Youzhny has a unique backhand, in which he mainly hits one-handed, but also has somewhat of a hybrid reminiscent to that of Björn Borg. Youzhny at times will follow through his backhand with both hands, but with only his right hand on his racket. Even so, many consider his backhand to be his best shot. From both sides, Youzhny hits the ball on the rise, achieving a flatter trajectory. He has a good court sense and often makes use of dropshots.

Youzhny has a reputation for engaging the crowd, subsequently taking inspiration from it to attempt high-risk winners, especially when facing matchpoints. After each big victory Youzhny gives a military style salute to the spectators. He does it by holding the tennis racquet above his head with his left hand and saluting with his right hand. The racquet imitates a hat, since according to Russian military tradition one must wear a hat to give proper salute.

As for his equipment, he wears adidas clothing and Barricade V shoes and uses a Head Youtek Extreme Pro racquet.

Federer calls to shorten tennis calender

Roger Federer has backed calls to shorten the tennis calendar to protect players from burnout by creating a six week off-season. World number one Rafael Nadal, who has also said the season is too long, and top French player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are among the high-profile absentees due to injury at the Paris Masters this week.

"I think it's time we shifted back a bit and we get a proper off-season really," Federer, who has never got further than the quarter-finals, told reporters. The ATP is to finalise its proposed calendars for the 2012 and 2013 seasons at a series of board meetings in London during the World Tour Finals in November.

The governing body has said it was looking at a "meaningful way" to reduce a punishing schedule. "Four weeks is just not enough off-season really," Federer said. "Six weeks I think is much better as already you can take two weeks off...practise three, four weeks which is a lot for us in our world."

Several top players are behind the appeal for a tour overhaul including world number three Novak Djokovic, who sits with Nadal on the Players' Council. Federer, who meets Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the second round on Wednesday, said it was in the "best interests" of tournaments which are often hit with a series of withdrawals towards the end of the tennis calendar year.

World number nine Fernando Verdasco attributed his recent poor form to the heavy schedule. The Spaniard, who came through a tough three-setter against veteran Frenchman Arnaud Clement on Tuesday, had only won one match since the U.S. Open in September.

"Yes, maybe I am a little tired," the sixth seed said. "The year is very long and for me personally it's been an extremely long three years. "In 2008, there was the Davis Cup final ... I had just three days holiday and last year we were again in the Davis Cup final."