Roger Wins Masters Cup, Puts Fear In Everyone For Next Year

In his final official match of the year Roger was brilliant against Ferrer, winning 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. David was a frustrated man as Roger methodically dismantled him. He'd been the one doing the destruction in his previous matches at the Masters Cup!

Along with his fourth title, Roger won a slick Mercedes and $1.2 million USD. He's the first tennis player in history to win more than $10 million in a season. Finally! Now he can get out of that cardboard box he's been living in.

Photo from Xinhua

Roger Abuses Rafa

Roger and Rafa were neck and neck up until 4-4 of their first set in the Tennis Masters Cup Semifinals. Granted, Roger was down 0-30 when it was 2-2 and had 4 aces in a row to win the game but it still seemed that Rafa was a stiff competitor. At 4-4 the chair ump had it with Rafa's incessant toweling off of sweat and ball bouncing and told him to knock it off. Rafa was stunned and appealed to ATP officials to no avail. After that he might as well have left the building. Roger demolished him 6-4, 6-1.

The Roger Supremacy Continues!

Roger destroyed poor Andy Roddick 6-4, 6-2 in each player's third round robin match. Each could have lost the match and still gone on to the semi-finals but Lord knows that Andy Roddick wants to take at least one match against Roger in his lifetime. Alas, it was not his day. Roddick was so upset that at one point he broke his racket on his shoe. What is it about Roddick that makes Roger play his best? It almost seems mean!

Andy's still 11-0 against Roger and Roger is 17-1 in round robin play. Roger and Roddick will go on to face Spaniards--Roddick will take on Ferrer and Roger will play Rafa. It should be exciting! Based on Rafa's hard court past and his shady knees I think Roger's going to take this match.

UPDATE: Wait...that's not right. I know the Roddick beat Roger right before the Australian Open this year. Where did I get these crazy statistics?

He's back!

Roger beat Davydenko 6-4, 6-3. Poor Davydenko. That's 11 losses to Roger, 3 just this year and no wins. Aww.

Now Roger's set up to clobber Roddick in his next match!

Damn It, Roger!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Roger lost another match. This time Fernando Gonzalez avenged his Australian Open Final loss 3-6, 7-6(1), 7-5 in his first match of the Tennis Masters Cup.

Roger was cruising along like usual, took the first set without an issue and then couldn't break Gonzo in the second set. When it went to a tiebreak I guess Roger thought it was lunch break because he only managed to get one point before the set was over. I figured it wouldn't be a problem. Even though Gonzo was playing amazingly well Roger wasn't being a slouch and therefore Roger would prevail in the third set.

No deal. Gonzo broke Roger once and that was all it took. He had the momentum today. I don't want you to think Roger wasn't right there with him because he was. It was statistically neck and neck as far as aces and unforced errors and winners. Gonzo just got the match this time. Good for him! At least Roger looked like a stud in a red polo shirt and black headband and shorts. Not that I notice that kind of thing.

Nalbandian Just Misses the Cut At the Masters Cup

Nalbandian came in 9th in the battle for a spot in the Masters Cup--lucky Roger and Rafa! Here's who we'll be seeing at the tournament starting tomorrow:

1 - Roger
2 - Rafa
3 - Djokovic
After this it almost seems like it could be anybody...
4 - Davydenko
5 - Roddick
6 - Ferrer
7 - Gonzo
8 - Gasquet

Isn't it charming that Roddick still maintains that he has a genuine shot at beating Roger? Him and Jimmy just warm my heart...I wish Blake was in the top 8 but I'll make do with Gasquet. His win over Andy at Wimbledon this year was an instant classic.

Terracotta Warrior Roger

In celebration of the Masters Cup in Shanghai, Roger will be immortalized as a terracotta warrior along with the top eight ranked players.