Switzerland's challenge at the ATP World Tour Finals melted away like an Alpine glacier in a heatwave on Sunday as Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic marched on to the grand finale.
If Stanislas Wawrinka's life depended on the outcome of one tennis match he would surely want Rafa Nadal fighting his corner, and while the stakes were not as high as life or death on Friday the Swiss player's fate was in safe hands.
Rafael Nadal believes his return to the top of the world rankings after a seven-month injury nightmare is one of the greatest achievements of his remarkable career.
He won 83 points to Rafael Nadal's 80, hit 30 winners to the Spaniard's 14, struck more aces and generally played the more inspiring tennis, yet it all ended in familiar fashion for Stanislas Wawrinka at the ATP World Tour Finals on Wednesday.
Rafael Nadal of Spain sealed the year-end No 1 ranking for the third time by edging Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6) at the ATP finals here on Wednesday.
Roger Federer showed flashes of his best but Novak Djokovic exposed the Swiss maestro's fading powers with a three-set victory at the ATP World Tour Finals on Tuesday.
World No 1 Rafael Nadal battled past 8th seed Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland to set up a Juan Martin del Potro semifinal clash at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament while defending champion Novak Djokovic will face Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the other one.
Former world No 1 Roger Federer was ousted by Frenchman Gael Monfils at the third round while heavy favorites Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic both get through to the last eight at the ongoing Shanghai Masters on Thursday.
Djokovic won his fourth China Open title in five years on Sunday, prevailing 6-3 6-4 in the final against Rafael Nadal.
Rafael Nadal will supplant Novak Djokovic atop the rankings after advancing to the final of the China Open on Saturday when Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic retired with a back injury.
Spaniard Rafael Nadal said on Saturday that he will focus more on his future than the No.1 spot after he reached the final of the China Open.
Spaniard Rafael Nadal and Chinese number one Li Na both showed battling quality to advance into next round at the China Open on Wednesday.
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