Double victory !

Rafa won his second Round A match against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland in straight sets: 7-6, 7-6 after 2 hours and 12 minutes of play and he is in semifinals and he will be No.1 in the ATP Rankings for the rest of the year. Congratulations, Rafa !

After the match Rafa said: "Today, it was more important secure the No. 1 at the end of the season. It is one of the best things that I have done in my career – coming back to the No. 1 after three seasons. That's very difficult in our sport  and the good thing is that after two matches now, I can really be focused only on the tournament because the year end is over."

"I am in semi-finals. I am very far away from winning this title. Winning two matches already is a very positive thing for me. But, seriously, even if I am in semi-finals, on this surface, I am not the favourite. I know that. But I am going to try. We'll see if that happens."

"At the end of the first set there were two amazing points. One lob that I don't know how I put it there. I saw it on the TV after the match, and I felt that I was very far away from the ball. He was unlucky on the next point. He made a bad movement at the net."

Ranked No. 4 in the Emirates ATP Rankings last season, Rafa is the first player to rank outside the Top 3 before finishing No. 1 the following year since Andy Roddick in 2003 (was No. 10 in 2002).

Group A Standings

Last match in this group stage for Rafa will be against Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic. On head to head, Rafa leads Berdych: 16-3. Their last match was this year in Beijing and Berdych retired from the semifinals when the score was 4-2 for Rafa in first set.



VAMOS RAFA !!!