Tennis: Soderling upsets Nadal again

Sweden's Robin Soderling has had his second shock win of the year over world number two Rafael Nadal with a straight-sets victory at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

The eighth seed, who ended Nadal's 31-match winning streak at the French Open this year, repeated his stunning effort at Roland Garros with a 6-4 6-4 win in the opening Group B match of the round-robin phase.

Soderling was a late replacement in the elite eight man field when Andy Roddick withdrew due to injury, but the 25-year-old has put himself in pole position to reach the last four.

Nadal's hopes of knocking Roger Federer off the top of the year-end world rankings are now fading fast and he admits he is struggling with his confidence. He says he is working hard to come back at his best level but he needs a little bit more confidence in the big moments.

Nikolay Davydenko meets inform Novak Djokovic in the other Group B match later this morning.

- NEWSTALK ZB