Nadal advances in ATP Finals

Nadal topped No. 6-seeded Tomas Berdych 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 in completing a 3-0 run through the Group A round robin. Berdych is 1-2 but had a slim chance of advancing, needing a loss by third-seeded Novak Djokovic in a match against No. 8-seeded Andy Roddick later Friday.

Second-seeded Roger Federer, like Nadal unbeaten this week, and No. 5 Andy Murray qualified Thursday for the semifinals from Group B.

Friday's win marked the first match this week that Nadal didn't have to rally from a deficit. He faced only two break points -- both in the first set. Neither player earned a break in the first set but Nadal won the first three points of the tie-breaker and got to set point when Berdych had a double fault. Berdych has six double faults in the match.

Nadal controlled the second set. He won on serve to go ahead 2-1 then took the final three points in a 14-point Berdych service game, setting off the five-game run to finish the match.

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