London, England (SportsNetwork. Lance Briggs Jersey .com) - Former finalist Juan Martin del Potro and Swiss slugger Stanislas Wawrinka were Mondays round-robin winners at the $6 million ATP World Tour Finals. The fourth-seeded del Potro was tested mightily by eighth seed Richard Gasquet before prevailing in the Day 1 nightcap, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 7-5, in 2 hours, 23 minutes. The tall Argentine broke for a 6-5 lead in the third set and then held his powerful serve to pickup the win. "Delpo" broke Gasquet four times, while the nifty Frenchman settled for two breaks in his first Tour Finals match in six years. The world No. 9 Gasquet corralled the final spot for this eight-man tournament last week. World No. 4 Andy Murray is missing the event after undergoing a recent back surgery. Meanwhile, making his debut at this lucrative event, the seventh-seeded world No. 8 Wawrinka knocked off sixth-ranked Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-7 (0-7), 6-3 in 2 hours, 25 minutes at the prestigious season-ending event at Londons O2 Arena. The big-serving affair featured 27 aces, including 16 from the formidable Berdych. Wawrinka broke the fifth-seeded Berdych on two occasions and held his serve throughout on Monday. "My first impression was really, really nice to be here," Wawrinka said. "I saw that tournament so many times on TV. To win my first match here was something really special." This weeks four-player Group A features world No. 1 and U.S. and French Open champion Rafael Nadal, Roland Garros runner-up David Ferrer, the former Wimbledon finalist Berdych (0-1), and Wawrinka (1-0). Group B is comprised of Australian Open titlist Novak Djokovic, the former U.S. Open champ del Potro (1-0), 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer, and Gasquet (0-1). The two-time champion Djokovic was last years big winner at The O2, beating the six-time Tour Finals champ Federer in the final. Djokovic and Federer are the only former champions in this years field. Nadal was the runner-up in 2010, Ferrer was the runner-up in 2007, and del Potro was a runner-up back in 2009. The hot Djokovic beat Ferrer in last weeks final at the Paris Masters and has won his last 17 matches overall. On Tuesday, Nadal will battle his third-seeded fellow Spaniard Ferrer and the second-seeded Djokovic will take on his sixth-seeded fellow former No. 1 Federer. Round-robin play will be staged through Saturday in London, with the semifinals on Sunday, and the final next Monday. The top-two players from each group will qualify for the semis. An undefeated champion this week would earn $1.923 million. Dick Butkus Jersey . The Indians scored twice in the top of the ninth, getting the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by closer Matt Lindstrom. Axford (0-1) came in seeking his fifth save in as many chances. Ego Ferguson Jersey . -- As usual, Aksel Lund Svindal was super fast on this hill.MANCHESTER, England - Rio Ferdinand brought his trophy-filled, 12-year stay at Manchester United to an end on Monday by announcing he would be leaving Old Trafford to continue his playing career. The 35-year-old Ferdinand, who became Englands most expensive player when he joined United from Leeds for 29.1 million pounds in 2002, has not been offered an extension to his contract that expires next month. He suggested, however, that his departure was on his own terms, saying in a statement: "I have thought long and hard over the last few months about my future, and after 12 fantastic years playing, for what I regard, as the best club in the world, I have decided the time is right for me to move on." A tall, elegant, ball-playing defender, Ferdinand made 454 appearances for United — his last coming in the 1-1 draw at Southampton on Sunday in the final match of the season. He had been marginalized by the club this season, making just 14 appearances. Ferdinand won six league titles, two League Cups, one Champions League and a Club World Cup with United and forged one of Premier Leagues great centre-back partnerships with Nemanja Vidic, who will also leave this summer to join Inter Milan. With left back Patrice Evra soon out of contract, too, whoever comes in as the full-time replacement for fired United manager David Moyes faces a huge task to rebuild the defence. Ferdinand has had injury problems in recent years — particularly with his bacck — and has been following a strict training regime to extend his career, but he signalled he is not ready to retire. Kyle Fuller Jersey. "I am feeling fit and healthy, ready for a new challenge and looking forward to whatever the future holds for me," he added in the statement. While Vidic was afforded an emotional farewell at Old Trafford in his final home match, receiving a memento from club great Bobby Charlton before last weeks Premier League game against Hull and a rousing ovation from Uniteds fans, Ferdinand will leave without any ceremony. Sections of the British media reported Monday that Ferdinand was told in the dressing room after the Southampton match that he wouldnt be offered a new deal. "Circumstances didnt allow for me to say goodbye the way I would have liked," he added in the statement, "but Id like to take this opportunity to thank my teammates, staff, the club and the fans for an unbelievable 12 years that Ill never forget. Winning trophies I dreamed about as a kid came true at this great club." The low point of his spell at United undoubtedly came in 2003 when he was banned for eight months after being found guilty of missing a drugs test. But he will be remembered by United fans as one of Alex Fergusons best defensive purchases, despite his hefty price tag, with Ferdinand breaking the mould for English centre backs with his touch, athleticism and ability to play the ball out of the back. ' ' '
