World number two Rafael Nadal lost 6-1 7-6 to Russian Nikolay Davydenko on Wednesday to become the first player to exit the ATP World Tour Finals.
After losing both of his Group B clashes in straight sets, the Spaniard has no chance of progressing any further in the elite eight-man event, even if he beats Novak Djokovic in his final round-robin match on Friday.
The Spaniard looked a shadow of the man who was rated as the world's best player until four months ago, and spent more time shaking his head in frustration than producing winners during a lopsided first set.
Davydenko hushed the 17,500 fans crammed into the O2 Arena by leaping to a 4-2 lead in the second set, and despite a spirited fightback from the Spaniard, the world number six secured the win with a blazing forehand winner.
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