The ATP World Tour Finals return to London

Andy Murray Home comforts: Given his aggression on court, bystanders were surprised when he sold his riverside apartment in Wandsworth and removal men carried out 'a series of cuddly toys, including large versions of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger'. Career high: Winning successive Masters titles in 2008 to propel himself into the top five for the first time. In between he reached the final of the US Open. Career low: The period this year when he lost his first matches in Miami and Monte Carlo to Mardy Fish and Philipp Kohlschreiber. 'I have been very happy off the court, but not on it, and that’s where I need to be happy,' he said. He’s the one who: is British when he’s winning but Scottish when he loses. Most likely to: grimace. As PG Wodehouse put it: 'It is never difficult to distinguish between a Scotsman with a grievance and a ray of sunshine.' Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Novak Djokovic Home comforts: His father Drdjan was a professional skier who ran a pizzeria in the mountain resort of Kopaonik. Across the road were three tennis courts, which is how Novak discovered the sport. Career high: Deciding not to take British citizenship in 2006. There’s also the 2009 Australian Open title, of course. Career low: Falling out with Andy Roddick at the 2008 US Open after being accused of hypochondria. Djokovic was booed during a post-match interview, sniffing: 'They’re against me because they think I’m faking everything.' He’s the one who: struggled at the start of his career with mysterious respiratory problems. 'I think I forget to breathe properly, so they told me I should practice also breathing,' he said at the time. Most likely to: Do a perfect impression of one of his rivals – he’s got quite a repertoire Photograph: Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images

Rafael Nadal Home comforts: As a schoolboy Nadal was obsessed with the Anime series Dragon Ball – all about a child whose dedication to self-improvement leads to world domination, but turns out to have been sent to conquer earth by his weirdly strong humanoid alien race. Career high: Winning this year’s US Open, the one grand slam trophy missing from his cabinet. Career low: The second half of 2009, when he lost at the French Open for the first time, missed several months with chronic knee problems and dealt with his parents’ divorce. 'For everybody there are tough moments. This year mine came,' he said. He’s the one who: used to insist that the former world No1 Carlos Moya flew with him to tournaments to keep him company. Most likely to: swan about on court in strange togs and hairband that leave him looking like an acid house veteran circa 1988 crossed with Doris Day.
Photograph: Frederic J Brown/AFP/Getty Images

Roger Federer Home comforts: Recently moved from the town of Oberwil to Wollerau – one of the most lax-on-tax cantons of Switzerland. The mayor of Oberwil denied his departure would send the town bankrupt but did admit that 'we’re not ecstatic about the departure of a strong taxpayer'. Career high: Finally completing his grand slam collection with his first French Open title, last June. It was his 14th grand slam (and he’s won another couple since). Career low: The 2009 Australian Open final, which he lost to Rafael Nadal in what seemed to be a definitive passing of the world’s-best baton. 'God, it’s killing me,' he sobbed. He’s the one who: was given a cow, after winning Wimbledon in 2003. He called her Juliette, but she was slaughtered in 2005 when her milk yields fell. Most likely to: cry. 'Some people can control it, some people can’t,' he whimpered. Photograph: Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images

Tomas Berdych Home comforts: His train-driver dad introduced him to skiing and tennis in an effort to sort out his hyperactivity. He comes from the tiny Czech town of Valasske Mezirici – so does former Liverpool striker Milan Baros. Career high: Made Roger Federer cry by beating him at the 2004 Olympics. Beat Federer on his way to this year’s Wimbledon final, his first grand slam showpiece. Career low: As top-seed he lost to Xavier Malisse in the Legg Mason Classic this August before blaming the scheduling, saying he was half asleep. He’s the one who: really annoyed Nadal by making 'shhh' gestures to Spanish fans in Madrid, prompting the Spaniard to call him 'a bad person'. Most likely to: sneak out quietly. The 6ft 5in man mountain with the killer forehand is renowned as one of the game’s less outgoing characters. Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Robin Soderling Home comforts: Soderling’s Swedish home town, Tibro, is the self-styled 'furniture capital of Sweden'. Career high: Visits to Paris have been good of late – his two grand slam finals came there in the past two years, he’s the only man ever to beat Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros and his first Masters title came there last week. Career low: He failed to get past the third round in any of his first 22 grand slams. He’s the one who: really annoyed Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2007 by mimicking his time-wasting, short-tugging habits. Nadal said Soderling was probably going to hell: 'We will see what’s happening in the end of the life, no?' Most likely to: Lose friends and alienate people. 'I did not join the tour to make friends,' he says, and it’s just as well. As Nadal said in 2007: 'I asked around the locker room, almost nobody has anything nice to say about him.'
Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA

David Ferrer Home comforts: Still something of a mummy’s boy, David calls his mum, Pilar, after every match. Career high: Winning the recent Valencia Open – not only did it propel him to a career-high ranking and qualify him for the Masters final, it was in his home city and an event he part-owns. Career low: Aged 17 he went off tennis for a while, a problem his coach resolved by locking him daily in a cupboard with a piece of bread and a bottle of water. He was back on court within a week. 'The room is still there in the club, full of tennis balls,' says Ferrer. 'I think I have been the only tenant.' He’s the one who: is said to be the fastest man in tennis. Most likely to: come back from two sets down to win an 18-hour battle of wills. Fitness and ferocity are Ferrer’s watchwords. His nickname is Ferrú – Catalan for iron. Photograph: Jaime Reina/AFP/Getty Images

Andy Roddick Home comforts: Excelled at basketball as a child, though it must have been quite a tennis-friendly team: he played alongside Mardy Fish. Career high: His only grand slam victory, at the 2003 US Open. 'It’s been the same goal for a long time, trying to win another grand slam,' said Roddick in January of the past seven years. Career low: Any of a million temper tantrums. This year alone he has apologised on Twitter after swearing at an umpire in Australia, shouted at a line judge at the US Open and raged about wet balls in France. He’s the one who: decided he fancied a model in the 2007 Sports Illustrated swimwear issue and ordered his agent to secure him a date. They married last year, with Elton John playing at the reception. His wife, Brooklyn, is named after a horse. Most likely to: serve an ace – with an average of 12.44 aces per match this year he’s the competition’s serving star.
Photograph: Kevin C Cox/Getty Images