Nadal wins!
Rafael Nadal wins the match 6-3 6-4!
A love hold to close out the match and a fitting way to end matters with how good Nadal was on serve today, not facing a break point in the contest. He joins Dominic Thiem at the top of the group.
Rublev played well in patches, but most of that was after he was already behind. He'll benefit from some experience in this setting and will face Stefanos Tsitsipas next.
That's all for now. Stay tuned for more coverage from the ATP Finals shortly and don't forget to join me tomorrow as world number one Novak Djokovic faces Diego Schwartzman.
This is John Lupo saying, from everyone at VAVEL, so long for now.
Rublev hanging on
*Nadal 6-3 5-4 Rublev
Some menacing forehands from Nadal, but Rublev escapes. Rafa to serve for the match.
Rafa racing to the finish line
Nadal 6-3 5-3 *Rublev
More outstanding serving by the Spaniard, who is fast approaching the finish line.
Rublev hanging tough
*Nadal 6-3 4-3 Rublev
The Russian answers with a comfortable hold of his own.
Nadal closing in
Nadal 6-3 4-2 *Rublev
Another easy hold for the 20-time major champion.
Russian staying in touch
*Nadal 6-3 3-2 Rublev
There's a nice forehand from Rublev as he closes out that game with authority.
Nadal cruising
Nadal 6-3 3-1 *Rublev
Routine stuff for the world number two.
Rublev holds
*Nadal 6-3 2-1 Rublev
Meanwhile the Russian holds to 15, but is still in trouble.
Nadal escapes tricky game
Nadal 6-3 2-0 *Rublev
By far Rafa's most stressful game so far as he fell behind 0-30, pulled it back to deuce and got out of trouble with some strong play.
Nadal breaks!
*Nadal 6-3 1-0 Rublev
It's all going sideways for the Russian as he's broken at the third time of asking with a forehand just long.
Nadal wins the first set!
Rafael Nadal wins the first set 6-3!
Rock-solid set from the world number two as he looked splendid on serve and appears to be in control of this opening match.
Rublev holds
*Nadal 5-3 Rublev
Good bounce-back service game for the Russian there, but it's likely too little, too late.
Nadal a game from the first set
Nadal 5-2 *Rublev
What a chance for Rublev! He fought to get the game to deuce only to miss a makeable backhand down the line and hit the next return into the net as Nadal has won three games in a row.
Nadal breaks!
*Nadal 4-2 Rublev
Longest game of the match at a dozen points goes to the Spaniard. He rifled a forehand down the line to set up break point and watched Rublev's own forehand clip the tape and sail long to put Nadal ahead.
Sharp from Rafa so far
Nadal 3-2 *Rublev
Three service games, three points lost on serve. Nadal's delivery looks very strong at the outset.
Rublev even again
*Nadal 2-2 Rublev
Nothing much there. A routine hold for the seventh seed.
Rafa cruises in service game
Nadal 2-1 *Rublev
A nice, tidy love hold for the 20-time major champion.
Rublev answers
*Nadal 1-1 Rublev
A bit of a struggle for the Russian as Nadal pushes him to 30-30, but he's gifted consecutive unforced errors to hold and undoubtedly get some nerves out of the way.
Easy hold for Nadal
Nadal 1-0 *Rublev
Easy hold to 15 for Rafa.
Thiem takes the opener
The first match of the group was certainly an entertaining one as Dominic Thiem exacted some revenge against Stefanos Tsitsipas for his win in last year's final with a 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3 victory.
How to watch Nadal vs Rublev Live
This match will begin at 3PM Eastern time, which is 8pm London time.
London's finale
This is the final year for the ATP Finals in the English capital, which has hosted the year-end showpiece since 2009. The tournament will move to Turin for the next five years starting in 2021.
Head-to-head
The only previous meeting between Nadal and Rublev was in the U.S. Open quarterfinals three years ago with the Spaniard winning in straight sets, dropping just five games on his way to the title.
Group London 2020
The group names (the other being Tokyo 1970) are in honor of the 50th anniversary of the year-end showpiece. Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas are the other players in this group.
Rublev's 2020 season
It's been a banner year for the Russian, who has won five titles, including his three biggest at the 500 level in Hamburg, St. Petersburg and Vienna. Rublev will be making his tournament debut.
Nadal's 2020 season
The highlight of the Spaniard's year was his 13th title at Roland Garros and his record-tying 20th Grand Slam championship.
He most recently reached the Paris Masters semifinals, losing to eventual runner-up Alexander Zverev.
Welcome!
Hello and welcome to today's second match of the ATP Finals between second seed Rafael Nadal and seventh seed Andrey Rublev.
My name is John Lupo and i'll be your host for this very interesting match.