James Blake upset second-ranked Rafael Nadal Monday at the year-ending Masters Cup while Toronto's Daniel Nestor and partner Mark Knowles moved on in doubles action.

Blake, ranked No. 8, extended his unbeaten run in ATP events against Nadal to three matches. He remains the only player in the elite eight-man field to have a winning record over the 20-year-old Spaniard.

``I'm the guy that's supposed to be the easy match in this tournament,'' Blake said after beating Nadal 6-4, 7-6 (0).

He took some high-risk chances on big points.

``You don't beat him by playing conservatively,'' said Blake, who worked Nadal around the baseline and pounded winners on both sides.

Nestor and Knowles, ranked third, beat France's Fabrice Santoro and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia 6-3, 6-2.

The duo have won four titles this season and are appearing in their fourth consecutive season-ending championship together.

``We've had a lot of success together right from the beginning, which always helps a relationship,'' Nestor said. ``But Mark and I get along pretty much on and off the court. We have a pretty unique relationship. We're fortunate in that regard and I think that's credited to our success.''

Also, third-ranked Nikolay Davydenko of Russia beat No. 6 Tommy Robredo of Spain 7-6 (8), 3-6, 6-1. Davydenko got the decisive break in the fourth game of the third set when Robredo served a double-fault at breakpoint.

Blake, after coming back from a break down to win the first set, won only four points in the opening four games of the second before rallying to tie it at 4-4.

Nadal, returning from an abdominal injury that forced him out of the recent Paris Masters event, responded with another break of serve.

He was leading 5-4 and 30-15 when he had a double-fault, giving Blake another opening. Blake seized on the chance, winning the next seven points for a 6-5 lead.

Nadal forced a tiebreaker by holding in the next game, but did not score another point. He had a double-fault to give Blake six match points. The 26-year-old American only needed one, clinching the match with a forehand winner down the line.

``James played very good points, very aggressive some points in the decisive moments,'' Nadal said. ``But, if you are winning two breaks up and 5-4, for third time and serving for the second set, you cannot lose the set, no?''

Blake said the indoor hardcourt suited him, while Nadal's speciality is on clay.

``He's so fast and plays defence so well that it's tough,'' Blake said. ``I got a lot of confidence from beating him the first time, and then I've carried that over to these last two times.''

Blake qualified for the season-ending event after compiling his best season _ 56-23 with five titles _ and finishing in the top 10 for the first time.

French Open champion Nadal was also making his first appearance. He qualified for the 2005 tournament but withdrew because of an injured left foot.

Before Monday's match, Roger Federer was presented with the Champions Race trophy for finishing the year at No. 1 for a third straight season.

Federer, who won three Grand Slam singles titles this season, opened his quest for a third Masters Cup title on Sunday with a win over defending champion David Nalbandian.

``Another fantastic year is almost over _ I have one more week to go,'' he said. ``I'm happy to be back after last year, when I had all the trouble with my foot.''

Federer lost the final here last year after an extended injury layoff.

In the other doubles match Monday, second-seeded Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi beat Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski.

© The Canadian Press, 2007