Del Potro, Wawrinka Day One Winners; Federer v Dokovic Tuesday At ATP Finals
- 62 Comments
Juan Martin Del Potro and Stanislas Wawrinka both posted three set wins on the opening day of the ATP World Tour Finals.
Wawrinka made the most of his Finals debut with a 6-3, 6-7(0), 6-3 win over Tomas Berdych in the Group A opener.
“My first impression is that it is really, really nice to be here,” said Wawrinka. “I saw the tournament so many times on TV. To play was something different. For sure, it’s special to win my first match here. I feel really proud to be here. It means [that] I’m playing amazing tennis, especially all the year.
“I’m really happy the way I’m playing against [Berdych]. I was nervous on the court, but he was nervous too.”
The win was Wawrinka’s 50th of the season.
Berdych, who is playing in his fourth straight World Tour Finals, has now lost four of his last five matches at the prestigious event.
WAWRINKA TOPS BERDYCH IN GROUP A
1
inShare
0
Wawrinka Tops Berdych In Group A
Stanislas Wawrinka beat Tomas Berdych for the third successive time this year at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on Monday.
Wawrinka, the third Swiss to have qualified for the season finale after Roger Federer (12 times) and Jakob Hlasek (1988), played with confidence on his first appearance at The O2 in London to beat Berdych 6-3, 6-7(0), 6-3 in the Group A opener.
It was his 50th match win of a career-best season, which includes 1-3 record in ATP World Tour finals.
“My first impression is that it is really, really nice to be here,” said Wawrinka. “I saw the tournament so many times on TV. To play was something different. For sure, it’s special to win my first match here. I feel really proud to be here. It means [that] I’m playing amazing tennis, especially all the year.
“I’m really happy the way I’m playing against [Berdych]. I was nervous on the court, but he was nervous too.”
Wawrinka broke Berdych for a 4-2 lead in the first set. Having led 40/15, when serving for the set, he was forced to save a break point before closing it out.
Berdych could not convert any of his four break point opportunities en route to the second-set tie-break. He struck 14 winners to seal the 65-minute set.
“It was not my best tie-break this year, for sure,” said Wawrinka. “But against that kind of player, [it] can be really fast tie-break. The two first points were really important. He started to relax a little bit, to serve better.
“When I sat down after the set, I was still thinking I was the best player on the court. I had to focus again on my serve and [aim to] start the third set a little bit more aggressively to show him that I was going to try to win the match.”
Wawrinka bounced back immediately and broke serve for a 3-1 lead in the decider.
Aggressive throughout the pair’s 13th FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting, Wawrinka hit 43 winners and committed 42 unforced errors for victory in two hours and 25 minutes.
Berdych, who is competing for the fourth year in a row, won 46 per cent of his second service points.
“Losing is not a good start,” said Berdych. “But there are still two other matches to go. It was a very close game again. Stan was better in actually like executing the chances. He had four break points, make two. I had five, make zero. I think that’s been really a big difference today.”
In the second match, Group B got underway with a stirring affair as Del Potro hung on to beat a spirited Richard Gasquet 6-7(4), 6-3, 7-5.
After catching fire in the second set, the Argentine failed to serve it out at 5-4, but managed to win the last two games in a nervy finish.
“In the beginning of the match, I couldn’t be positive,” said Del Potro. “It was really difficult to be positive and be focused just on the match.”
Del Potro now has Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer ahead.
“I think in my next two matches I will have nothing to lose,” he added. “If I am able to pass the group [stage], today’s match was the key to staying alive. That’s why I felt nervous.
“The next two matches are going to be different, different opponents. I just beat Roger two weeks ago. He beat me last week. We always play good matches. So I will see against him. And Novak is playing really well. He is unbeaten since the US Open.”
On tap on a blockbuster Tuesday, it’s a rematch of the Paris semifinals with Djokovic facing Federer and Rafael Nadal looking for revenge on his hot-handed countryman David Ferrer.
Nadal, who can clinch the top ranking with two wins, has never won the year-end event.
“This is the title I’m missing,” Nadal said. “I wish I could get this title.
“Several times I played at a high level here, but I ran into those who are perhaps the best indoor players in history.
“All these tournaments are a little tougher for me,” he added. “but that doesn’t mean I’m not trying my best in every moment with practice, in every match. I tried at the tournament in Bercy to work hard, to play with the right tactic. I think I did… I am ready to compete well again. I’m going to try.”
TUESDAY ATP FINALS SCHEDULE
SINGLES A / 2:00 PM
NADAL VS FERRER
SINGLES B / 8:00 PM
DJOKOVIC VS FEDERER
You Might Like:
ATP Finals Draw: Djokovic Lands With Federer, Del Potro; Nadal With Berdych, Ferrer
Former Champions Djokovic, Sharapova, Kerber, Federer, Wawrinka On Court Tuesday At Australian Open
Berdych, Wawrinka Bomb Out Of Basel, Federer In Action Wednesday; Gulbis v Isner In Valencia
Novak Djokovic v Roger Federer Tuesday At London ATP Finals; Big 4-0 As Nadal, Murray Winners
Novak Djokovic: Because Of Rafa And Roger, I Am What I Am Today