2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals; Novak Djokovic cruises into the semi-final
The Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic set a must watch semi-final battle with the world number two Roger Federer at the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London after getting the better of Andy Roddick from the United States of America in two sets on
Friday. The final match score was 6-2, 6-3.
The other semi-final features the world number one Rafael Nadal versus Andy Murray of Scotland. It is the first time since 2004 that four of the top five players in the ATP ranking list have made it into the final four stage of the year finale.
“I think it is great for the competition to see us playing in the semi-final. And then on the other hand Nadal and Murray. It is going to be a great atmosphere. It is the last tournament of the year, except the Davis Cup final that I am playing next week.
It is a great achievement that I already reached the semi-final. I will try to give my best tomorrow night,” reflected Djokovic after his victory on Friday.
The right hander, who finished second in the Group A with a mark of 2-1, is looking for his second crown at the World Tour Finals. He triumphed in four of five clashes to emerge victorious back in 2008.
After Rafael’s two setter victory over Tomas Berdych in the morning session, the 23-year-old Djokovic who prevented a total of two match points to topple Roger Federer in the semi-final stage of the United States Open back in September, knew that if he took
one set in a completed match with Andy, it would be enough to earn his spot in the final four.
The professional tennis ace from Serbia, may have started the battle slowly however as the match progressed he was all business. Roddick made frequent unforced errors off the backhand and forehand sides during the third game and in the end paid the price
for it as Novak immediately set up a lead of 3-1. He then broke serve once more to clinch the thirty one minutes opening set on Friday.
Currently ranked number eight in the South African Airways ATP list, the 28-year-old Roddick who had required to triumph in straight sets to make his way into the semi-finals, could not rein his unforced errors in the following set as his opponent maintained
that lead till the end and sealed the win in sixty six minutes of the play. Roddick committed a total of twenty two unforced errors.
It was Novak’s first victory over Andy since the United States Open quarter final back in 2008. Since then, the Serbian had lost four clashes in a row to the American, including the final eight rounds in Cincinnati back in 2009.
“I knew I had to be kind of in a control of the rallies, and I did that. I needed to get a lot of returns back. I did that, as well. I was using the forehands quite well. So I am just happy with the overall performance. It is never easy. You got to make
these shots. You have got to get his serves back in the court and try to win the rallies,” added Djokovic.
Roddick, on the other hand, despite losing said that he is quite satisfied with his overall performance throughout the year as well as the way he played in his match against Rafael Nadal earlier this week and will look to further improve his game in 2011.
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