Tomas Berdych bounces back
Tomas Berdych kept his chances of advancing to the semi-finals alive, defeating American Andy Roddick 7-5, 6-3 Wednesday November 24, at the Barclays ATP World
Tour Finals in London.
"It feels great," said Berdych. "None of these matches are easy. I still [have a] chance to have it in my hands in the last match."
Berdych, this year’s Wimbledon finalist, is appearing in the ATP Tour’s year-end tournament for the first time in his career. Berdych was aggressive throughout
the match, hitting 28 winners, a tactic which paid off, and converting three of his four break points, while thwarting the two he faced on set point in the first set. That proved to be a turning point.
"I don't think he came into the match with a lot of confidence," said Roddick to reporters after the match. "Being able to get through that definitely raised his
confidence level."
Berdych looks forward to his final match in Group A, against Rafael Nadal who beat him in this year’s Wimbledon Final.
"Playing Rafa, it's always great experience," Berdych said. "Even if you play on clay, grass, indoor, outdoor, whatever."
Berdych is the only player in the eight-man draw not to win a title in 2010. However, he has posted impressive results, as the runner-up at the
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Miami, and Wimbledon, while making it to the semi-finals of Roland Garros. He struggled after Wimbledon, posting a 8-12 record, highlighted by a disappointing first round loss at the U.S. Open. However, with
this victory Berdych kept his chances at a semi-final berth alive, and the opportunity to salvage a disappointing second-half of what would otherwise be considered a very impressive 2010 campaign.
Roddick, who has qualified for the year-end tournament for eight years in a row, now drops to 0-2 in Group B. He will next face Djokovic on Friday November 26.
Roddick was somewhat snappy after the match, and showed some of his frustration at the loss when a reporter asked if the fact he changed his tactics from his match
with Nadal on Monday as the reason for his defeat.
"Well, they're different players," he said. "Generally, when you play different people, you have different tactics. I mean, I've beaten him three times this year. Six overall. I
feel I have a pretty good idea of what to do. Now, if you don't execute it, it makes most game plans look stupid," said Roddick with obvious frustration.
In doubles, Wesley Moodie and d**k Norman defeated Lukasz Kubot and Oliver Marach 6-1, 6-3. Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi are set to play against Daniel Nestor
and Nenad Zimonjic later today. The year-end tournament is the last tournament both these teams will play together, with Nestor set to pair up with Mirnyi for next year.
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