ATP Tour Finals - O2

Monday 21st November


Today saw the second group - Murray, Djokovic, Ferrer and Berdych - take the spotlight. Murray played Ferrer in the early match and Djoko took on Berdych in the evening session.


I was very excited about the Murray match. I've been plugging him to everybody who asks as the winner of this tournament. With such a great build-up - winning three tournaments on the tour of Asia - I have been expecting big things from him. What I hadn't expected was a groin injury that would see him first lose meekly to Ferrer - a player who has never beaten him on anything but a clay court - and then withdraw from the tournament two days later. Bummer.


He was beaten 4 and 5 to a solid Ferrer who looked ecstatic to have won. Murray, however, looked miserable. Even for Murray. All of that work and effort in the latter part of this year to reach number 3 in the world, one Slam final and three Slam semis, and a real opportunity to win his first year end finals and he has to pull out because of a groin strain. He must be bitterly disappointed.


The other match saw Djokovic take on Berdych. Another three setter and tie-break decider was to follow. A friend of mine was at the match and said the atmosphere was incredible. Berdych powered into a 4-0 lead in the first set, eventually taking it 6-3 against a struggling Djoko. The second set was a role reversal as Berdych's forehand went astray and Djoko found his rhythm to go 3-0 up in a blink of an eye. Some breathtaking rallies followed but Djoko took the set to the same score as the first. The tension mounted in the third as both players tried to get the upper hand. Berdych was the first to pounce when he made two unstoppable forehands in game six to afford him the break. Djoko responded immediately and broke back a tight Berdych. The topsy turvy match continued as Djoko served a double to hand Berdych a match point but he couldn't capitalise and the match went to a tie-break. Here Berdych lost his nerve. Djokovic came through the tough tough match 7-3 on the tie-break and it was a relieved world number one who shook Berdych's hand.


More drama and great matches to come tomorrow as Tsonga takes on Fish in a must win match and Nadal takes on his old foe Federer in the night session.


I'll keep you blogged...