ATP Tour Finals - O2

Wednesday 23rd November


Today Tipsarevic stepped into the fray as Andy Murray's replacement and the lucky number nine. He played Berdych who, after Monday's disappointment against Djokovic, had to win in order to have a chance of going through. Tipsarevic, I would imagine, was just pretty happy to be there. He can, however, go through if he wins both his matches.


Tipsy, with his trademark glasses, embraced the stage from the get-go. He won the first set 6-2 and had Berdy flustered on the other side of the net. He was looking very dangerous in fact. Berdy was going to have to step up his game if he was going to progress and beat a man obviously relishing his chance at being in this tournament for the first time.


Berdych was up for the challenge and battled in the second set to take it to a third. Tipsarevic's form didn't waver as he took Berdych to a tie-break - the third third set tie-break of the tournament. It was amazingly close with both players stretching to the limit. Tipsarevic was the first to gain that vital mini-break which brought up match point but he missed his shot and then served a double to hand Berdych a match point. He wasn't about to give that up as he had against Djokovic two days earlier, and the match ended on a rather dramatic note as Tipsarevic stretched to return a booming serve from Berdy and then slipped to the ground, tried to struggle up, slipped again, and ended up flat on the ground, face down. Great stuff.


Djokovic and Ferrer contested the evening match, both needing victory to ensure a place in the semis. Djokovic, of course, started as favourite but Ferrer had carved an admittedly crook Murray in half on Monday and would no doubt be feeling good about his chances against the world number 1.


And well he might as under 90 minutes later he had beaten the unbeatable 6-3 6-1. A rather emphatic score and an equally emphatic performance. Yes, Djoko looked absolutely knackered and in the second set could hardly find the court but Ferrer's form never wavered. He hit good clean winners in the second set and scampered about returning every Djoko ball in the first. Djokovic, tired and flat in his post-match interview, conceded that Ferrer deserved the match. Djoko will go home to some well-deserved time off. Three slams and 75 matches won to five lost is a pretty decent year, I'd say.


I'll keep you blogged...