Djokovic trounces Berdych to seal no. 1 spot
15 Nov 2014 11:54 PM GMT
The world number one was virtually guaranteed a semifinal berth before walking on court at the O2 Arena, but made doubly sure by cruising past Berdych in little more than an hour. Djokovic was in ruthless mood to top Group A and guarantee ending the year ranked as world number one for the third time. The Serb has now won 30 indoor matches in succession since the ATP World Tour Finals in 2012.
Of the 11 round-robin matches played at the tournament this year only one has gone to a deciding set. Djokovic, looking for a third consecutive title at the London year-ender, will face Japan's Kei Nishikori in the semifinals on Saturday when Roger Federer will be up against fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka unless he loses heavily to Croatia’s Marin Cilic later on Friday.
Federer humbles Andy Murray
Meanwhile, Roger Federer sent Andy Murray crashing out of the ATP Tour Finals in humiliating fashion with 6-0, 6-1 victory late on Thursday that ensured Japan’s Kei Nishikori would qualify for the semifinals. Nishikori’s 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over alternate David Ferrer earlier on Thursday left Murray facing the daunting task of having to beat Federer in straight sets to go through from Group B.
But Murray was routed in only 56 minutes in a defeat which equalled his worst ever result, a 6-1, 6-0 loss against Novak Djokovic in Miami in 2007.
Federer, bidding for his seventh Tour Finals title, finished top of the group after winning all three of his matches, and he will be joined in the last four by Nishikori on his maiden appearance in the prestigious season-ending event at London’s O2 Arena. ‘Clearly I’m very happy to play a good match today. I knew I was qualified so maybe I went in a bit more relaxed. It’s not the way I thought it was going to go but there’s always next year for Andy,’ Federer said.
It was a horrible way for Murray to end a disappointing campaign which saw him surrender his Wimbledon title, briefly drop out of the top 10 for the first time in six years and fail to win a tournament until the final weeks of the season. But he could have no complaints after a lacklustre display was brutally punished by Federer, who becomes the ninth player ever to reach the landmark of 250 career indoor wins.
‘I’ve lost slam finals, which have been very tough. But in terms of the way the match went it was not ideal from my side of the court, far from it. I can say I’m disappointed with my level. But if I played well he probably still would have won anyway,’ Murray said.
Of the 11 round-robin matches played at the tournament this year only one has gone to a deciding set. Djokovic, looking for a third consecutive title at the London year-ender, will face Japan's Kei Nishikori in the semifinals on Saturday when Roger Federer will be up against fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka unless he loses heavily to Croatia’s Marin Cilic later on Friday.
Federer humbles Andy Murray
Meanwhile, Roger Federer sent Andy Murray crashing out of the ATP Tour Finals in humiliating fashion with 6-0, 6-1 victory late on Thursday that ensured Japan’s Kei Nishikori would qualify for the semifinals. Nishikori’s 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over alternate David Ferrer earlier on Thursday left Murray facing the daunting task of having to beat Federer in straight sets to go through from Group B.
But Murray was routed in only 56 minutes in a defeat which equalled his worst ever result, a 6-1, 6-0 loss against Novak Djokovic in Miami in 2007.
Federer, bidding for his seventh Tour Finals title, finished top of the group after winning all three of his matches, and he will be joined in the last four by Nishikori on his maiden appearance in the prestigious season-ending event at London’s O2 Arena. ‘Clearly I’m very happy to play a good match today. I knew I was qualified so maybe I went in a bit more relaxed. It’s not the way I thought it was going to go but there’s always next year for Andy,’ Federer said.
It was a horrible way for Murray to end a disappointing campaign which saw him surrender his Wimbledon title, briefly drop out of the top 10 for the first time in six years and fail to win a tournament until the final weeks of the season. But he could have no complaints after a lacklustre display was brutally punished by Federer, who becomes the ninth player ever to reach the landmark of 250 career indoor wins.
‘I’ve lost slam finals, which have been very tough. But in terms of the way the match went it was not ideal from my side of the court, far from it. I can say I’m disappointed with my level. But if I played well he probably still would have won anyway,’ Murray said.
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