OK so the ladies tennis season is over but the men's isn't quite yet over but it will be come this Monday as the ATP World Tour Finals draws to a close then which sees the men's top 8 players in the world battle it out for a right to win the ATP WTF champions trophy. So let's have a look at the matches so far...
Starting with Day 1 first up we had Stanislas Wawrinka take on Tomas Berdych in what looked likely to a pretty even match up as their head to head was fairly close with Wawrinka leading 7-5. And the match itself proved to be just that as Stan took the initiative in the first set breaking Berdy, who fought back and took the 2nd set to push it to a decider. In the 3rd set Stan broke again and sealed his first match in his debut at ATP world tour finals with a 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 win. In the 2nd match of the day, Juan Martin Del Potro took on Richard Gasquet in what proved to be a terrific contest between the two players, which saw Gasquet push the big Argentine all the way to a 3rd set where it could have went either way but eventually Delpo got crucial broke and won the match in 6-7, 6-3, 7-5.
So onto Day 2 we had the World No.1 Rafael Nadal take on Spanish No.2, David Ferrer. Ferrer stunned Rafa only the weekend before at the Paris Masters as he beat the might Raf in the semi finals to reach the final where he was beaten by Djokovic. However this match was a complete role reversal as Rafa got his revenge in an emphatic fashion by beating Ferrer in straight sets with a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 victory which saw the World No.1 take his first confident stride toward winning the one big title that eludes him. In the second match of the day, Novak Djokovic the defending champion faced off against the former six time champion, Roger Federer, in what promised to a classic encounter. However both men seemed to be suffering fatigue after their efforts in Paris the week before, and they both produced a ropey match filled with unforced errors and play that was simply hit and miss. But it was Nole that came out on top as he won the match 6-4, 6-7, 6-2 to claim his first match win of the event.
Which brings us looming onto day 3 which started with Rafa taking on the in form Stan Wawrinka in what proved to be a highly entertaining and competitive contest in which both men brought their best to the court. Stan in their head to head has never won a set never mind a match against Rafa, so beating him was a big big ask, but Stan nonetheless laid it all out on the court as he battled with Rafa and pushed him to two tiebreak sets before the man from Mallorca shut the door, winning a very tight two set 7-6(5), 7-6(6) match. This match win ensured that Rafa will reach the semi finals no matter the outcome of his next match and again shows the mighty impressive form that the Spaniard has shown this year continue even into his weakest surface, indoor hard courts. As for Stan you can't help but feel gutted for him that still hasn't even taken a set off Rafa yet, but if anyone deserves to it: its him and he will have his day yet I think, where he will get two.
Next up was David Ferrer who faced Tomas Berdych in an intruiging clash which promised to be quite entertaining, however for Ferrer it was ultimately the end of the road as he struggled to keep up with huge hitting from the big Czeck and he suffered a straight set defeat in 6-4, 6-4. This was a pity for Ferrer who only the week before reached the final in Paris where he was the defending champion. So at this point Ferrer is out of the championship with nowhere to go, but he will still have one match left to play.
Moving on to day 4, Roger Federer was up against Richard Gasquet, and Federer at last managed to crank up the gears and bring out a classy performance to dismiss the Frenchman in straight sets with a much needed 6-4, 6-3 win which kept Roger's hopes alive in the tournament. Novak Djokovic in the evening match played Del Potro in another potentially mouth watering clash, however Nole came out serving sharp leaving a rather fatigued looking Del Potro out to dry in the first set. In the 2nd set Delpo fought his way back into the match as Nole suffered a lapse in concentration and the big guy levelled the match at a set all. In the 3rd set though parity was restored for Djokovic as he broke Delpo's serve and went on to close out the match two secure a two match lead in his group with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 scoreline.
So onto day 5 in the first match there was Stan the man who played against David Ferrer, which if Stan were to win it would give two match wins and a chance to reach the semi finals. The match itself was quite competitive with Ferrer doing his best to leave the tournament with his head held somewhat high as he nabbed the first set in a tiebreak after coming back from a break down. However Stan regrouped and managed to break Ferrer in the 2nd set, which saw Ferrer in a rare outburst of anger smash his racquet on the court. In the 3rd set play raced away fast from Ferrer as Stan grabbed the match by the throat with a double break and he closed it out with a 6-7, 6-4, 6-1 victory. Well this sees Stan make a terrific debut at this event as he now stands closer than ever to reaching the semi finals of the year end championships which would be decided by the winner of the next match...
Which was between Rafa and Berdych in the evening match and for this match Rafa was the hot favourite, having won their last few encounters in straight sets. However Rafa didn't have it all his way in this one as after he took the first set, Berdych seized the initiative in the 2nd set as Rafa's level dipped dramatically and the big Czeck took a double break to his first set against the Spaniard since the Aussie Open last year. In the 3rd set it was pretty competitve and all even until Berdych served a double fault at 3-4 as he handed the vital break to Rafa who went on to serve out the match to be the outright winner of Group A with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. Its hard to imagine Rafa in better form going into this stage of the tournament and his win also was warmly welcomed by Stan Wawrinka as he sealed his place in the semi finals as Rafa beat Berdych, and he said in a text that he owes Rafa dinner! ;-)
So that's it for now I will report back with updates on Day 6 and 7 once they are over.
Till then bye the now.
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