The Final Showdown is upon us. Well, technically there are still two days left in the ATP Tour’s proverbial regular season, but the field of eight in London is set.
Three World Tour Finals spots remained heading into quarterfinal action at the BNP Paribas Masters on Friday. The first was clinched by Tomas Berdych with his win over Kevin Anderson and the next two were assured when Kei Nishikori outlasted David Ferrer. But the most noise was made by Milos Raonic, who upset Roger Federer 7-6(5), 7-5 in a must-win situation.
Three World Tour Finals spots remained heading into quarterfinal action at the BNP Paribas Masters on Friday. The first was clinched by Tomas Berdych with his win over Kevin Anderson and the next two were assured when Kei Nishikori outlasted David Ferrer. But the most noise was made by Milos Raonic, who upset Roger Federer 7-6(5), 7-5 in a must-win situation.
Raonic fired 21 aces compared to just one double-fault and he faced just one break point. The only break of the match came with Federer serving at 5-5 in the second set. Raonic broken then served things out with ease to achieve victory in one hour and 33 minutes.
“It would have to be up there definitely at this stage of my career, with the level I have gotten myself to, that’s for sure,” the Canadian said when asked if this was the biggest win of his career. “And considering all the circumstances around it, I think this was the biggest win for me.”
Federer press conference:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKj_E5y3UPk]
Arguably the day’s second biggest victory was delivered by Nishikori, who came within two points of a straight-set defeat before storming back to beat Ferrer 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 in two hours and 43 minutes. Nishikori’s win dwindled the remaining London spots that had still been up for grabs from two to zero. It sent both the Japanese star and Raonic into the year-end championship while eliminating Ferrer.
Nishikori interview:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hFRSoQKggo]
Berdych had already wrapped up a place in London for a fifth consecutive year by improving to 12-0 lifetime against Anderson. The Czech got off to a slow start but managed to continue his domination of the South African 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4.
“Yeeeeeeees,” Berdych wrote on Twitter, adding a picture that said “Happy to be in London” and “#FinalShowdown”.
[polldaddy poll=8416299]
[polldaddy poll=8415853]
[polldaddy poll=8416299]
[polldaddy poll=8415853]
Leave a Reply