Borderline must-win situations await David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych on Wednesday in London. Both players are 0-1 heading into their second matches.
David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych will be squaring off for the 11th time in their careers and for the second time in five days when they clash during round-robin action at the World Tour Finals on Wednesday night.
Ferrer is dominating the head-to-head series 7-3, including 4-1 on hard courts (all indoors). They most recently faced each other last Friday in the Paris quarterfinals, with Ferrer prevailing 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. On the bright side for Berdych, they also collided in the group stage at this event in 2011, when the Czech battled to a 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory.
Berdych desperately needs another win because he lost his opener to Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 6-7(0), 6-3 on Monday. The world No. 6 is a stellar 52-23 for the season, but he is still in search of his first 2013 title and he has not played particularly well this fall. Berdych beat Milos Raonic in Paris before losing to Ferrer, but he also lost his Basel first-rounder to Ivo Karlovic.
Ferrer may need a victory even worse than his opponent, because he lost his first London match and did so in straight sets (6-3, 6-2 to Rafael Nadal on Tuesday). This is the third-ranked Spaniard’s seventh tournament in as many weeks and he is coming off three consecutive runner-up finishes (Stockholm, Valencia, and Paris). Ferrer is 60-22 for the year and clearly heating back up after a post-Wimbledon slump that extended through the first few weeks of this fall.
As past results suggest, this is simply not a good matchup for Berdych. He struggles to win free points on serve against maybe the second best returner in the game and he is unable to station himself in the middle of the court–which he likes to do–without taking control of rallies right from the start. This surface, although indoors, is likely playing to slow for Berdych to overpower Ferrer. Even on a much faster indoor court last fall, with the Czech having home-court advantage in the Davis Cup final to boot, Ferrer crushed him 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.
This won’t be a blowout because Ferrer is showing effects of so much tennis and he has zero days of rest while Berdych got one. Still, the third seed should be able to take care of business.
Pick: Ferrer in 3
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Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
Ferrer in 3
Whether due to fatigue or nerves or both Berdych did not look particularly at ease during his first match. If Ferrer takes time away from him it might not even be close.
ed, it wasn’t close, lol!
Now, if Birdie really beats Rafa in two, he would be first in the group. If that is even a comfortable position, depends on group B. I guess, everybody wants to avoid the Djoker
Ferru didn’t help Rafa to win the group.
Rafa has to take at least a set from Berdy to remain the first in his group
yep, Berdych in 2 was worst possible outcome for Rafa
(not that it matters)
What the doctor ordered the patient will deliver 🙂
watched this one live ! Berdych hits REAL HARD ! haha… ferrer’s obvious weakness is his forehand corner…he cant generate enough depth on his running forehands.. berdych exploited that pattern ..
Ferrer is very quick on the court though ! He returns very well too as we all know..some of berdych’s 2nd serves were reaching higher than ferrer’s head !
ball bounces high on this court
are you going on Friday/Sunday/Monday?
If Rafa loses to Berdych, and Wawa wins against Ferru, we have three players with 2 wins and one loss. If Ferru wins against Wawa, and Rafa wins against Berdych, we have three players with one win and two losses. I love Round Robin,, lol!
Rafa cannot get eliminated, though, since he won both matches in straights.
Daveed is out, though…
correct, Ferrer cannot have a better set ratio than Berdych
@Ricky, I might go on Friday ! Not confirmed yet but I do have a plan…
the man with the plan
#Vamos
I think Ferrer is out of gas. I voted for Berdy in three sets. I thought he had a good shot to beat Ferrer, given how he looked against Rafa. I was surprised to see Berdy do it in two sets.
As long as Rafa wins, then he controls his own destiny. I think playing on this court could give Berdy an advantage, but I don’t see Rafa wanting to let up now. He will want to secure his place by getting the win. He certainly will win a set against Berdy.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Wawa and Ferrer. That match will mean a lot to Wawa, but for Ferrer it’s too late.
@Ricky, hahaha ! I look forward to fulfilling my plan lol
@NNY, yeah ferrer does look gassed out…poor guy,