Group Stan Smith action at the World Tour Finals will continue on Tuesday, when Tomas Berdych goes up against Kei Nishikori. Berdych is coming off a loss to Roger Federer, while Nishikori got blown out in his opener by Novak Djokovic.
Tomas Berdych and Kei Nishikori will be facing each other for just the fifth time in their careers and for the first time in more than three years when they meet again at the World Tour Finals on Tuesday afternoon.
Nishikori is leading the head-to-head series 3-1, including 3-0 on hard courts. Japan’s top player prevailed six years ago in Brisbane, on the indoor hard courts of Basel in 2011, and one season later in Tokyo. Berdych’s lone win came at the 2012 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, where he advanced to the quarterfinals with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory.
Both men are in dire need of a win on Tuesday to keep hope alive–and it will be extremely faint hope even for the victor given that Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are also in Group Stan Smith. Berdych opened with a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Federer, while Djokovic made quick 6-1, 6-1 work of Nishikori.
After going down to the world No. 1, Nishikori–who recently retired from a match against London alternate Richard Gasquet in Paris–admitted that he may not be 100 percent physically. He served at 53 percent against Djokovic and won a mere 43 percent of his first-serve points.
Berdych, who owns a decent six career match wins at the O2, should be able to capitalize. The seventh-ranked Czech can pounce on his opponent’s serve and can hit through this slow court far more easily than Nishikori.
Pick: Berdych in 2
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who ya got?
Berdych in 2.
Same
Berdy in 2 sets.
Always the optimist about Nishikori, I picked him in 3. But his injuries are a problem. However Kei likes having Berdych on the other side of the net. Berdych has to shake off the doubts, serve well and hit him off the court. Nishikori, when healthy, has a stronger mind.
Both are playing much better than in their first matches. Looks like Berdych believes in himself. He’s even coming to the net; mixing it up a little. Kei needs his first serve to go in. Second serve not cutting it.
Come on, Kei! Tough hold. 5-5
Looks like Novak is on an incredible level after all to feed two breadsticks to Kei.
Not a surprise.
Wow if true, Fed is going to be slaughtered by Nole.
Agreed if he can play that level against Federer but I don’t think he will today.
Nishi took the 1st set 7-5.
Kei gets the break! Kei trying to serve for the 1st set. Needs the first serve to go in.
Set point! AWESOME KEI!
Nole is untouchable. Kei just trying to tame the beast in Berdych 😛
Kei’s footwork is spectacular. Way more zip than on Monday. His second serve isn’t great. Tomas is helping the situation for Kei by going for too much! yay! 2-0 Kei.
Break back Tomas. Kei’s 4th Double Fault 🙁
He did. Well, sort of.
Are you there watching, Ricky?
Yes
I was at Nadal’s practice during a lot of it, but im inside now
Keiria Nishipova.
not funny.
Best match WTF! Tomas confidence is building? maybe.
Berdych.
Won 19 points in a row? really?
Make that 21 points in a row for Tomas.
Are you courtside, Ricky?
Not courtside, but lower level
Cool!
😀 cool!
Kei’s lost it. Finally he recovers a little and gets 3 games. That was all Berdych.
Whaaaa. Life is not Fair!
Michael Chang isn’t liking this right now. Kei should be up a break.
I just realized that this match is on. So it’s going to be decided in a third set. The tennis channel commies are talking about how good Nishi is when it goes to three sets.
whats his record
17-6 last 52 weeks.
108-33 career.
I think it’s at 78%, Ricky.
http://www.tennisabstract.com/cgi-bin/player.cgi?p=KeiNishikori&f=P1
Kei has been clutch in deciders, maybe not so much this year, Ricky, but overall. Had a pattern of winning in 3 sets when he was working his way up the rankings. But he needs to win more matches in 2 sets. It’s hard enough for him as it is.