London Openings Down To 2 Spots

Written by: Staff on 23rd October 2012

London Openings Down To 2 Spots

epa03441494 Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych prepares to return the ball with a backhand in the ATP Stockholm Open tennis final against France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Royal Tennis Hall in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday October 21, 2012. EPA/SOREN ANDERSSON SWEDEN OUT |

The London year-end ATP field is theoretically down to two open spots after Tomas Berdych, qualified into the sixth position by virtue of his Stockholm Open title at the weekend. The Czech will be playing the eight-man season wrap for the third time, joining a short list which includes Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer.

But Nadal is the joker in the pack with growing indications that the injured Spaniard will still not be recovered from the knee injury which has kept him off the courts for four months. His possible target dates for a return are all over the calendar, but most centre on the 2013 season.

But Berdych will have a busy coming month on his plate with the Paris Masters, London World Tour Finals plus a November 16-18 Davis Cup final at home in Prague against Spain – almost certain to be without Nadal.

” London is always a goal every season. You have to play well the whole year to qualify. It will be special for me to play there for the third year in a row,” said Berdych.

The Czech added: ” London is always a goal every season. You have to play well the whole year to qualify. It will be special for me, making it for the third year in a row.”

Berdych beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, another London contender with the season in it’s final two weeks, dulling his qualifying chances slightly. Berdych became the first Czech to win the trophy in Stockholm since Ivan Lendl in 1989. Berdych has now claimed eight ATP career titles by handing Tsonga a seventh loss in a final.