Breaking Down the Field – Day 3, Wednesday

Written by: Staff on 7th November 2012

Breaking Down the Field – Day 3, Wednesday

epa03458995 Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic returns to Andy Murray of Britain during their match the ATP World Tour Finals in London, Britain, 05 November 2012. EPA/KERIM OKTEN |

A closer look at the matchups on the third day of the Barclay’s ATP World Tour Finals being played at the O2 Arena in London, England:

Tuesday highlight: Well, that was quick. After the demolition of six-time champion Roger Federer over Janko Tipsarevic in just 16 games (6-3, 6-1), the Maestro was asked if there was anything he wasn’t good at. “I can’t cook,” was his response. “There’s many things I can’t do that I wish I could do. I can’t skate. I would love to do that.”

Wednesday, at 12 Noon:

DOUBLES: Robert Lindstedt / Horia Tecau vs. Mahesh Bhupathi / Rohan Bopanna:

Whoever can get over the pain of losses in their first matches will win this contest as both teams fell 12-10 in heartbreaking tiebreakers. The No. 4 seeded Lindstedt and Tecau to Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor and No. 5 seeded Bhupathi and Bopanna to Jonathan Marray and Frederik Nielsen.

Followed by SINGLES: Novak Djokovic vs. Andy Murray:

In the most anticipated matchup so far in round-robin play, the year-end No. 1 Djokovic takes on the home country favorite in what should be an all-out brawl. The pair always pick up their games just a bit against one another with Djokovic holding a slim 9-7 advantage head-to-head. Another similarity people also don’t realize is age as both are 25 and were born in May just seven days apart.

Wednesday, Evening Session:

DOUBLES: Max Mirnyi / Daniel Nestor vs. Jonathan Marray / Frederik Nielsen:

Both won 12-10 tiebreakers in their first matches with the Beast Mirnyi and Nestor having the advantage with the extra day of rest.

Followed by SINGLES: Tomas Berdych vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga:

Berdych holds a slim 3-2 head-to-head record over the Frenchman and like the other singles match-up of the day, the two share the same birth year (1985) as both players are 27 years old. Tsonga does have an advantage in overall ATP career singles titles, but just barely, nine titles to eight. All five of their matches have occurred on hard courts with Berdych winning the last one in their only final earlier this year 6-4 in the third in the Stockholm event.

SINGLES STANDINGS

After two days of Group play:

Pos Group A W-L Sets Games

1 Novak Djokovic 1-0 2-0 13-9

2 Andy Murray 1-0 2-1 15-13

3 Tomas Berdych 0-1 1-2 13-15

4 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 0-1 0-2 9-13

Pos Group B W-L Sets Games

1 Roger Federer 1-0 2-0 12-4

2 David Ferrer 1-0 2-1 15-13

3 J. Martin del Potro 0-1 1-2 13-15

4 Janko Tipsarevic 0-1 0-2 4-12