TOMAS BERDYCH WINS OPENER IN STOCKHOLM; JACK SOCK SETS GRIGOR DIMITROV CLASH

Written by: Staff on 16th October 2014

TOMAS BERDYCH WINS OPENER IN STOCKHOLM; JACK SOCK SETS GRIGOR DIMITROV CLASH

epa04437819 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic reacts after winning against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during their third round match at the Shanghai Tennis Masters in Shanghai, China, 09 October 2014. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL |

( Original Link and Courtesy of the ATP : http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/10/42/Stockholm-Thursday-Berdych-Sock.aspx )

Top seed Tomas Berdych opened his campaign for a second title at the If Stockholm Open with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Germany’s Dustin Brown on Thursday.

The 29-year-old Czech saved all three break points he faced during the 83-minute match, and claimed 78 per cent of service points. The 2012 champion (d. Tsonga) continues his push to qualify for the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for a fifth straight year. He is currently No. 7 in the Emirates ATP Race To London and needs to reach the Stockholm final in order to add to his tally.

Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in action against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during their third round match at the Shanghai Tennis Masters in Shanghai, China, 09 October 2014. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL

“It’s important for me to focus on myself, play good tennis and hit a clean ball,” said Berdych about his bid. “I want to have [my qualification] in my hands and decide it for myself.”

Meeting Berdych in the Stockholm quarter-finals is Marius Copil, who won his second-round contest against fellow qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 6-3 in 71 minutes.

Jack Sock set a quarter-final clash with defending champion Grigor Dimitrov as he upset sixth seed Jeremy Chardy 7-6(3), 6-3 in the second round. The American fired 14 aces, to 13 from Chardy, and converted his only break point chance to prevail in 79 minutes.

“I had to play my game, be the aggressor,” said Sock. “We both kind of play similar, looking for forehands and looking to dictate. I was able to squeak out a few points in the tie-break, which helped a lot, and I rode the momentum in the second.”

The 22-year-old Sock will play Dimitrov, 23, for the first time on Friday. “Obviously he’s been playing some pretty unbelievable tennis since winning here last year,” said the Nebraska native. “He’s jumped up the rankings pretty high, so I’ll have to play my best to win. It’ll take a full match from start to finish of my A-game. Hopefully I can bring it and it will be the first of many battles.”

Jack Sock of the USA in action against Japan’s Kei Nishikori during their second round match at the Shanghai Tennis Masters in Shanghai, China, 08 October 2014. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria hits a return to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their men’s singles quarterfinal match in the China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China 03 October 2014. EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA

Two other seeds fell on Thursday. Qualifier Matthias Bachinger, who had won just one tour-level match this season coming into Stockholm, defeated fifth seed Leonardo Mayer 7-6(3), 6-7(4), 6-3 in just over two hours. The German goes on to face Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, who prevailed against fourth seed Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-6(4) for a place in the quarter-finals.

Butorac/Klaasen Into Semis

Barclays ATP World Tour Finals hopefuls Eric Butorac and Raven Klaasen edged Finnish duo Henri Kontinen and Jarkko Nieminen 7-5, 7-6(6) to reach the Stockholm semi-finals. The Australian Open runners-up started the week at No. 9 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Team Rankings. They next face Jamie Murray and John Peers, who upset second seeds Lukasz Kubot and Robert Lindstedt 6-1, 6-7(5), 10-7.

Following his singles victory, Sock teamed with Treat Huey to reach the semi-finals by defeating the Bulgarian-French pairing of Dimitrov and Pierre-Hugues Herbert 1-6, 6-1, 10-6.

Topics: Atp, GRIGOR DIMITROV, jack sock, Stockholm, Tennis, Tomas Berdych

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October 16, 2014 at 4:55 pm

@tomasberdych WINS OPENER IN #STOCKHOLM; @JackSock SETS @GrigorDimitrov CLASH- http://t.co/IqOWynw2CX #tennis #ATP #berdych

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