ANDY MURRAY BEATS GRIGOR DIMITROV IN PARIS AND GETS HIS BERTH FOR THE LONDON @BARCLAYS YEAR END CHAMPIONSHIPS HELD AT THE 02 ARENA. BY RICHARD EVANS.

Written by: Staff on 30th October 2014

BNP Paribas 2014 Masters Tennis Tournament

ANDY MURRAY BEATS GRIGOR DIMITROV IN PARIS AND GETS HIS BERTH FOR THE LONDON @BARCLAYS YEAR END CHAMPIONSHIPS HELD AT THE 02 ARENA. BY RICHARD EVANS.

epa04470304 Andy Murray of Britain reacts during his round of sixteen match against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria at the BNP Paribas 2014 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 30 October 2014. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

A little clarity emerged from the rubble of the Omnipalais here at Bercy as Andy Murray confirmed his place in the ATP Finals in London by eliminating one of the contenders, Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-3.

It has been hard to find one’s way around this stadium this week as the whole place is under construction and work has only stopped for ten days to accommodate an event which is considered too valuable a money-spinner to pass up. Under the circumstances the organisers have done a remarkable job, moving the sponsor’s village to a two story tent alongside the stadium and leaving the player and media facilities much as they have always been.

For the first few days it has been equally hard to find a way through the mathematical calculations that will determine who gets into the elite eight man field in London.

Now it is clear that three of just four players will make it. Kei Nishikori, who is placed at No 6; Tomas Berdych at 7 and David Ferrer at No 9 will all qualify unless one of them loses in the quarter-finals on Friday and Milos Raonic goes on to win the title. With Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer looking eager and Murray seemingly indestructible at the moment, the chances of the big Canadian winning the whole thing seem slim. So, in all probability, Roanic will go to London as first alternate. The ninth ranked player will qualify because Rafael Nadal has pulled out to have his grumbling appendix attended to.

Murray has no grumbles right now which, for him, is an achievement in itself. He didn’t exactly bounce into press conference, that’s not his style, but he had already made his own little statement by signing off on the courtside camera, as winners do after every match, by writing ‘Bad Year’.

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria returns the ball to Andy Murray of Britain during his round of sixteen match at the BNP Paribas 2014 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 30 October 2014. EPA/YOAN VALAT

Andy Murray of Great Britain returns the ball to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during his round of sixteen match at the BNP Paribas 2014 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 30 October 2014. EPA/YOAN VALAT

It was his sharp, edgy Scottish humour revealing itself, as it does from time to time. “No, it wasn’t a jibe,” he said in reply a question. “It’s a bit of fun. People ask me all the time why I’ve had such a poor year by my standards so, yeah, you’re allowed sometimes to say something in response to that.”

Murray doesn’t think he has had a bad year. “It’s been a good year. Not my best year but I would have signed up for being in this position when I had surgery last year, I think.”

Not for the first time, Murray emphasized just how much work it had taken to recover from a back operation that involved a slither of bone being shaved off his spine. “Coming back from surgery is not easy at all and I learned that,” he said. “The first few months of this year were very difficult and I had to dig deep at the end to salvage the year, if you like.”

The chances of Murray returning to his position in the world’s top four on the ATP ranking were enhanced by yet another defeat for the Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka. The Swiss, who will be playing with Federer in the Davis Cup final against France at the end of next month, went down 6-7, 7-5, 7-6 to the lanky South African Kevin Anderson who makes his home in Delray Beach, Florida.

Wawrinka had his chances but, as has been the case too frequently in recent months, his confidence deserted him. “So, once again I’m extremely disappointed,” he said. “Especially when I was serving with new balls and I had match points. I didn’t take enough time before serving between the points. I missed a backhand, I believe. Things went too fast.”

It’s the mantra of so many players who have just lost a match. They fail to take time to think. And pay the price. Spectators often get irritated with the routines some players adopt – Greg Rusedski always going for the towel whether he was sweating or not; Maria Sharapova turning her back for a couple of seconds thought – but it is a deliberate attempt to make sure they do not fall into the trap of being rushed.

Wawrinka hasn’t been rushed out of London. Even if Murray pushes him down to No 5, he will be there and will be protected from immediate disaster by the round robin format used at the ATP Finals which allows for a player to suffer a defeat and still go through to the knock out semi-finals.

The round robin is also used in the WTA Finals and a loss to Simona Halep early on in Singapore did not prevent Serena Williams from going on to win the title, reversing the result against Halep. She said she felt no pressure. “I have nothing to lose because I have already lost,” she smiled. “It seems strange.”

In the evening Nishikori emulated Tomas Berdych, a winner of over Feliciano Lopez and David Ferrer who beat Fernando Verdasco earlier in the day, by reaching the quarter finals with a hard fought victory over the local hero, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. To disappointment of his fans, Tsonga double faulted twice while serving to stay in the match, missing one second serve by about six feet. It’s called nerves.

Topics: Andy Murray, Atp, Bercy, Bnp Paribas Masters, GRIGOR DIMITROV, Paris, Richard Evans, Stan Wawrinka, Tennis

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October 30, 2014 at 1:20 pm

@andy_murray BEATS @GrigorDimitrov IN #PARIS AND GETS HIS BERTH FOR THE LONDON @BARCLAYS YEAR END… BY @Ringham7- http://t.co/LMrMzSmR94

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