RICKY DIMON REPORTS FROM LONDON / OPENING-MATCH LOSERS STILL WITH CHANCES TO TURN THINGS AROUND AT WORLD TOUR FINALS

Written by: Staff on 10th November 2014

RICKY DIMON REPORTS FROM LONDON / OPENING-MATCH LOSERS STILL WITH CHANCES TO TURN THINGS AROUND AT WORLD TOUR FINALS |

Four players lost their first match at the World Tour Finals. That always has been the case and always will be–barring a change in format. And every time they still have a chance to progress in the tournament and even win it. Such is the situation for Andy Murray, Milos Raonic, Tomas Berdych, and Marin Cilic.

Even Berdych and Cilic, who both lost 6-1, 6-1 on Monday in London, have opportunities to recover. Berdych has now lost his opening match in all five of his year-end championship appearances. In his previous four events, he has gone on to win his second one.

“This is a very unique tournament,” the Czech explained after getting manhandled by Stan Wawrinka. “You [start] with the best players in the world. You have no time to start up or play (a) first round with someone who is (a) little bit lower [in the rankings]. So this is a bit different. Let’s hope for better days. There is nothing less than I can just keep fighting.”

Cilic plans on doing the same after going down to Novak Djokovic in a mere 56 minutes. The ninth-ranked Croat was broken six times in seven service games and he mustered only six winners in total.

“I’m not used to (playing Novak) in the first match,” Cilic commented. “To put up my game already on a high level, that was difficult for me. “(I) just have to stay positive, not to let these things get into you. Still there is (an) opportunity to go through. That’s a positive part of it.”

Murray could not take many positives away from his Sunday loss to Kei Nsihikori, aside from the fact that he is still in the tournament. The sixth-ranked Scot served at just 58 percent and struggled in the return game even though Nishikori served at 45 percent and double-faulted eight times.

“I felt okay on the court,” Murray reflected. “I don’t think that was the reason I lost the match. If this was anywhere else I would be out of the tournament. I’m definitely going to have to play better if I am going to get through.”

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Andy Murray, London, Marin Cilic, milos raonic, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Tennis, Tomas Berdych, World Tour Finals

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10sBalls_com says:

November 10, 2014 at 9:07 pm

@RD_Tennistalk REPORTS FROM #LONDON/OPENING-MATCH LOSERS STILL WITH CHANCES TO TURN THINGS AROUND AT #WORLDTOURFINALS http://t.co/Y9ET5iiRJA
RD_Tennistalk says:

November 11, 2014 at 3:24 am

RT @10sBalls_com: @RD_Tennistalk REPORTS FROM #LONDON/OPENING-MATCH LOSERS STILL WITH CHANCES TO TURN THINGS AROUND AT #WORLDTOURFINALS htt…