LONDON TENNIS UPDATE FROM GLOBAL CHICK

Group A Previews – Wawrinka/Cilic & Djokovic/Berdych

 

If you can forgive us a moment to revel in the first three-set match when super-sub David Ferrer stepped in for an injured Milos Raonic to give Kei Nishikori a workout, we arrive at the last of the round robins, as the Group A boys being what feels like the first week of a Grand Slam to a close.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First up, perhaps surprisingly, is Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych, and with it almost certainly the anointing of the year-end No. 1 – as the Serb will secure that honour with a straight set of round robin wins.

 

At the start of the tournament, Berdych correctly surmised that in the Group of Slam winners (and him!) they would be battling for the No. 2 spot. After being hopelessly outplayed by Stan Wawrinka in his first round, the dapper Czech maintained his second round record and punished poor Marin Cilic, who has really seemed out of sorts this week.

 

Berdych could also be relied upon to come up with perhaps the best press conference line so far, commenting in his win over the Croatian:

 

“Let’s put it this way. With the way he played, he would never win a US Open.”

 

Facing a hefty deficit in the head to head against Djokovic, Berdych pretty much knows he is really scrapping for a chance to make the semi-finals over Wawrinka, who also had a shocker against Djokovic on Wednesday night. It has started so promisingly for the Swiss who had broken Djokovic in the first game, duly consolidated and then was completely dismantled.

 

Djokovic’s form has been outstanding and it has been pleasing to watch him come in a little more even though he knows that the conditions favour him standing back and dictating play. He has had the court smarts to push and hustle, but never needed to push too much.

 

The most Berdych can hope to give the paying public is maybe a push to three sets but with Djokovic’s form so far, it is more likely he will be back on the boat across the Thames in time for High Tea.

 

Meanwhile the Friday crowds will have a real treat, no really, of the two newest Slammies on the block. Wawrinka has a chance to try and combat Berdych for a place in the semi-finals – he reached this stage last year as a rookie after just making the cut, This year he qualified good and early, buoyed by both the Australian Open win and the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cilic has struggled all week, and with the exception of brightening the court with his bright yellow trainers, there has been little else of the quiet, attacking play that saw him sneak through the US Open draw and win his first Slam. With just a day to turn his fortunes around, his season is as good as over, and perhaps he should hope the dreary London weather clears enough for him and his trainers to take in a few sights.

 

Spare a thought for the rookies this year. Kei Nishikori has at least made a good fist of his chances, still in with a great shout of reaching the semi-finals whereas it has been a miserable time for Cilic and more so Raonic who practiced on Thursday before pulling out with a quadriceps tear that could have ruled him out for over a month, had he aggravated it any further.

 

The Final round-robins will fly the nest on Friday.

Topics: Atp World Tour, Barclays, David Ferrer, global chick, Kei Nishikori, London, Marin Cilic, milos raonic, Novak Djokovic, Tennis, Tomas Berdych

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