TOMAS BERDYCH THE TOP SEED AND JACK SOCK TO CLASH IN STOCKHOLM TENNIS FINALS

Written by: Staff on 24th October 2015

TOMAS BERDYCH THE TOP SEED AND JACK SOCK TO CLASH IN STOCKHOLM TENNIS FINALS

epa04993239 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic returns to Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus during their semi-final match for the Stockholm Open tennis tournament in Stockholm, Sweden, 24 October 2015. EPA/ANDERS WIKLUND SWEDEN OUT |

Tomas Berdych and Jack Sock will vie for the title at the If Stockholm Open after both claimed semi-final victories on Saturday.

Sock reached his second ATP World Tour final of the season with a comprehensive 6-4, 6-2 win over second seed Richard Gasquet, firing 11 aces during the one-hour and 22-minute affair. He converted on four of eight break chances, while saving four of five faced. The American, who claimed his maiden crown on the clay of Houston earlier this year, struck four consecutive aces in the last game to close out the match.

“I had to play well today to beat a guy like that,” said Sock. “He’s having such a good year, but today I was able to stay on him and dictate a lot of the points. I was able to get a rhythm at the end and close it out comfortably.”

It was Sock’s second victory over Gasquet this year, having edged out the Frenchman in three sets at the Citi Open in Washington. The 23 year old will next square off against Berdych with the title on the line, just one week removed from their lone encounter on the ATP World Tour at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. Berdych prevailed in three sets in that meeting.

The top seeded Czech advanced to the final after Marcos Baghdatis retired following the first set, in Saturday’s second semi-final. Berdych, a two-time champion on the hard courts of Stockholm, downed Grigor Dimitrov to win last year’s title and is bidding to become the 13th repeat tour-level winner this year, and the first since Roger Federer retained his Cincinnati crown. The 30 year old broke through with his first title of the year last month in Shenzhen.

“It’s not the way you want to finish a tennis match, but it’s sports and it’s unfortunate that it happens,” said Berdych, who punched his ticket to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals last week in Shanghai. “You just wish all the best for Marcos. He’s a friend and a great guy. I’m through to the final and there’s one more match to go.

“It was a tough battle (against Sock in Shanghai) and I’m expecting revenge from him. I just have to be ready. I’m strong and feeling good, so I’m looking forward to the final.”

Courtesy of the ATP and Original Link – http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/stockholm-2015-saturday-sock-berdych-reach-final )

Topics: Atp World Tour, If Stockholm Open, jack sock, Marcos Baghdatis, Richard Gasquet, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych

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10sBalls_com says:

October 24, 2015 at 9:20 am

-@tomasberdych THE TOP SEED AND @JackSock TO CLASH IN STOCKHOLM TENNIS FINALS- https://t.co/m1eHLH1tb4 @IfSthlmOpen #StockholmOpen #tennis