RICKY’S PICKS AND PREVIEWS FOR THURSDAY’S ATP TENNIS IN LONDON: FEDERER VS. NISHIKORI, DJOKOVIC VS. BERDYCH BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 18th November 2015

RICKY'S PICKS AND PREVIEWS FOR THURSDAY'S ATP TENNIS IN LONDON: FEDERER VS. NISHIKORI, DJOKOVIC VS. BERDYCH BY RICKY DIMON

epa05030324 Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Switzerland's Roger Federer during their round robin game during the ATP World Tour Finals in London, Britain, 17 November 2015. EPA/WILL OLIVER |

Tomas Berdych may be eliminated by the time he takes the court at the World Tour Finals on Thursday night. Novak Djokovic will know if he has to win the match or simply take a set. All of that will depend on the afternoon showdown between Roger Federer–who has already clinched a semifinal spot–and Kei Nishikori.

(3) Roger Federer vs. (8) Kei Nishikori

Federer and Nishikori will be squaring of for sixth time in their careers and for the first time since this same tournament last year.

Federer is leading the head-to-head series 3-2 after getting the best of Nishikori 6-3, 6-2 at the O2 in 2014. The 34-year-old Swiss has won two of their three previous hard-court meetings, including two of two indoors. He also prevailed 6-1, 6-3 in front of his home fans in the 2011 Basel final. Nishikori pulled off upsets on the clay courts of Madrid in 2013 and one season later on hards in Miami.

The world No. 8 will have everything to play for in this one, even though he also needs some help from Tomas Berdych later in the day in order to reach the semifinals. Nishikori wins the group if he upsets Federer and Berdych stuns Djokovic.

After getting double-breadsticked 6-1, 6-1 by the world No. 1 on Sunday, Nishikori righted the ship two days later. Japan’s top player held off Berdych 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to keep his hopes alive. The back-injury concerns and horrendous serving that plagued him against Djokovic were things of the past.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori returns the ball to Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during their round robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 17 November 2015. EPA/WILL OLIVER

Federer–not Djokovic–has been the class of the tournament so far. The 34-year-old opened by hammering Berdych 6-4, 6-2 before upsetting the 10-time major champion 7-5, 6-2 on Tuesday night. Thus Federer has already clinched a semifinal spot regardless of what transpires on Thursday.

That will give Federer an opportunity to work on whatever he wants to involving his game, which almost certainly means a handful of SABRs will be on display. The showdown should be more competitive than it looks on paper because Nishikori will be inspired while Federer may be holding just a little bit back. Once it nears the finish line, though, the six-time World Tour Finals champion will be motivated by ranking points, prize money, and quite simply another win.

Pick: Federer in 3

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (6) Tomas Berdych

Regardless of what happens between Federer and Nishikori, Djokovic will not have clinched a spot in the semis before this one starts. If Nishikori beats Federer, Djokovic must beat Berdych. Should Federer defeat Nishikori, the world No. 1 only has to take one set against the Czech. As for Berdych, he will already be eliminated if Nishikori wins.

This will be the 23rd meeting between the two players, with Djokovic dominating the head-to-head series 20-1. Berdych has never defeated the Serb on hard courts in 17 tries, as his lone victories came at Wimbledon in 2010 and on the clay courts of Rome in 2013. Djokovic’s 17-0 mark on hard courts includes eight indoor wins and four at the O2. He is 8-1 in total sets against Berdych at this event, although a 2011 round-robin showdown ended with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3) scoreline.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Switzerland’s Roger Federer during their round robin game during the ATP World Tour Finals in London, Britain, 17 November 2015. EPA/WILL OLIVER

Berdych also managed to be competitive two weeks ago in Paris, where he never dropped serve en route to a 7-6(3), 7-6(8) setback.

Djokovic’s loss to Federer kept Berdych mathematically alive in Group Stan Smith, but it also means the top seed will be eager to make amends for that performance in what could be a must-win situation. Despite the recent setback, Djokovic is still an amazing 79-6 for the season. Tuesday marked just the second time in 2015 that he has lost prior to a final (vs. Ivo Karlovic in Doha).

Although Berdych is one of the most powerful players on tour, even he is struggling to hit through this court. He played particularly well against Djokovic in Paris, still lost in straight sets, and has not yet found the same level in London.

Pick: Djokovic in 2

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

Topics: 10sballs.com, ATP Finals, Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, Kei Nishikori, London, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych

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10sBalls_com says:

November 18, 2015 at 1:19 pm

-@Dimonator’s Preview And Picks For Thursday’s #ATPTennis In London: #Federer vs. #Nishikori, #Djokovic vs. #Berdych
https://t.co/Ty0CDELKNF
Dimonator says:

November 18, 2015 at 3:51 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@Dimonator’s Preview And Picks For Thursday’s #ATPTennis In London: #Federer vs. #Nishikori, #Djokovic vs. #Berdych
http…
10sBalls_com says:

November 18, 2015 at 7:34 pm

-@Dimonator’s Picks And Previews For Thursday’s #ATPTennis In #London: #Federer vs #Nishikori, #Djokovic vs #Berdych
https://t.co/Ty0CDELKNF