Berdych targets revenge mission with Murray playing at home
WORLD No6 Tomas Berdych has revealed a desire to avenge his defeat at the US Open to eventual champion Andy Murray when the two meet in London in the opening singles match of the ATP World Tour finals today.
In exceptionally windy, difficult conditions at Flushing Meadows in September, Murray secured a 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (9-7) victory to deny the Czech a place in the second Grand Slam final of his career, a result he hopes to reverse at the O2 Arena, though he accepts that as starts to any tennis tournaments go he could scarcely have planned for anything more difficult.
“Playing Andy is clearly one of the hardest of starts, but that’s how it is,” said Berdych. “And it’s kind of a small revenge for the US Open. But it’s another match, and I hope that we are going to play each other in many more matches in the future.
“The crowd’s going to be on his side, but they’re one of the best I’ve ever played [in front of]”.
The Spaniard David Ferrer is another of the single tournament’s eight players, but he was yesterday competing in the final of the Paris Masters, in which he defeated Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz – who had eliminated Murray in the third round – 6-4. 6-2.
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Singles
Andy Murray v Tomas Berdych, 1.45pm
Novak Djokovic v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 7.45pm
Doubles
M Mirnyi/D Nestor v R Lindstedt/H Tecau, 12pm; B Bryan/M Bryan v M Granollers/M Lopez, 6pm