Nadal’s win ensures last-4 spot for Wawrinka
World number one beats fifth seed Berdych in World Tour Finals
Nadal has now won his 16th head-to-head encounter with Berdych, and his previous defeat against the Czech came way back in 2006. Photo: AFP
LONDON:
Rafael Nadal helped ‘good friend’ Stanislas Wawrinka into the semi-finals as he secured top spot in Group A at the ATP Tour World Finals with a victory over Tomas Berdych.
Nadal had already qualified for the last four of the season-ending event at London's O2 Arena and his 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 win against Berdych ensured a first-place finish with a 100% record from his three group matches.
Czech fifth-seed Berdych could have gone through with a win, but instead he was eliminated and Swiss seventh-seed Wawrinka progressed to the last four following his 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-1 victory over Spanish third-seed David Ferrer earlier on Friday.
"Stan [Wawrinka] came to the locker room and said good luck. I said I would try my best,” said Nadal. “It's a good result for Stan. He's a good friend of mine.
"I wish Tomas a good holiday and good luck for the Davis Cup final [against Serbia]. In the second set he played great and it was very difficult to stop him."
With the number one spot in the year-end world rankings wrapped up after victories in his first two Group A matches, Nadal was free to focus fully on his bid to win the Tour Finals for the first time.
The 27-year-old has only made the final once, losing to Federer in 2010, but he would love to end that barren run and cap a remarkable return to action this year after seven months out with career-threatening knee tendinitis.
Rafael Nadal helped ‘good friend’ Stanislas Wawrinka into the semi-finals as he secured top spot in Group A at the ATP Tour World Finals with a victory over Tomas Berdych.
Nadal had already qualified for the last four of the season-ending event at London's O2 Arena and his 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 win against Berdych ensured a first-place finish with a 100% record from his three group matches.
Czech fifth-seed Berdych could have gone through with a win, but instead he was eliminated and Swiss seventh-seed Wawrinka progressed to the last four following his 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-1 victory over Spanish third-seed David Ferrer earlier on Friday.
"Stan [Wawrinka] came to the locker room and said good luck. I said I would try my best,” said Nadal. “It's a good result for Stan. He's a good friend of mine.
"I wish Tomas a good holiday and good luck for the Davis Cup final [against Serbia]. In the second set he played great and it was very difficult to stop him."
With the number one spot in the year-end world rankings wrapped up after victories in his first two Group A matches, Nadal was free to focus fully on his bid to win the Tour Finals for the first time.
The 27-year-old has only made the final once, losing to Federer in 2010, but he would love to end that barren run and cap a remarkable return to action this year after seven months out with career-threatening knee tendinitis.