Berdych rolls over Roddick in Tour Finals

Berdych faces Nadal in the final match of Group tomorrow.

LONDON: Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych remained in the hunt for a place in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals after a 7-5, 6-3 win over Andy Roddick.

Berdych admitted he had been paralysed by nerves on his Tour Finals debut when Novak Djokovic brushed aside the Czech sixth-seed in straight sets. But, after over-powering eighth-seed Roddick, the 25-year-old will go into his final Group A match against Rafael Nadal tomorrow knowing a win would secure him a spot in the last-four of the prestigious end-of-year tournament at London’s O2 Arena.

Roddick seemed tentative when he served after that missed opportunity and Berdych took full advantage to earn a break point which he converted by curling a forehand winner down the line for a 6-5 lead. After scrapping to stay in the match for long periods, Berdych suddenly looked full of confidence as he comfortably served out the set to clinch a surprise win.

Soderling prevails

Meanwhile, Swedish fourth-seed Robin Soderling defeated Spain’s David Ferrer 7-5, 7-5 to keep his bid to reach the semi-finals alive. Soderling and Ferrer had both lost their opening Group B matches, so the loser of this clash was almost certain to be eliminated.

Soderling remains in with a chance of reaching the last-four if he can beat Roger Federer in the last round of group matches today. However, Soderling’s win also meant Federer needs a victory from that game to be sure of qualifying himself.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2010.