Nadal rips umpire but marches into semis

Murray claims crushing win over Ferrer to advance in ATP World Tour Finals.

LONDON: Rafael Nadal launched a furious blast at umpire Carlos Bernardes as the world number one clinched his place in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 win over Tomas Berdych.

Nadal felt aggrieved when Brazilian official Bernardes awarded a point to Berdych after the Czech sixth-seed successfully challenged a call that his shot had gone out. The Spaniard responded to the decision with a prolonged rant at the umpire before eventually continuing the match.

The Spaniard then took out his frustration on Berdych to secure the set to reach the last-four. Nadal qualifies as Group A winner and will play Andy Murray, while Berdych has no chance of making the last-four.

Berdych earned two break points in Nadal’s first service game after which the Spaniard put the Czech’s serve under pressure to win two break points and then eventually claim the tie-breaker. He broke in the fourth game of the second set after Berdych unwisely opted for a drop-shot from the baseline that flopped apologetically into the net.

Nadal went for the kill and broke again for a 5-1 lead before serving out the match.

Murray victorious

Meanwhile, Murray also stormed into the semi-finals with a 6-2, 6-2 win against David Ferrer in just one hour and nine minutes.  Roger Federer’s win against Robin Soderling earlier eased Murray’s path to the last-four as the Scot only needed to secure one set to book his place.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2010.