Tuesday is an eagerly anticipated day at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals as the Stan Smith group plays its second set of round robin matches inside the o2 Arena.
The singles matches sees Tomas Berdych playing Kei Nishikori for the right to keep their qualifying hopes alive ahead of the big one between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Jamie Murray and the Bryans are in action in the doubles.
Although not mathematically certainly the case, the sheer fact they both took heavy beatings in their opening match means that the loser of Berdych against Nishikori will be out of the tournament. They would need a near miracle to qualify at the very least.
Berdych looked to be set to really challenge Federer in his first match when he broke the Swiss star early on in the first set but that was pretty much as good as it got for the Czech as he lost in straight sets and never really looked to offer much when things went against him.
It would be hard to be too critical of Kei Nishikori in his first match because he felt the extreme level of Novak Djokovic’s brilliance but there were times when the Japanese star had Djokovic on the run and that will give him some belief that he can get his way back into this event.
There are always fears over Nishikori’s fitness in these things but I didn’t detect him playing easy or favouring a physical problem against Djokovic, he was just outplayed but I would be more concerned with Berdych’s performance than Nishikori’s.
Berdych’s serving was rotten. He made just 36% of first serves in the first set against Federer and it goes without saying that if he serves like that here he’s going to get a good beating. Nishikori wasn’t brilliant with the opening blow but he won’t have to be quite so precise here so his margins immediately improve.
Nishikori has won three of the four meetings between these two and based on the opening matches I fancy he will come through this one too at a pretty nice price.
The other match will have tennis fans across the world on the edge of their seats. Djokovic has been mesmerising in recent times but if anyone can trouble him it is Federer with the movement and variety that he has.
Andy Murray claimed on Monday that he believes this is a court you can serve and volley successfully on and I’m sure Federer’s gameplan will be littered with that play. If he can do that successfully then I believe there is a set in this for Federer.
Generally when these two meet even when Federer is beaten he finds a way to take a set before Djokovic gets too strong so I’m tempted by the Swiss man with a 3.5 game start but that line is probably about right so I’ll sit back and watch two of the best there’s been show us just why they’re held in that regard.
The doubles competition is taking shape nicely and there is big pressure on the Bryans to win on Tuesday night. Defeat to Bopanna and Mergea in their opening match has left them vulnerable so their match against the Italian duo of Bolelli and Fognini is now must win.
Fognini and Bolelli pushed Murray and Peers all the way in their opening match so they are no mugs but the Bryans haven’t got where they are without raising it when they’ve really needed to.
Jamie Murray and John Peers can relax a little knowing they have a win under their belts but they can’t relax too much with their final match being against the Bryans so they’ll be determined to get it done. I think they probably will but they’re plenty short enough.
Back K.Nishikori to beat T.Berdych for a 4/10 stake at 2.50 with Stan James
