Thaindian News

Paris, Nov 12 (IANS) Fifth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych has outlasted British second seed Andy Murray and he will now play Swiss Roger Federer, who became the seventh player in the Open era to win 800 matches beating Argentine Juan Monaco in straight sets, here at the ATP Tour Masters 1000 tournament here.

World No 1 Novak Djokovic, however, pulled out Friday with right shoulder injury and the walk-over by the Serb means France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 2008 champion, is through to the semifinals.

World No 4 Federer overpowered Monaco 6-3, 7-5, while top seed Novak Djokovic pulled out with a shoulder trouble.

Federer joined six other illustrious players — Stefan Edberg (806), Andre Agassi (870), John McEnroe (875), Guillermo Vilas (923), Ivan Lendl (1,071) and Jimmy Connors (1,242) - who have won 800 career matches. Federer’s 800th victim was Monaco, who lost 6-3, 7-5.

Federer has now won his last 62 matches against players ranked outside the Top 20 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings. The 30-year-old hit seven aces and won 67 percent of his service points for his 57th match win of the season (57-12 overall). He has won 17 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies.

Berdych, the 2005 champion, ended Murray’s 17-match winning streak, but the Briton was just two points away from winning the match in the second set tiebreak when the Czech, who Thursday qualified for the Tour finals in London, fought back to take the set and also the next to win 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.

“It was really one of the best of three-set matches I (have) played, even with the quality,” said Berdych. “All three sets [were] very close. I’m the happier one today. But I think it was just a great game.”

Berdych saved seven set points at 3-5 to win a 14-minute game, before Murray converted his ninth set point to wrap up the first set in which the Scot saved all five break points he faced.

Berdych kept the pressure in the second set and almost took a 4-0 lead and served for the set at 5-3. But Murray broke to catch up at 5-all. In the tie-break, Berdych converted his first set point opportunity at 6-5 for one-set apiece.

The third set went with serve to 4-4, when Berdych broke Murray to 15. Murray could have levelled at 5-5, but could not convert three break point opportunities. Berdych earned his 51st match win of the season on his second match point chance after three hours and 13 minutes of play.

The 26-year-old Berdych has a 51-20 match record this season, including a 4-6 against top-10 players.

“I got good practice going into London, which I didn’t have coming in here,” said Murray. “I’ll need to work on a few things. I was moving much better than I did in my first match by the end of this one.

A disappointed Djokovic, who won the title here in 2009, said: “I am very sorry for the tournament and the fans in Paris but my right shoulder is hurting again after winning my first two matches here.”

“The doctors have advised that I should rest my shoulder and start treatment as soon as possible. I look forward to returning to the court in London and competing at the Tour finals from Nov 20.”

Djokovic has a 69-4 season record and a 10-1 record in title matches, including three Grand Slam championships and five ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies.

– Indo-Asian News Service
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