Berdych stuns Murray, meets Djokovic
Source: Agencies |
April 21, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CZECH Tomas Berdych overpowered world No. 4 Andy Murray in the Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinal yesterday to set up a clash with top seed Novak Djokovic in the season's first big claycourt event.
Berdych, the sixth seed, made the Briton dizzy as he relied on his powerful forehand to prevail 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3 in two hours and 48 minutes.
The Czech, who already reached the semifinal of the Mediterranean glamour tournament in 2007, will face world No. 1 Djokovic after the Serb thrashed Dutchman Robin Haase 6-4, 6-2 in 77 minutes.
On a chilly morning in Monaco, Murray had the luck to grab the opening set as Berdych wasted four set-point chances in the 12th game before faltering in the tie-break.
As the sun eventually shone and the sea glittered, the world No. 7 tightened his grip and hit numerous winners to unsettle a frustrated Murray, who now has a 2-4 record against Berdych.
"He played extremely well today. He dictated a lot of the points. He went for his shots. He served very well, I think, too," Murray told reporters.
Djokovic, who had to control his emotions on Thursday to move past Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov a few hours after learning of his grandfather's death, moved more easily past 55th-ranked Haase.
The packed crowd gave the Serb a standing ovation and stayed supportive throughout the match. Djokovic easily beat the Dutchman despite having some trouble focusing in the first set, in which he loosened up to let Haase recover from 1-4 to 4-4.
Later, seven-time defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain was to play Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka and fourth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was to face Gilles Simon in an all-French match.
Berdych, the sixth seed, made the Briton dizzy as he relied on his powerful forehand to prevail 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3 in two hours and 48 minutes.
The Czech, who already reached the semifinal of the Mediterranean glamour tournament in 2007, will face world No. 1 Djokovic after the Serb thrashed Dutchman Robin Haase 6-4, 6-2 in 77 minutes.
On a chilly morning in Monaco, Murray had the luck to grab the opening set as Berdych wasted four set-point chances in the 12th game before faltering in the tie-break.
As the sun eventually shone and the sea glittered, the world No. 7 tightened his grip and hit numerous winners to unsettle a frustrated Murray, who now has a 2-4 record against Berdych.
"He played extremely well today. He dictated a lot of the points. He went for his shots. He served very well, I think, too," Murray told reporters.
Djokovic, who had to control his emotions on Thursday to move past Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov a few hours after learning of his grandfather's death, moved more easily past 55th-ranked Haase.
The packed crowd gave the Serb a standing ovation and stayed supportive throughout the match. Djokovic easily beat the Dutchman despite having some trouble focusing in the first set, in which he loosened up to let Haase recover from 1-4 to 4-4.
Later, seven-time defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain was to play Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka and fourth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was to face Gilles Simon in an all-French match.
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