Djokovic, Murray storm into semis
Source: Agencies |
November 11, 2012, Sunday
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NEEDING to win only one set to join Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals in London, Andy Murray delighted the adoring home crowd by winning two.
The US Open and Olympic champion defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 7-6 (3) on Friday to reach today's semifinals, hours after Djokovic advanced by beating Tomas Berdych 6-2, 7-6 (6).
Because Djokovic won the early match at the O2 Arena in straight sets, Murray needed only to win one set to ensure his passage. However, he said he was unsure about what would get him through when he took the court, adding that coach Ivan Lendl just told him to focus on winning and not worry about just winning one set.
"I didn't know exactly what I needed to do. But obviously when he said that, I kind of realized," Murray said. "Then I just asked the umpire at the change of ends after the first set whether I was through or not. He said I was. That was it."
He won that set easily, too, breaking Tsonga's serve in the first and third games en route to a 4-0 lead.
Murray had another early break in the second set, but Tsonga got it back to even the score at 3-3 and eventually force the tiebreaker.
"I'm somebody who never gives up," said Tsonga, who lost all his three matches. "So sometimes ... you not play good, and you keep fighting, you keep believ(ing), and then it comes better and better, that's it."
Murray (2-1) finished second in Group A, while Djokovic (3-0) was first.
The ATP Finals is the last tournament of the season, and only for the top eight players in the world. In Group B, six-time champion Roger Federer has already qualified for the semifinals and will face Juan Martin del Potro in his final group match. David Ferrer is also in the group and can still qualify for the semifinals, but Janko Tipsarevic is out.
If Swiss Federer wins his group, he would face Murray in the semifinals.
"I think over the years, I got used to playing those guys a couple of times in a week or whatever," said Murray, who lost to Djokovic in the group stage.
"It's not something that I'm afraid of. I know it's incredibly difficult and challenging to beat guys like that back-to-back, but it's doable."
The US Open and Olympic champion defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 7-6 (3) on Friday to reach today's semifinals, hours after Djokovic advanced by beating Tomas Berdych 6-2, 7-6 (6).
Because Djokovic won the early match at the O2 Arena in straight sets, Murray needed only to win one set to ensure his passage. However, he said he was unsure about what would get him through when he took the court, adding that coach Ivan Lendl just told him to focus on winning and not worry about just winning one set.
"I didn't know exactly what I needed to do. But obviously when he said that, I kind of realized," Murray said. "Then I just asked the umpire at the change of ends after the first set whether I was through or not. He said I was. That was it."
He won that set easily, too, breaking Tsonga's serve in the first and third games en route to a 4-0 lead.
Murray had another early break in the second set, but Tsonga got it back to even the score at 3-3 and eventually force the tiebreaker.
"I'm somebody who never gives up," said Tsonga, who lost all his three matches. "So sometimes ... you not play good, and you keep fighting, you keep believ(ing), and then it comes better and better, that's it."
Murray (2-1) finished second in Group A, while Djokovic (3-0) was first.
The ATP Finals is the last tournament of the season, and only for the top eight players in the world. In Group B, six-time champion Roger Federer has already qualified for the semifinals and will face Juan Martin del Potro in his final group match. David Ferrer is also in the group and can still qualify for the semifinals, but Janko Tipsarevic is out.
If Swiss Federer wins his group, he would face Murray in the semifinals.
"I think over the years, I got used to playing those guys a couple of times in a week or whatever," said Murray, who lost to Djokovic in the group stage.
"It's not something that I'm afraid of. I know it's incredibly difficult and challenging to beat guys like that back-to-back, but it's doable."
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