World Tour Finals – Day 5

Group B – third round

(4)Roger Federer d. (8)Mardy Fish                       6-1, 3-6, 6-3                    [ 1:48 h ]

It was a pure formality: Federer had secured first place in the group whilst Fish hadn’t any chances to qualify. The exhibition mood of the encounter of two 30-year-old guys was underlined at 4:1 in the 3rd set when Fish played an overhead with a frame, although the ball would have landed ‘out’, but Federer who could easily hit the ball back wasn’t interested in the rally at all, and a moment later both guys laughed… The American No. 1 had the best period in his long career between July 2010 and August 2011, thanks to that he participated in the World Tour Finals, but at the end of the season notched one of the worst periods in his tennis life losing 7 out of the last 8 matches, and I expect him to drop in the ranking outside Top 20 in the next twelve months, despite his optimistic post-match statement: “I’m going to go away 0-3, which is hard. But I had a great experience just being a part of this. It gives you a lot of ammunition to want to come back next year.”

(6)Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d.  (2)Rafael Nadal       7-6(2), 4-6, 6-3                 [ 2:42 h ]

It was the best match thus far, mainly thanks to Tsonga, who was dictating the pace throughout the match (46-14 in winners). He was winning his serves easier in the 1st set and confirmed it in the tie-break (Nadal lost one point on serve trying to hit the volley which would have landed ‘out’). The Spaniard increased the level of his own tennis in the 2nd set and made a crucial break in the last game – Tsonga saved three set points (all with overheads!), but in the end missed two risky forehands. In the deciding set, Tsonga enchanted the crowd a couple times with a brilliant points obtained at the net (even Nadal’s father Sebastian applauded). Admittedly he lost his serve with 3 double faults at 5:2, but in the following game won four straight points, ending the contest with an inside-outside forehand winner. “Tonight I just played, well, amazing tennis,” Tsonga said. “I was really aggressive. I had a good percentage on winners. I put a lot of pressure on him today.”

1. Roger Federer 3-0… 6-2
2. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 2-1… 5-3
3. Rafael Nadal 1-2… 3-5
4. Mardy Fish 0-3… 2-6

Doubles results:
(8)M.Fyrstenberg/M.Matkowski d. (5)R.Bopanna/A.Qureshi 6-2, 6-1
(3)M.Mirnyi/D.Nestor d.  (2)M.Llodra/N.Zimonjic 4-6, 6-3, [10-7]

 The pair Mirnyi/Nestor had guaranteed a semi-final spot. Llodra/Zimonjic had to win this match, no matter 2-0 or 2-1, and they led 3:1* (deuce) in the 2nd set – at that break point Mirnyi had played three volleys before Nestor won the point with his first volley during the rally (on the other side of the net only Zimonjic participated actively). In the ‘super tie-break’ the Belorussian/Canadian duo came back from a *3:6 deficit which allowed the Poles in advancement further. The final standing:

1. Mirnyi/Nestor 3-0… 5-2
2. Fyrstenberg/Matkowski 2-1… 4-3
3. Llodra/Zimonjic 1-2… 4-4
4. Bopanna/Qureshi 0-3… 1-6