WTF Day 2 Recap

After the tough three-set wins for Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal yesterday, there were two more marquee singles matches on Day 2, as Group A played their first matches.  David Ferrer took on Andy Murray in the first match, and in a somewhat surprising result, Ferrer defeated Murray 64 75.  Ferrer went 0-3 in round robin play at last year's event, so already this is a much better start for him.  Murray had won the previous four meetings between the two players, and only dropping one set in the process.  I did not see the match, but I have read that Andy had a groin injury and he will decide on Tuesday whether or not he will continue playing.  If that is the case, I personally hope Andy stays in the tournament because like him or not, he is a great player and he is the home-country player.  Moreover, it would help Andy's image if he sticks through an injury and gave it his all in a fiery attempt to win the Masters Cup.  If he does decide to withdraw however, Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic will be in line to replace him, and he would be in a 0-1 hole needing to win against Berdych and Djokovic to have a shot at making the semifinals.  We will all have to wait and see until Tuesday when Murray makes his decision.

In the second singles match of the day, Novak Djokovic tangled with Tomas Berdych.  In the end, it was another three-setter (making three of the four singles matches 3-set matches), and Djokovic prevailed 36 63 76(3).  It was a very close match all around with one break deciding both the first and second sets.  In the third, Berdych got a break to go u 4-3, but gave it right back.  It went to a tiebreak, where Djokovic got out to a 5-1 lead and finished it out 7 points to 3.

So after the first round robin matches, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic did not look their best, but picked up tight three-set wins.  Andy Murray did not have the same fate and lost and now his tournament is in jeopardy.  Tough luck for Andy, but that is sometimes the way the cookie crumbles.  Day 3 features the US Open rematch of Fish vs Tsonga, and the most anticipated Federer vs Nadal encounter.  Both should be cracking matches.  Fish and Tsonga both need wins being at 0-1, so they should be extra motivated, and Federer/Nadal matches are always a treat, even if many Fedfans don't enjoy them.  On Wednesday, Ferrer will play Djokovic and Berdych will play either Murray or Tipsarevic, depending on what Murray decides to do.

Until next time...GO FEDDY!