Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY 7 NOV 2015
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SPORTSSaturday 7 November 2015
No. 1 Djokovic beats Berdych
to reach Paris Masters semis
Novak Djokovic of Serbia serves the ball to Tomas Berdych portunities for either player point, giving Djokovic a That gave him a chance
of Czech Republic during their quarterfinal match of the BNP to pull ahead in the first second match point. When to serve out the match, but
Masters tennis tournament, at Bercy Arena, in Paris, France, set, although Berdych did his shot was called out, from 40-15 his composure
Friday, Nov. 6, 2015. miss a set point at 6-5 on Djokovic challenged and deserted him.
Djokovic’s serve — his only the replay showed the ball “I was waiting for him to
Associated Press break point of the set. had landed just in, mean- make mistakes and he
“I definitely didn’t want ing that the point was re- didn’t,” Ferrer said.
JEROME PUGMIRE ranked Serb plays the win- to go into the third set. played. After a brief ex- Isner forced a tiebreaker,
AP Sports Writer Credit to Berdych for play- change, Berdych clipped and it was an exciting one,
PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokov- ner of the last quarterfinal ing on a high level, push- a two-handed backhand with a huge ace from Isner
ic saved set points in both ing me in the back of the into the net. whizzing just over the head
sets to remain on course between No. 4 Stanislas court with his depth on the “It was a really tough of a spectator and giving
for his third straight Paris shots,” Djokovic said. “(The match, a real battle,” him a 5-2 lead.
Masters title after beating Wawrinka of Switzerland match) could have gone a Djokovic said. “I’m just glad Ferrer fought back, return-
fifth-seeded Czech Tomas different way.” I managed to stay calm ing Isner’s second serve
Berdych 7-6 (3), 7-6 (8) in a and No. 7 Rafael Nadal of In the second-set tiebreak- in the important moments into his feet for 5-5, then
hard-fought quarterfinal on er, Djokovic moved 5-3 up and pull through.” saving a set point with a
Friday. Spain. in the tiebreaker only for Earlier, Murray beat 10th- forehand winner for 6-6.
Chasing his 10th title of a Berdych to pull back to 6-5. seeded Richard Gasquet But Isner unleashed a
brilliant season, the top- Second-seeded Briton But the Czech player wast- of France 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3 booming backhand down
ed two more set points with to reach his first semifinal at the line for 7-6, then sent
Andy Murray and No. 8 over-hit forehands. the indoor tournament. down another huge serve
At 7-7, another wide fore- “The level during the first set which just clipped Ferrer’s
David Ferrer of Spain won hand gave Djokovic his first was extremely good,” Mur- racket to clinch the set.
match point but the Serb’s ray said. “After that it was a Ferrer was given a warn-
earlier to set up a semifinal own forehand sailed long. little bit up and down.” ing from the chair umpire
Berdych’s forehand let him Murray, who has now at the start of the third set
showdown. down again on the next achieved his best match when he yelled out in frus-
record in a single season tration after missing his
With both players serving with a 67-11 mark, made fourth break point.
the decisive break in the But he easily took Isner’s
well, there were few op- eighth game then served next service game, al-
out the match at love. though the American was
Ferrer, the 2012 champion, clearly struggling. At 0-40,
beat 13th-seeded Ameri- he hunched over in pain,
can John Isner 6-3, 6-7 (6), and then took a medical
6-1 in a topsy-turvy match timeout at the change-
after failing to serve out the over.
match at 5-3, 40-15 up in “My stomach was just
the second set. cramping up, so was I some
Ferrer, who has won five pain,” Isner said.
titles this year, seemed to Ferrer held easily for 3-1
be racing to victory when and then broke again
he broke Isner in the eighth when Isner hit a big fore-
game of the second set. hand wide.q
