WTF Day 3: Federer in the Forefront

Hey Y'all. Galileo here.

Well, here we go again.

Bopanna/Mergea have gone through as top of their group after an emphatic 6-3, 7-6[5] victory over Murray/Peers. The 4th seeds now play a winner takes all match on Thursday. There were only three breaks in the match. There is always a Cinderella story in the doubles and it appears that this year it is the turn of Bopanna/Mergea. They are most likely to get the winner of the match tomorrow, though nothing is certain.

The Italians have had a miserable time. They lost in a very tight match last time and this time they were dispatched 6-3, 6-2 by the inspired Bryans. The match did not even last an hour with the Bryans never facing a break point. Taking 82 per cent of their serve points, the Bryans did not need to break the hour mark to see off the disappointing Italians.

Now for tomorrow. Herbert/Mahut have great momentum and I think that carries them through against 7th seeds Matkoswski/Zimonjic. They can still win the group despite a close loss on Sunday. Dodig/Melo have not lost in such a long time and Tecau/Rojer won’t be the pair that snaps the streak.

In the singles, Nadal will beat Murray. He will beat Murray because he has found form and also because Murray never beats Nadal. In the other match, Wawrinka avoids elimination and uses his unique mix of firepower and variety to oust the Spaniard.



McEnroe/Fleming: FEDERER d. DJOKOVIC
...Swashbuckling, aggressive and back to the usual. That was Federer. He was even aggressive on the backhand. The Swiss is once again ahead in his head to head with the world number one. On set point in the first set, he went big on two forehands then approached the net. Once there he pulled off a beautiful half-volley that barely kissed the line. In the next set he slowly took control, out-hitting Djokovic in the long rallies and the shorter ones. Djokovic has not lost as badly as the 7-5, 6-2 score-line in a long way. Of course this was closer than the numbers indicate but Federer seemed to have the victory once he won the second. Federer blasted 6 aces and broke 4 times. His serve was snapped just once. Clean and crisp from the outset, Federer put Djokovic’s passage through in doubt. Lose to Berdych and he could be in trouble. The Swiss goes through to another semi-final at the world tour finals.
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Ashe/Smith: NISHIKORI D. BERDYCH
...Nishikori ground out a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 victory at the expense of Berdych to keep himself in the group staged. With just five breaks the whole match, this was a match for bigger servers to enjoy. Berdych and Nishikori have long been on the fringe with few opportunities to rise up and take the ATP by storm. The forehand wings of both players were in particularly fine fettle. Berdych is now out of the WTF again despite some initial flashes of brilliance. Both players can also ascend in the rankings with a good show. The focus now is on Australia and both these men should get a strong seeding for Melbourne.
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