Djokovic, Murray win opening matches at ATP finals

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Djokovic, Murray win opening matches at ATP finals

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Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray won their opening matches Monday at the ATP finals.

06 November,2012 04:36 am

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray won their opening matches Monday at the ATP finals, setting up a Wednesday showdown between two of the top three players in the world.The top-ranked Djokovic beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (4), 6-3 in Group A, hours after third-ranked Murray rallied to defeat Tomas Berdych 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.The ATP finals is the season-ending tournament for the top eight players in the world. Fourth-ranked Rafael Nadal, however, pulled out because of injury.Group B, which includes six-time champion Roger Federer, will play Tuesday at the O2 Arena.Djokovic saved three break points against Tsonga in the opening set, and then looked dominant the rest of the way.After winning the tiebreaker, the Serb broke Tsongas serve in the opening game of the second set, and then again in the final game.In the early match, the clang of an advertising sign must have served as a wake-up call for a frustrated Murray.The U.S. Open champion, playing at home in Britain for the first time since winning his first major title two months ago, failed to convert 10 break points before finally finding his game and beating Berdych.Murray missed all seven of his break chances in the first set, and then wasted three more in the fourth game of the second set. After the third, he whacked the ball in anguish, but even that failed to make it to the other side of the court. Instead, it clanged off the sponsor sign hanging on the net.Berdych then put a forehand wide, and Murray finally earned the break he needed to take the second set when his Czech opponents forehand sailed long, making it 3-1.In the third set, Murray didnt waste his only opportunity. He converted the one break point he earned in that final set to take a 2-1 lead, and then lost only three points on his serve the rest of the way.Murray was playing in Britain for the first time since ending the countrys 76-year wait for a mens Grand Slam champion. Although he reached the Wimbledon final and won the gold medal at the London Olympics, no British man had won a major tennis title since Fred Perry in 1936.The cheering at the O2 Arena died down once the match got going, especially as Murray lost the first set.