Watch Hot Shot as Novak Djokovic finds the range from outside the court. Watch live tennis at tennistv.com.
require([“modules/global/rolexAd”], function(RolexAd) return new RolexAd( analytics: gaCategory: “Outbound”, gaCategoryInner: “Rolex Clock”, gaClickAction: “Click”, gaToggleAction: “Toggle”, ); );
World No. 3 Andy Murray is through to his seventh tour-level final of the season after another dominant display in Paris saw him defeat 2012 champion David Ferrer 6-4, 6-3 in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Masters.
The Scot has dropped just one set at the ninth and final ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament of the year, with commanding victories over Borna Coric, David Goffin and the in-form Richard Gasquet also behind him this week. In Sunday’s final he will face Novak Djokovic.
“I feel like this year I have pushed him close and beaten him once,” said Murray. “But I also had, I think, two of the matches in Indian Wells and the last one in Shanghai, from my side weren’t good. But apart from those ones, I have been close. So it’s up to me to learn from the ones like the ones in Shanghai to make sure they aren’t as lopsided as that.”
Should Murray win the title this week in Paris-Bercy, the Dunblane native will be guaranteed the year-end No. 2 spot in the Emirates ATP Rankings for the first time in his career. Murray has won a career-high 68 matches on the ATP World Tour this season, second only to Djokovic’s tally of 76.
Murray improved to an 11-6 FedEx ATP Head2Head record over Ferrer as he reeled off the final five games of the contest to prevail in one hour and 36 minutes and reach the final in Paris for the first time.
“This is a tournament I’ve struggled at in the past,” said Murray. “It’s nice to come here, put a few good wins together, and I think a few very good performances, as well.”
Ferrer rallied from an early break deficit in the first set and almost turned the set around as he held four break points on Murray’s serve in the eighth game. But the Scot held from 0/40 and broke Ferrer to love in the following game before sealing the opener. From 1-3 down in the second set, Murray upped his level to race to the finish line.
“I do think I played some good tennis today,” said Murray. “I managed to shorten a lot of the points. There was some variety in there with the way the points finished, which was pleasing for me.”
The 28-year-old Murray has a 4-2 record in finals this season and is looking to add to the trophies he won in Munich (d. Kohlschreiber), Madrid (d. Nadal), The Queen’s Club (d. Anderson) and Montreal (d. Djokovic). The right-hander is chasing his 12th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown and third of the season.
Both Murray and Ferrer have qualified for the year-end Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, to be played at The O2 in London from 15-22 November. Ferrer has compiled a 55-13 mark this season and was looking to reach his ninth final.
ATP World Tour Uncovered profiles Kevin Anderson, whose hard work and continual improvement earned him a place in the Top 10 of the Emirates ATP Rankings for the first time.
require([“modules/global/rolexAd”], function(RolexAd) return new RolexAd( analytics: gaCategory: “Outbound”, gaCategoryInner: “Rolex Clock”, gaClickAction: “Click”, gaToggleAction: “Toggle”, ); );
ATP World Tour Uncovered looks at the impact Kei Nishikori’s success has had on Asian tennis and his popularity around the world.
require([“modules/global/rolexAd”], function(RolexAd) return new RolexAd( analytics: gaCategory: “Outbound”, gaCategoryInner: “Rolex Clock”, gaClickAction: “Click”, gaToggleAction: “Toggle”, ); );
The BNP Paribas Masters semi-finals on Saturday are led by top seed/World No. 1 and reigning two-time champion Novak Djokovic and No. 2 Andy Murray along with No. 4 Stan Wawrinka and No. 8 David Ferrer. The foursome also have qualified for the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London, Nov. 15-22. Djokovic and Ferrer (2012) are former champions here while Murray and Wawrinka are appearing in their first semi-final.
In the opening singles match on Court Central, Murray brings a 10-6 FedEx ATP Head 2 Head record (8-2 on hard) against Ferrer. The Scot has won the last three meetings, including their last encounter in the QF at Roland Garros in June. If Murray wins the title, he will secure the year-end No. 2 Emirates ATP Ranking for the first time in his career.
In the second match, Djokovic takes his 20-match and 28 sets winning streaks against Wawrinka in a rematch of the Roland Garros final in June. The Swiss No. 2 won that match in four sets to claim his second Grand Slam crown and end Djokovic’s 28-match winning streak on the season. It was also Djokovic’s lone Slam loss of the year (27-1). The Serb leads the overall series 18-4, including 13-2 on hard courts. Djokovic won the last meeting 64 61 in the QF at ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati in August. Djokovic is trying to become the first player to win six ATP Masters 1000 titles in a season and also claim a tournament record fourth title. Coach Boris Becker and former No.1 Marat Safin each have won three titles in Bercy.
STREAKS ON THE LINE: Djokovic has a number of streaks on the line going into Saturday:
– 28 sets winning streak since losing 2nd set vs. Federer in US Open final on September 14
– 20 match winning streak since last loss to Federer in final of Cincinnati on August 23
– 15 semi-finals won in a row since last loss to Federer in SF of Shanghai in October 2014
– 13 finals in a row since falling in QFs to Karlovic in Doha in January (opening week of year)
– 13 match winning streak in Bercy since last loss to Querrey in 2R (opening match) in 2012
SUCCESS IN PARIS: All four players have enjoyed success in Paris during their career:
– Djokovic 24-6 in Bercy (3 Titles), 48-11 at Roland Garros (3 Finals)
– Murray 16-8 in Bercy (1 SF), 28-8 at Roland Garros (3 SFs)
– Wawrinka 13-10 in Bercy (1 SF), 27-10 at Roland Garros (1 Title)
– Ferrer 21-9 in Bercy (1 Title), 40-13 at Roland Garros (1 Final)
EMIRATES ATP RACE TO LONDON UPDATE: Each of the eight singles spots at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals Nov. 15-22 has been secured entering the BNP Paribas Masters. Four of the ‘Elite Eight’ players coming to London are in the semi-finals.
EMIRATES ATP DOUBLES RACE TO LONDON UPDATE: Marcelo Melo debuts this week as the new World No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings, ending a 173-week run by Bob and/or Mike Bryan atop the rankings. No. 4 Dodig/Melo will move to No. 3 if they reach the final. There are two teams attempting to clinch the eighth and final spot at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals (Nov. 15-22). It will come down to No. 8 Bopanna/Mergea and No. 10 Pospisil/Sock, who will qualify if they win the title on Sunday.
CLOSER LOOK AT DJOKOVIC vs. WAWRINKA: Djokovic has an 18-4 record against Wawrinka in their FedEx Head 2 Head and here’s a summary of their previous meetings:
– Wawrinka beat Djokovic en route to his 2 major titles (2014 Australian Open, 2015 Roland Garros)
– Djokovic and Wawrinka have gone 5 sets in 5 of their 7 Grand Slam and Davis Cup matches
– From 2007 to 2013, Djokovic enjoyed a 14-match win streak over Wawrinka
– Djokovic is 9-0 against Wawrinka at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments
– Djokovic has won 8 of 9 tie-breaks against Wawrinka during their 21-match rivalry
– Wawrinka won his 1st ATP World Tour title by beating Djokovic in the 2006 Umag final (6-6 ret)
– 17-year-old Djokovic beat 19-year-old Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3 in their first meeting (2004 Aachen CH)
Novak Djokovic discusses his win over good friend Stan Wawrinka. Watch live tennis at tennistv.com.
require([“modules/global/rolexAd”], function(RolexAd) return new RolexAd( analytics: gaCategory: “Outbound”, gaCategoryInner: “Rolex Clock”, gaClickAction: “Click”, gaToggleAction: “Toggle”, ); );
Umpire Carlos Bernardes shows off his skills in Paris. Watch live tennis at tennistv.com.
ATP Staff
Watch as chair umpire Carlos Bernardes gets in on the action in Paris, flashing his reflexes during the Novak Djokovic vs. Tomas Berdych quarter-final.
require([“modules/global/rolexAd”], function(RolexAd) return new RolexAd( analytics: gaCategory: “Outbound”, gaCategoryInner: “Rolex Clock”, gaClickAction: “Click”, gaToggleAction: “Toggle”, ); );
They were meeting in the quarter-finals for the second time in a span of just three weeks, but the result would be different this time around. No. 4 seed Stan Wawrinka moved into the BNP Paribas Masters semi-finals on Friday with a tight 7-6(8), 7-6(7) triumph over No. 7 seed Rafael Nadal, avenging his loss to the Spaniard in Shanghai.
It was only Wawrinka’s third win over Nadal in 16 FedEx ATP Head2Head encounters dating back to 2007. However, the World No. 4 has now claimed three out of their past four match-ups. He will next face top seed Novak Djokovic, against whom he is 4-18.
In a match that stretched beyond 1 a.m. in Paris, Wawrinka would save three set points in the opening set, including two in the tie-break, to move ahead.
With an ill-timed double fault, Nadal would hand Wawrinka his second break of the match and a 4-3 lead in the final set. But with a chance to serve out the match at 5-4, the Magnus Norman-coached 30-year-old couldn’t close. Once again, it would come down to a tie-break, where Wawrinka again saved a set point to pull out an on-the-edge-of-your-seat win in two hours and 20 minutes.
The reigning Roland Garros champion has certainly had success on French soil, but the Swiss is still aiming for the first BNP Paribas Masters title of his career.
Wawrinka, who improved to a career-best 53-15, finished with 11 aces and converted two of five break-point opportunities in earning the win.
For the first time in a decade, Nadal will go without an ATP Masters 1000 title, having won at least one per year between 2005 and 2014.
Top seed/defending champion Novak Djokovic extended his streak to 20 consecutive wins on Friday, earning a spot in the BNP Paribas Masters semi-finals via a dramatic 7-6(3), 7-6(8) victory over No. 5 seed Tomas Berdych. The Serb now holds a 20-2 FedEx ATP Head2Head advantage over his Czech challenger.
It marked the first of Djokovic’s 680 career wins (ATP, Grand Slams and Davis Cup) in which he didn’t break serve. He is looking to become the first player to win six ATP Masters 1000 titles in a season.
Djokovic, who earlier clinched the year-end No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings for the fourth time in the past five years, now awaits the winner of the Stan Wawrinka vs. Rafael Nadal quarter-final.
Berdych, who was into his 15th quarter-final of the year, had a set point with his opponent serving at 5-6. But Djokovic fought off the break and went on to take the opening set in a tie-break, his 27th straight set won.
With his coach, Boris Becker, like Djokovic a three-time BNP Paribas Masters titlist, looking on, the Serb would save a pair of set points in the second-set tie-break and go on to pull out the victory in two hours and seven minutes. There were no service breaks in the match. Djokovic would finish with 19 winners and 22 unforced errors, winning 80 per cent of his first-serve points. Berdych amassed 38 unforced errors in the loss.
“I definitely didn’t want to go into the third,” said Djokovic. “But credit to Berdych for playing on a high level, pushing me in the back of the court with the depth of his shots, especially from the forehand side. I thought he did very well. It was decided in tiebreaks two times, and very few points, really, decided a winner today. Could have gone a different way. He had set point in the first set, as well. In the important moments, I just managed to hang in there, just stay tough. That’s what I’m most proud of.”
A Look At Novak Djokovic’s 20-Match Win Streaks
| 43 | 2010-11 |
| 28 | 2013-14 |
| 28 | 2015 |
| 22 | 2012-13 |
| *20 | 2015 |
*ongoing
David Ferrer outlasted John Isner 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2 to move into the semi-finals at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris on Friday. The American was unable to recapture the form which had allowed him to upset No. 3 seed Roger Federer the day prior and fell to 4-6 in 2015 quarter-final appearances to close out his season.
While Isner dominated on serve against the Swiss 24 hours ago (27 aces, no double-faults), against Ferrer he found himself consistently under siege. The big server fired 13 aces, but was only able to win 59 per cent of first-serve points against the Spaniard and faced 15 break points, saving 10. The American was limited by a stomach ailment, for which he received treatment in the third set.
Ferrer only produced three aces during the two-hour, 26-minute win, but backed up his delivery by keeping his opponent off-balance from the baseline. He won 79 per cent of first-serve points and saved three of four break points faced.
The 2012 Paris champion is gunning for a sixth ATP World Tour title this season, which would put him in a tie with Federer for second-most (Djokovic: 9). Standing in Ferrer’s way is World No. 2 Andy Murray. The Brit leads the pair’s FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry 10-6 and won the last three meetings.