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8/20/11 6:18 AM | Ricky Dimon
A place in the Cincinnati final will be at stake when Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych do battle on Saturday. The winner will go up against either Andy Murray or Mardy Fish.
Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych will be squaring off for the eighth time in their careers when they clash in the semifinals of the Western & Southern Open on Saturday afternoon.
Djokovic leads the head-to-head series 6-1, including 6-0 on hard courts. He has prevailed over Berdych twice this year; in straight sets at the Australian Open and via third-set retirement in Dubai. Berdych's lone victory at Djokovic's expense came in the 2010 Wimbledon semis.
Just over one year after that showdown at the All-England Club, Djokovic is obviously a completely different player. The Serb has stormed to No. 1 in the world thanks to an incredible 56-1 record for his 2011 campaign. Djokovic has sustained the momentum from his Montreal title last week with victories in Cincinnati over Ryan Harrison, Radek Stepanek, and Gael Monfils.
Berdych has been consistent if unspectacular this season, compiling 13 quarterfinal appearances but reaching only six semis and no finals. This week, though, the ninth-ranked Czech is in the kind of form that suggests something more is on the horizon. After thrashing Juan Monaco and Nicolas Almagro, Berdych ousted Roger Federer 6-2, 7-6(3) in Friday's quarterfinals. The No. 8 seed now owns a stellar 39-16 record on the year.
"It's a very fast court where he plays really well this tournament," Djokovic said of Berdych. "He won today against Federer quite comfortably. He was hitting the ball extremely well."
Berdych will have to hit the ball the same way or even better to have any chance against an on-fire opponent. Djokovic may not be able to afford a sluggish start like the one he endured against Monfils, but chances are he will refuse to let that happen again. Djokovic in two competitive sets is the pick.
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I think Berdych can pull it off - I will still be behind Nole though. It is still a different kettle of fish playing someone like Nole who defends so well.
samprallica , 8/20/11 8:22 AM
Sempre Novak! :)
Misel , 8/20/11 8:50 AM
Is Berdych actually going to play the semis? He sure looked injured yesterday...he may retire before the match even gets going...it may be that he manages somehow to make the first set competitive if he serves well, but Nole will lift his game and take the first set...then Berdy will retire...the same as Tsonga did...those poor souls are terrified of Nole...well, I can't blame them though...
natashao , 8/20/11 10:27 AM
natashao, ROFL
deuce , 8/20/11 10:40 AM
Well there were loads and tons of bad luck for Nole last night..( I am in Europe)...
Net points... UE's measurable in millimeters... on the other side Gael very inspired...
and... still... he managed...
Very important moment... game will go up and levels will be risen after this match...
He was all HEART AND BALLS!
AJDE NOLEEEEEEEE....FOR THE HISTORY....
Strange waters for Nole now... even if he farts now... that's some kind of record :)))
MARIA IS BACK!!!!!
zare , 8/20/11 11:10 AM
if they both played how they did for 2 sets yesterday, i think berdych could take it. but if it goes to three, novak will definitely win it
Sib69 , 8/20/11 2:16 PM
i just remembered berdych is injured. in which case... ignore my previous comment. novak will in easily. unless what i predicted previously actually happens... in which case i was right all along :P
Sib69 , 8/20/11 2:29 PM
how is Berdych injured?
RickyDimon , 8/20/11 2:47 PM
Ricky, he had treatment to his shoulder twice in the match.
deuce , 8/20/11 3:06 PM
the rumor is novak is also suffering the pain in his right shoulder; he couldn't practice on the day he played la monf. so not sure if it is smart to keep playing cincy when uso is around the corner ....
rfzr , 8/20/11 5:33 PM
I'm also liking the Berd...Joker seems very vulnerable this week.
scoot , 8/20/11 7:39 PM
berdy, to win the semi
nole, too much already.
raghav , 8/20/11 9:49 PM
Haha... raghav... you are spamming.
NOLE ALL THE WAYYYYYYYYY... for 6th one this season!!!!
zare , 8/20/11 9:58 PM
This is painful to watch. Berdych is clearly in big trouble with his shoulder. Such a pity because he was playing well to start with. But at this rate it looks doubtful he will be able to complete the match.
ed251137 , 8/20/11 10:47 PM
Djoker has twice been lucky to survive against berdych this year.
few people may excite about murray vs djoker.;
champ00289 , 8/20/11 10:55 PM
Well... I am feeling kind a sorry for Tomas... he is such nice guy and he deserves more...
But, this is tennis... Nole can't do anything but say "OK, I will take it..."
Novak is also troubled by his shoulder... he was trying to release... Anyway he will be more than happy not to stay long on court.
So here we go....
AJDE NOLE... BREAK YOUR OWN RECORD... LET'S GO FOR SIX!
Montreal and Cincinnati... two Masters in two weeks... 10 matches in 14 days... USO doesn't look so difficult compare to this... at least you have a day of rest between matches... and not every match has to go in 4, 5 sets!!!
Tomorrow... well we will see... it's open... Muzza has his chance....
Champ00289... I am exited... ask Alex and Deuce??? ...not a real finale without Rafa and Fed ???
zare , 8/20/11 11:09 PM
btw... all congratz to natashao... you have a good crystal ball :) Well done, my dear Watson!
zare , 8/20/11 11:18 PM
The problem murray v/s djoker is murray is under achiver..
He wins upto masters level and when slam comes he loses it...whether at semi/final or even before QF(last year at USO where he was second fav for the title).
champ00289 , 8/20/11 11:28 PM
Hahaha...thanks zare...I even knew Murray would win :)...It is going to be very entertaining tmrw...at least I can sit and enjoy some nice tennis and not go through a nightmare and suffer as I had to when Rafa was playing...:(
natashao , 8/20/11 11:35 PM
Once is enough... this time you are wrong :)
zare , 8/21/11 3:21 AM
no, zare, you got me all wrong...I knew Murray would beat Fish...that is what I meant to say,...and for today, well, Murray is more rested than Nole but he really needs to raise his level to beat Nole...given that this is finals we are talking about there is no way Nole is giving him this one...it's gonna be difficult for Nole as Andy can run and defend for ages but I still think Nole is to win this one...anyway, it is going to be fun to watch...
natashao , 8/21/11 12:51 PM
my mistake natashao :))
zare , 8/21/11 8:38 PM
Novak Djokovic
Tomas Berdych
Cincinnati
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It's hard to expect anything other then Novak's win, even if this is the best version of Berdych in last few years.
vjakov , 8/20/11 7:39 AM