• ATP World Tour Finals

Djokovic survives scare to fend off Berdych

Novak Djokovic was pushed all the way by Tomas Berdych © Getty Images

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Novak Djokovic shrugged off a sluggish start to open his ATP World Tour Finals campaign with victory over Tomas Berdych in London.

After Andy Murray's surprise defeat to David Ferrer earlier on Monday, Berdych threatened to produce another upset after he took the opening set off an out-of-sorts Djokovic.

But the world No. 1 saved match point on his way to a hard-fought 3-6 6-3 7-6(3) victory in a thrilling encounter at London's O2 Arena.

Djokovic pulled out of the Paris Masters a fortnight ago with a recurring shoulder problem, but despite showing no signs of injury, was helpless to prevent an inspired Berdych blazing to a 4-0 lead, the Czech consolidating a solid opening service game with an impressive early break as Djokovic surrendered to the Czech's relentless pressure.

But just Berdych looked to be firmly in control of the opening set, a brief lapse in concentration allowed Djokovic to break back, and the Serb held serve for the first time to claw his way back to 4-2. After such a blistering start, Berdych faltered briefly, but the world No. 7 hung on to hold serve. A double fault momentarily checked his progress, but he wrapped up the set with a clean backhand winner down the line.

Djokovic has only lost four matches all season, and the top seed started the second set with real intent, holding serve to love. In what looked like it could be the turning point in the match, Djokovic won a lengthy second game to break, before storming to a 3-0 lead.

Berdych stopped the rot to hold serve in his second game, but with the match heading for a third set, the Czech began to go for broke, and an attempted drive down the line flashed wide before Djokovic produced back-to-back aces to force the match to a decider.

After an edgy start to the third set, Berdych unleashed two monster forehand winners to snatch a break. But all his hard work was undone instantaneously as he allowed Djokovic to break straight back.

Berdych twice held his nerve to force Djokovic to stay in the set, and a double fault gifted Berdych match point, but he failed to capitalise and sent a forehand fizzing into the net. With the match set to be decided on a tiebreak, a horrendous forehand miss broke Berdych's resistance and Djokovic held firm to claim victory in two hours and 38 minutes.

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