• ATP World Tour Finals

Wawrinka impresses on World Tour Finals debut

Ismail Vedat at the O2
November 4, 2013
Stanislas Wawrinka had won five of the last six meetings between the pair © Getty Images
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Stanislas Wawrinka showed no signs of debut nerves as he got the better of Tomas Berdych to kick off his ATP World Tour Finals campaign with a victory.

The Swiss is at a career-high eighth in the world rankings having been to the quarter-finals of the French Open and pushing Novak Djokovic all the way at the Australian Open, as well as losing out to the Serb in the semi-finals of the US Open.

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And he demonstrated the reason why he has qualified for the season-ending event at the O2 for the first time as he edged out Berdych 6-3 6-7(0) 6-3 in two hours and 25 minutes to kick off with a win.

Berdych, playing at the season-finale for the fourth year in a row, wobbled in the sixth game having held his serve comfortably in the opening few games.

With the break to his name, Wawrinka opened up a three-game lead to go 5-2 in front, and unlike Berdych was strong on his serve towards the end of the set, winning 92% of points when making a first serve.

Former Wimbledon finalist Berdych managed to force a decider after not dropping a point in the second set tiebreak, a set which lasted 65 minutes.

In the past, Wawrinka has struggled to stay with opponents due to fatigue, but the Swiss No. 2 put the disappointment of losing the tiebreak behind him to claim a debut win to collect his eighth triumph in 13 meetings against the Czech.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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