LONDON – US Open champion Andy Murray withstood an early onslaught to beat Tomas Berdych in his first match on home soil since winning his maiden grand slam title and Novak Djokovic overcame Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as the ATP World Tour Finals began on Monday. Report by Supersport
Murray, greeted on court at the cavernous O2 Arena like a returning hero less than two months after beating Djokovic in Flushing Meadows epic to end Britain’s 76-year wait for a male grand slam winner, wore down Berdych to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
World No 1 Djokovic also had to contend with some blistering firepower from free-wheeling Frenchman Tsonga before registering a 7-6, 6-3 victory to move top of Group A.
Djokovic and Murray will face each other in the latest installment of their rivalry today when the winner will take a huge stride towards the semifinals of the year-ender.
Neither had it all their own way with Murray admitting he had struggled to deal with Berdych’s power.
