Tennis: Wawrinka beats Berdych in opener at ATP finals

Stanislas Wawrinka marked his first appearance at the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals with a 6-3, 6-7 (0), 6-3 win over Tomas Berdych in their opening round robin match today.

Wawrinka - the only debutant in this year's tournament - got off to a strong start and then recovered from a slump in the second-set tiebreaker to win a hard-fought contest that lasted nearly 2 ½ hours.

Wawrinka and Berdych are playing in Group A, which also includes top-ranked Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer. Group B features Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin del Potro and Richard Gasquet.

After the round robin stage, the top two finishers in each group reach the semifinals.

"My first impression was really, really nice to be here," Wawrinka said. "I saw that tournament so many times on TV. To win my first match here was something really special."

The 28-year-old Wawrinka served well throughout the match, hitting 11 aces and winning 66 percent of points on his second serve. He also saved the five break points he faced.

The Swiss No. 2, who spent his career in the shadow of Roger Federer before reaching the semifinals at the U.S. Open this year, broke in the sixth game of the first set when Berdych sent a backhand wide. He then opened up a 5-2 lead before earning two set points on his serve with a forehand winner.

However, Wawrinka showed nerves as he missed three consecutive easy shots to offer Berdych his first break point of the match. But the Swiss raised his game at the right time and converted his fifth set point.

Berdych, who reached the semifinals of the season-ending tournament two years ago, hit his racket against the floor in anger after wasting a break point by fluffing a forehand in the fourth game of the second set. He missed three other chances to break but won the tiebreaker without dropping a point as Wawrinka made several unforced errors.

The Swiss recovered in the decider, breaking Berdych for a 3-1 lead after he double-faulted and sent a forehand long. Wawrinka, who had his thigh massaged in the decider, sealed the victory on his first match point as Berdych sent a forehand wide.

"As I saw the match, well, it was a very close game again," Berdych said. "It's been really about the small chances."

- AP