Roger Federer strode into the semifinals of the Paris Masters on the back of more tennis history with the Swiss marking his 800th career victory with a 6-3, 7-5 defeat of Argentine Juan Monaco on Friday at the Paris Masters.
The 16-time Grand Slam champion will face off on Saturday in a bid to reach a first career final at Paris Bercy when he plays Czech Tomas Berdych, who beat Andy Murray in a three-hour-plus marathon 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
The Swiss joined the elite group of six other players who have clocked 800 victories. Federer fired his seventh ace of the afternoon to put an end to Monaco, whom he crushed two months ago at the US Open.
Second seed Andy Murray took his heartbreak loss against Berdych after working for more than three hours. The Scot had multiple chances to take command, converting on a mere 15 of 17 break points. But it was the same story for Berdych, who managed just two of his 14.
Despite his disappointment — it took Murray nine set points and a 13-minute game to win the opening set — the Scot goes to London for the year-end World Tour Finals starting a week from Sunday prepared despite the end of his post-US Open win streak at 18 matches.
“I got good practice going into London, but I’ll need to work on a few things. I was moving much better than I did in my first match by the end of this one.
“I was really unhappy with the way I hit my backhand today, which is normally my most solid shot, so that’s something I’ll look to work on. I didn’t feel all that comfortable on my serve this week, even though I didn’t get broken the first couple of matches. “I was hitting my forehand well for 99 per cent of the match, so I’ll try and keep that up,” said Murray.
Djokovic withdraws
Top-seed Novak Djokovic faces a fitness fight to make it to London by next Thursday’s deadline after withdrawing from Paris with his continuing shoulder injury and handing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga a semifinal spot.
A day after reaching the last eight over compatriot Viktor Troicki, the world number one withdrew with the same problem which forced him to a fourth loss of the season last weekend in Basle.
“Sadly I have to inform you that I have withdrawn from the further tournament,” he said on his website. “I’ve pushed myself to the limit by playing, and after the match yesterday my shoulder got worse.
“For this reason, I have to put my health first and withdraw even though my urges as a professional player are making me want to play until the last drop of energy.”
