Berdych beats Roddick in 2 sets at ATP finals

The sixth-ranked Czech converted his first break point in the 11^th game of the first set, only minutes after saving two set points from Roddick. It was his first win over the eighth-ranked Roddick in four matches this year.

“I just went there, serve twice pretty good, turn the game,” Berdych said of the saved set points. “The last pickup volley was (a) very tough one, and I made it. And then the next game (I) just made a quick break, and that was the key of the game.”

In the second set, Roddick was annoyed by the advertising lights at the feet of the line judges, which flashed red sometimes while play was going on. Shortly after complaining to the chair umpire, Roddick was broken for the second time, giving Berdych a 3-2 lead.

Roddick smashed a ball high into the rafters in anger, and then broke his racket on his foot, drawing a code violation from the chair umpire.

“The neons in the back weren’t quite to the settled position. They were still advertising fun stuff,” Roddick said. “When you’re trying to track a ball, it’s kind of neon lights and stuff. Then Tomas noticed it. A couple of them just went out before we played a point.”

The match finished with the lights off.

Berdych, who is now 1-1 at the round-robin tournament, held serve twice after the incident and then broke Roddick again in the final game.

Berdych is making his debut at the season-ending tournament for the top eight players in the world. He lost to Novak Djokovic in straight sets in his first match and next faces top-ranked Rafael Nadal.

“Playing Rafa, it’s always great experience, even if you play on clay, grass, indoor, outdoor, whatever,” said Berdych, who lost to Nadal in this year’s Wimbledon final. “He played a really tough match (in) the first one (against Roddick). He was able to come back, won the match. Now he’s waiting for another tough, really tough opponent.”

Later, Nadal was to play Djokovic in the other Group A match. Both won their opening matches, and Djokovic can become the first player to qualify for the semifinals if he wins.

On Tuesday, Roger Federer stretched his record to 2-0 by easily beating Andy Murray 6-4, 6-2 in Group B, while Robin Soderling defeated David Ferrer 7-5, 7-5. All four can still advance after Thursday’s final round-robin matches.

In doubles, Wesley Moodie of South Africa and Dick Norman of Belgium beat Lukasz Kubot of Poland and Oliver Marach of Austria 6-1, 6-3. In the late match, Mahesh Bhupathi of India and Max Mirnyi of Belarus were to play Daniel Nestor of Canada and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia.