Tomas Berdych survived an unconvincing display to edge American Jack Sock 7-6, 4-6, 6-4.
Both men held their opening service games with ease. Sock forced love-forty in the second service game from Berdych, and broke on third opportunity when a Berdych forehand up the line could only find the net. Sock held, easily, and then forced more pressure on the Berdych serve, after an error and pass that Berdych could not deal with. The Czech managed to hold though, rediscovering his first serve to frustrate the young American.
Sock is amongst the ATP leaders in double faults, and his achilles heel returned at the worst possible time, serving his first double of this match on break point to level affairs. Berdych again offered him chances with love-thirty, but Sock could not find a way through this time, big serves, and big angles saw the world no.5 stay in front on the scoreboard. A second double for Sock saw him in trouble, at fifteen-thirty. Two Berdych misses would let him off the hook, and Sock would eventually hold.
Sock would see a break point in game nine, saved by Berdych, but Sock found another gear, smashing forehands to create another. Berdych got a short forehand from the service return to save and then hold. Sock held to love to put Berdych under the microscope again.
Sock could not find force much pressure though, in an easy hold for Berdych. Sock was put under severe pressure in holding to deuce, though he faced no break points. Berdych would not be denied in the tiebreak though, winning seven-three after a final backhand miss from Sock.
Sock would straight back to business in set two, holding to love and forcing a break point. Berdych missed a routine smash, and Sock led early. Berdych would break straight back, despite Sock saving the first of two break points with a second serve ace. A Berdych rally ball would land on the line in the next game, and a Sock miss-hit ensured that parity was restored.
Both men would continue to hold, Sock to love in game six, and to fifteen in game eight. Berdych was having a little more trouble, holding to thirty in game seven. A poor backhand from Berdych in game nine handed Sock a break and set point, and Berdych would push a passing shot long to ensure Sock levelled the set.
Sock would serve first in the final set, and he started proceedings with a love service hold. Berdych held to thirty, and Sock followed suit. Berdych dug himself out of a love-forty hole to hold. Berdych then turned the tables on Sock, creating a love-forty lead and breaking on the first chance. Both men would hold until Berdych would serve for the match.
Sock would fight hard in that game, moving to love-thirty, and then fifteen-forty, with an up the line service winner from the backhand side. Berdych would save the first break point with an unreturned serve. Berdych would then miss a match point, before Sock created another break point. He would miss though, and Berdych would eventually close out the win with an overhead smash.
