Wawrinka tops Murray to reach semis in ATP Finals

Stan Wawrinka is shown during a
practice session at the U.S. Open
in September. Photo by Paul Bauman

  No. 4 seed Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland defeated No. 2 Andy Murray of Great Britain 7-6 (4), 6-4 today to earn the last semifinal berth in the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
   Wawrinka will meet countryman Roger Federer, seeded third, in the semis for the second straight year on Saturday at noon (California time, Tennis Channel). Federer prevailed 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (6) last year.
   Federer, a six-time ATP Finals champion, has won 17 of 20 career matches against Wawrinka.
   In the first semifinal, three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic, seeded No. 1, will face No. 5 Rafael Nadal at 6 a.m. (Tennis Channel). Nadal, who seeks his first ATP Finals title, leads the head-to-head series 23-22.
   No. 1 seeds Bob and Mike Bryan will play No. 2 Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau in the second doubles semifinal at 10 a.m. (Tennis Channel).

ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS
In London

Round-robin singles

   Rafael Nadal (5), Spain, def. David Ferrer (7), Spain, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4.
   Stan Wawrinka (4), Switzerland, def. Andy Murray (2), Great Britain, 7-6 (4), 6-4.

Final round-robin standings

(Sets record in parentheses)

   Stan Smith group -- 1. Roger Federer 3-0 (6-1), 2. Novak Djokovic 2-1 (4-2), 3. Kei Nishikori 1-2 (3-5), 4. Tomas Berdych 0-3 (1-6).
   Ilie Nastase group -- 1. Rafael Nadal 3-0 (6-1), 2. Stan Wawrinka 2-1 (3-2), 3. Andy Murray 1-2 (2-4), 4. David Ferrer 0-3 (1-6).
    Top two players in each group advance to Saturday's semifinals.

Round-robin doubles

    Ivan Dodig, Croatia, and Marcelo Melo (3), Brazil, def. Marcin Matkowski, Poland, and Nenad Zimonjic (7), Serbia, 3-6, 7-5 [10-6].
   Jean-Julien Rojer, Netherlands, and Horia Tecau (2), Romania, def. Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut (6), France, 6-4, 7-5.

Final round-robin standings

(Sets record in parentheses)

   Ashe/Smith group -- 1. Rohan Bopanna and Florin Mergea 2-1 (5-2), 2. Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan 2-1 (4-3). 3. Jamie Murray and John Peers 1-2 (3-5), 4. Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini 1-2 (3-5).
   Fleming/McEnroe group -- 1. Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau 3-0 (6-0), 2. Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo 2-1 (4-4), 3. Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut 1-2 (3-5), 4. Marcin Matkowski and Nenad Zimonjic 0-3 (2-6).
   Top two teams in each group advance to Saturday's semifinals.