Tomas Berdych saved a match point in a final set tiebreaker against Janko Tipsarevic to win 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) in his second Group A match at the ATP World Tour Finals on Wednesday.
Berdych wasted a match point in his opening match against Novak Djokovic but he turned the tables when Tipsarevic put a difficult volley just wide when leading 6-5 in the tiebreaker.
''I was a bit unlucky on Monday. I got luckier here,'' Berdych said. ''So, you know, 1-all.''
Tipsarevic double-faulted for only the second time to give Berdych his first match point, and the Serb slipped on the baseline to allow Berdych to put away a forehand winner.
Tipsarevic was a replacement in the tournament for the injured Murray, but though he said his knee was hurting after his fall, he didn't expect second alternate Nicolas Almagro to be called into action for Friday's match against Djokovic.
''We'll see what's going to happen when I cool off,'' Tipsarevic said. ''But my feeling now is that I will be ready for practice tomorrow afternoon.''
Berdych's win kept alive his chances of reaching the semifinals, while ending Tipsarevic's. The top-seeded Djokovic was to face David Ferrer later Wednesday, with a win for the Serb putting him through to the last four.
Tipsarevic began the match against Berdych knowing two wins could put him into the semifinals and he looked determined to make the most of his opportunity, breaking twice to claim the first set.
Berdych found his form in the second set to set up a tense decider featuring only one break point, which the Czech player saved.
Against Djokovic, Berdych netted a forehand on match point at 6-5 and then collapsed in the tiebreaker, but this time he managed to hold his nerve for only his second win in six attempts against Tipsarevic.
