Berdych makes early exit in Valencia

File picture: Tomas Berdych's hopes of reaching the World Tour Finals in London next month suffered a blow as he was dumped out of the Valencia Open in the first round. Photo: Patrick Kovarik

File picture: Tomas Berdych's hopes of reaching the World Tour Finals in London next month suffered a blow as he was dumped out of the Valencia Open in the first round. Photo: Patrick Kovarik

Published Oct 22, 2014

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VALENCIA, Spain – Tomas Berdych's hopes of reaching the World Tour Finals in London next month suffered a blow as he was dumped out of the Valencia Open in the first round by Pablo Andujar 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday.

The world number six arrived in Spain full of confidence having won his second title of the season in Stockholm last week.

However, the Czech looked out of sorts as Andujar dropped only three points on his own serve and broke Berdych twice to close out the opening set.

Berdych had three break points to take a 3-2 lead in the second, but Andujar clung on and rolled off 10 points in a row to move within a game of victory.

A double fault from Berdych brought up match point and Andujar fittingly sealed victory with a brilliant cross court forehand winner.

The world number 46 will play Serbia's Dusan Lajovic in the second round.

Berdych's defeat hands Andy Murray a great chance to move above him into seventh in the race to qualify for the Tour Finals.

The two-time Grand Slam champion begins his campaign in Valencia against Austria's Jurgen Melzer later on Wednesday.– Sapa-AFP

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