TENNIS in DEPTH.

Mardy Fish became the highest men’s seed to fall so far at the Australian Open when he was upset by Alejandro Falla on Wednesday. The eighth-seeded American produced an error-strewn display as he went down 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 7-6 (8/6). Having lost the first set on a tie-break, Fish became distracted by Falla’s use of the trainer – controversially it looked like the treatment was for cramps – and a solitary break handed the world number 71 a two-set lead. Fish rallied in the third, coming from a break down to force a tie-break he simply had to win. However, it was Falla, best known previously for blowing a two-set lead against Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2010, who made the running in the breaker. He blew his first two match points – the first with a nervy double fault – but when a third chance arrived Fish sent a backhand volley wide to give the Colombian a fine win. Fish admitted afterwards he “didn’t play great”.

Bernard Tomic delighted the home fans at the Australian Open on Wednesday with victory over Sam Querrey. In what was always a closely-contested match, the Aussie number one emerged a 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7/3) 6-3 victor under the lights of the Rod Laver Arena. Things did not start well for the home hope as Querrey won the only break point of the first set to claim it in just 24 minutes. Seven of Querrey’s 22 aces came in that opening set, but having had a good look at his booming serve, Tomic began to get a read on it. He hit back by taking the second, breaking serve twice, but the match hinged on the third-set tie-break. Tomic palyed some sparkling stuff in it to move ahead for the first time and as Querrey’s errors mounted so did his challenge. An error-strewn eighth game in the fourth set cost him dearly and he handed it away with a double fault when break point down. Tomic duly served out and he will now face another of the ATP’s rising stars, Alexandr Dolgopolov, in the last 32.

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The Australian teenager, who reached the semi-finals in the Brisbane International last week before going down to eventual champion Andy Murray, claimed the first set comfortably after racing out to a 4-0 lead. Although Fish rallied to level, the 19-year-old held his nerve in the decider, breaking in the last game; he sealed victory on the first of two match points. ”I’ve never lifted a trophy before at this level,” said Tomicm after his triumph at what is technically an exhibition event. “I’m proud to have my name on a trophy like this. ”It’s a good feeling and one that I’ll always treasure. Hopefully this will help me do well at the Australian Open.” Tomic’s success makes him the youngest player to ever win the event. It is also the perfect preparation for the start of the Australian Open, where he will meet experienced Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the first round. ”I want to do as well as I can at the Open. There’s a lot of pressure. but maybe once – perhaps not this year – I can win that title,” he added.

Fish had won the first two meetings of the pair but was also beaten by Tomic last autumn in Shanghai. ”I enjoyed this week, Bernard is playing great tennis,” said the American, ranked number eight in the world. “This is the perfect preparation for the Australian Open.”

Meanwhile, Austria’s Jurgen Melzer claimed third place in the tournament with a 6-3 6-7 (10/12) 6-2 win over Frenchman Gael Monfils.

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Rafael Nadal survived a stern examination of his title credentials to edge out the brilliant Mardy Fish in a late-night classic at the ATP World Tour Finals. Nadal had not played a competitive match since 13 October and it was all-too apparent as eighth seed Fish fought back from losing the first set to threaten a massive upset. The crowd at London’s O2 Arena were treated to a titanic decider as the clock ticked and both men gave absolutely everything to secure an opening-day win. Nadal eventually emerged triumphant at 2329 GMT, winning 6-2 3-6 7-6 (7-3) in two hours and 53 minutes of enthralling competition.

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All three players earned their spots for the tournament in London after Berdych beat Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 7-5, 6-4 Thursday in the third round of the Paris Masters. Tipsarevic needed to win the title in Paris to qualify for the season-ending event, which starts on Nov. 20.

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and David Ferrer have already qualified for the tournament for the top eight players in the world.

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With three spots still up for grabs in the chase to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, the fate of several players’ year-end championships hopes will come down to their performances this week. No. 6 Tomas Berdych, No. 7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and No. 8 Mardy Fish all control their own destiny – reach the final and they’re guaranteed a berth to London. Nicolas Almagro (9th) and Janko Tipsarevic (11th) each need to make the final to have a shot at qualifying. Frenchmen Gilles Simon (12th) and Gael Monfils (14th) have to win the title to keep their hopes alive.

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Two Barclays ATP World Tour Finals hopefuls, Tomas Berdych and Mardy Fish, both fell at the first hurdle. The fourth-seeded Berdych bowed out 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to Japan’s Kei Nishikori, who recently became the highest-ranked Japanese player in history. The 21 year old scored a Top 10 win for a second straight tournament, having also beaten Jo-Wilfried Tsonga en route to his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-final in Shanghai. ”I’m really happy the way I played today,” said World No. 32 Nishikori. “It was a slow start for me, but getting rhythm in the second set and playing really well in the third, so I’m really happy.

Earlier in the day, No. 5 seed Fish retired due to a left hamstring injury after one game of his match against fellow American James Blake. Berdych and Fish respectively hold down the No. 6 and No. 8 spots in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Year-To-Date Rankings and will be looking to maintain their places in the Top 8 at the conclusion of the regular season next week in Paris.

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It was the sort of match that could have tripped up the pre-2011 Djokovic but, although it was not easy for the world number one, he never looked in any danger. Not that the Serb has any reason to fear anyone after a season that has brought nine titles, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and only two defeats. Djokovic, who dropped only two games in the previous round against Carlos Berlocq, began well, breaking Davydenko in the fourth game. The Serb’s powers of defence really are extraordinary and, although Davydenko has made a career of toughing out rallies, his opponent was simply on another level.

Djokovic, who next faces Alexandr Dolgopolov, finished his on-court interview with a dance but he was not entirely happy with his performance. He said: “I played well in the important moments and managed to make crucial breaks in all three sets. He was playing very aggressively and I was aware of that before. I was very passive so I wasn’t really happy with the game. ”I didn’t feel great from the back of the court but I knew what to play and that’s what matters the most.” On 22nd seed Dolgopolov, he added: “He’s an up-and-coming player, he hits the ball really well, really hard. He’s quite similar to Davydenko in that respect. I need to be focused from the first point.”

Eighth seed Mardy Fish did not have things all his own way against 6ft 8in South African Kevin Anderson but he kept his nerve when it counted to win 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-3). The 29-year-old now faces a very tricky test against 11th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who has been in superb form and won a big-hitting contest with Spain’s Fernando Verdasco 6-3 7-5 6-4 on Saturday night.

Federer, meanwhile, will meet Argentina’s Juan Monaco after he ended the run of veteran Tommy Haas, beating the 33-year-old German 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-2 6-3.

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Novak Djokovic won the Rogers Cup on Sunday for his ninth tournament victory of the year and record fifth in a season in an ATP Masters 1,000 event, beating Mardy Fish 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. The 24-year-old Serb, the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, is 29-0 this year on hard courts and 53-1 overall. He also won the Rogers Cup in 2007. The sixth-seeded Fish was the only player to win a set a set against Djokovic this week. Fish has lost all seven career meetings with Djokovic, but gave the top seed a battle with his awkward mix of baseline and attacking play.

Djokovic, who played night matches this week, looked uncomfortable from the outset and needed to save six break points to get through the opening set. He saved his eighth of the match before Fish finally broke him with a perfect forehand down the line to take a 3-2 lead in the second set. Djokovic looked lost as he was broken again to close out the set. But Djokovic was near-perfect on his service in the final set, although he needed four break points, one of which he challenged a call and lost, before finally putting away Fish. Djokovic was in his first event since winning Wimbledon, while Fish has been the hottest player of the hard court season leading to the U.S. Open later this month. He has reached finals in three straight tournaments in the last month, winning in Atlanta.

In the doubles final, Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia and Michael Llodra of France beat American brothers Bob and Mike Bryan 6-4, 6-7, 10-5.

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