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Live Commentary: Novak Djokovic vs. Stanislas Wawrinka - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live commentary of the ATP World Tour Finals Group A meeting between Novak Djokovic and Stanislas Wawrinka.
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Novak Djokovic and Stanislas Wawrinka met in Group A of the ATP World Tour Finals on Wednesday evening.

Wawrinka won the first two games of the first set, but Djokovic responded in spectacular fashion to claim the opener 6-3.

There was more one-way traffic in the second set, with the world number one winning all six games to secure his spot in the semi-finals of the competition.

Wawrinka can still qualify, but will need to beat already-eliminated Marin Cilic on Friday.

Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.


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Hello all! Sports Mole's ATP World Tour Finals coverage continues this evening as the defending champion Novak Djokovic faces Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in London.

Earlier this afternoon, Tomas Berdych kept his semi-final hopes alive by overcoming Marin Cilic 6-1 6-1. Cilic has now been eliminated from Group A after losing both of his matches in the tournament, leaving Djokovic, Wawrinka and Berdych to battle for the two spots in the semi-finals of the competition.

Wawrinka can qualify for the semi-finals this evening with victory over Djokovic due to Berdych's win over Cilic this afternoon. Victory for Djokovic would not actually guarantee his spot in the next round, but the Serbian would be pretty much there. Just a reminder that the match is due to start at around 8pm.

It is also worth nothing that Djokovic is attempting to become the first player since Ivan Lendl (1985-87) to win three consecutive ATP World Tour Finals. If Djokovic reaches the semi-finals with a 3-0 record, he will also be guaranteed the year-ending number 1 ranking regardless of Roger Federer's results in London and the Davis Cup final.

If Djokovic goes through with a round-robin score of 2-1 and does not progress beyond the semi-finals, then Federer will need to win this competition undefeated and win one live singles rubber in the Davis Cup final to claim the number one spot. It is all very complicated isn't it?!

The last time that these two players met was in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open earlier this year. Wawrinka came through that incredible match 2-6 6-4 6-2 3-6 9-7 to advance into the semi-finals and eventually claim his first Grand Slam trophy by beating a certain Rafael Nadal in the final.

In total, however, Djokovic has dominated the meetings between these two players. In fact, of the 20 matches, Wawrinka has won just three of them. In 2013, the two met on five occasions – all on hard court – and it was Djokovic that triumphed on each occasion. Who will triumph this evening?

In terms of recent form, Djokovic lost to Roger Federer in the final of the Shanghai Masters earlier this year, but has since won his last six matches, with that run of form including success in the Paris Masters, where he beat the likes of Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic to claim the title.

Wawrinka, meanwhile, made it to the last-16 stage of the Rome Masters earlier this year, but lost out to Tommy Haas. The Swiss also exited the Madrid Masters in the round of 32, but he did win the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this year – beating his fellow countryman Roger Federer in the final.

World number one Djokovic has won seven Grand Slam titles – four at the Australian Open, two at Wimbledon and one US Open, while the Serbian has won 20 Masters 1000 series titles. As mentioned, the 27-year-old has also won this particular tournament in each of the last two years.

Wawrinka, however, who is ranked at number four in the world, has won just one Grand Slam – the 2014 Australian Open, which ended three years of Djokovic dominance at that particular competition. The 29-year-old also reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon earlier this year.

"It is one of my favourite places to play tennis. I am really happy to be back tonight playing against Novak," Wawrinka has just told Sky Sports News in the tunnel.

Djokovic is currently on a 28-match winning run indoors, which dates back to winning this competition in 2012. His last loss on this particular surface came against Sam Querrey at Paris-Bercy in 2012. The Serbian's current streak is the third-longest winning run indoors in the Open Era.

Both players have just joined us on court. As expected, the atmosphere is just stunning inside this arena. Let's hope that the tennis matches up - I am going Djokovic to win in straight sets.

Djokovic wins the toss and the Serbian will indeed serve first...

The knocking up has just begun. The start is fast approaching. Let's get it on!

Here we go then. Can Wawrinka upset the world number one?

BREAK! Strong start from Novak as the Serbian whips a forehand past Wawrinka for 15-0, but Wawrinka responds with a sweeping forehand down the line. Wawrinka has 15-30 when Djokovic clips wide, but the Swiss then follows suit for 30-30. Wawrinka sets up break point when Djokovic hits a forehand long, but deuce arrives when Wawrinka then hits long of the baseline. The first advantage goes to Wawrinka, but Djokovic comes into the net for deuce two. Wawrinka produces a brilliant forehand to level at deuce three, before setting up his second advantage when Novak fires wide. Wawrinka secures the break when Djokovic hits a backhand wide. What a start!

Djokovic has 0-15 when Wawrinka drops a lob just long, before the Swiss fires wide for 0-30. Wawrinka moves onto the board when Novak returns a second serve long, before the Serbian finds the side-court for 30-30. Djokovic has break point when Wawrinka hits a backhand wide, but a powerful serve leaves the game at deuce. Eventually Wawrinka holds with a forehand pass.

Djokovic has 15-0 after hitting a powerful forehand close to the net, before producing his first ace of the match for 30-0. Wawrinka then nets twice in quick succession to move Djokovic onto the board. This match is shaping up nicely in the early moments!

BREAK! Wawrinka hits the net to hand Djokovic 0-15, before the Swiss fires wide to leave the score at 0-30. A double-fault then hands Djokovic 0-40, before Wawrinka slices to hand Djokovic the break. Poor from the Swiss there it must be said.

Djokovic produces another powerful serve for 15-0, before Wawrinka fires a forehand long for 30-0. Another long forehand hands the server 40-0, but the world number one then finds the net. Djokovic secures the hold, however, when Wawrinka fires long.

BREAK! Wawrinka's confidence is low and the Swiss nets for 0-15, before following suit in the next point for 0-30. Wawrinka then double-faults to hand Djokovic 0-40 and the Serbian breaks with a stunning drop-shot. Incredible tennis.

Djokovic moves 15-0 ahead when Wawrinka nets following a long exchange, but Djokovic follows suit in the next point for 15-15. Novak then misses a drop to hand Wawrinka 15-30, but the Serbian responds with a stunning ace. Wawrinka then fires a backhand long, before Djokovic holds when Wawrinka slices. That is five straight games for the world number one.

Wawrinka again loses the first point on serve as the Swiss hits the net, but Djokovic then follows suit for 15-15. Wawrinka hits the net in the third point to hand Novak 15-30, but the Swiss responds by winning a long exchange. An ace then hands the server 40-30, but a stunning forehand from the world number one leaves the score at deuce. Wawrinka responds with a volley at the net, but Djokovic answers straight back. The pair then exchange points, before Wawrinka holds when Djokovic fires wide.

SET! Wawrinka hits a backhand long to hand Novak 15-0, before the Swiss fails to return a volley at the net. The next point - a forehand winner - brings 40-0, but Djokovic then fires wide for 40-15. The set is secured, however, when Wawrinka hits a lob just long. Good stuff from both players there, but Novak has been in control thus far.

It was a strong start from Wawrinka, but Djokovic has now really found his level. At the change of ends, Novak looks calm, but Wawrinka looks a little down-beat. Set two will soon get underway.


BREAK! Wawrinka moves 15-0 ahead when Djokovic hits a forehand long, but the Swiss then fires wide for 15-15. Novak has 15-30 when Wawrinka hits a volley just long, before following suit in the next point for 15-40. An ace brings Wawrinka back to 30-40, but the server then hits a forehand long as Djokovic secures the break.

Stunning, just stunning from Djokovic as the Serbian hits a beautiful pass, which even Wawrinka applauds, to move 15-0 ahead, but the Serbian then finds the top of the net for 15-15. Djokovic then comes to the net to move 30-15 ahead, before Wawrinka hits a forehand wide for 40-15. The hold is secured with another pass at the net.

BREAK! A stunning drop-shot from Djokovic moves the Serbian 0-15 ahead, before Wawrinka nets for 0-30. The next point brings 0-40 as Wawrinka fires long and Djokovic secures the break when the Swiss fires another forehand wide.

A stunning forehand from Djokovic moves the world number one 15-0 ahead, before the Serbian volleys at the net for 30-0. Wawrinka moves onto the board when Djokovic finds the net, before the server fires long for 30-30. A powerful serve leaves Djokovic 40-30 ahead and the Serbian secures the hold when Wawrinka drops another forehand long.

BREAK! Wawrinka again fires long to hand Djokovic 0-15, before the Swiss follows suit in the next point for 0-30. Another error from the server hands Novak 0-40, but Wawrinka moves onto the board with a powerful forehand. The break is secured, however, when Wawrinka fires long once again. Novak will serve for the match in London.

GAME, SET, MATCH! Djokovic has 15-0 when Wawrinka hits a wild forehand wide, but Novak then finds the net for 15-15. The world number one responds in the next point as Wawrinka can only find the net, before a smash at the net brings 40-15. The match is secured at the first time of asking with a quite stunning forehand down the line.

Good grief - that was just stunning. A masterclass from Djokovic as he thumps Wawrinka 6-3 6-0. That was a little bit frightening from the world number one. On this form, he is unstoppable.

"I played a great match. The opening two/three games were quite long, but after that I managed to find my shots and he made a lot of unforced errors. He was not close to his best," Djokovic has just said on court.

As it stands, Djokovic sits top of Group A, while Wawrinka and Berdych are second and third respectively after both winning once and losing once. Cilic can no longer qualify after losing both of his matches thus far. Djokovic has a sets record of 4-0 and 24-5 in games - just stunning.

So there we have it. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to join us again tomorrow for more ATP World Tour Finals tennis. Until then!

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Matt Law
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Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic waves to the crowd after beating Martin Klizan of Slovakia during their men's singles semi-final match at the China Open tennis tournament in the National Tennis Center of Beijing on October 4, 2014
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