By Erik Gudris
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Photo Credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
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(May 13th, 2012) Roger Federer's favorite color, at least for this week, has to be blue.
Federer, who faced Tomas Berdych in the finals of the Mutua Madrid Open, became the instant favorite to win it all after the early round losses by Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. But Berdych, whose big hitting game thrived all week at the high altitude event, wasn't about to give Federer his third Madrid title.
Good returning from Berdych to start the match saw him break Federer in his opening service game to take a quick 2-0 advantage. Berdych, who hit 14 winners and just two unforced errors in the first set, cruised to a 6-2 advantage.
But it was Berdych's dismal first serve percentage of 42% that suggested Federer could still find an opening in the big Czech's power game and that he did as Federer hit a brilliant inside out forehand to break serve and jump out to his own 2-0 lead. Federer looked poised to serve out the set at 5-3, but inspired defense from Berdych allowed him to break back and then eventually hold for 5-all.
But while serving to force a tiebreak, an untimely double fault from Berdych handed Federer the set 7-5 marking the first set the Czech had dropped on the blue courts all week.
Both men stayed in touch with each other in the final set until Berdych, perhaps feeling the pressure of trying to close out a huge win, tossed in a few more double faults to hand Federer a 4-3 lead. But once again the seesaw battle continued as Berdych again broke back for 5-all.
Berdych couldn't sustain his momentum though as serving at 5-6, he found himself down 0-40. Berdych managed to save all three match points, but he couldn't save the fourth one against him as Federer prevailed 3-6, 7-5, 7-5.
"It was a tough tournament and a brutal draw. Tomas played very well," said Federer. "I'm sure we will see each other many more times and they will be quality matches like this one."
Federer has now won three Madrid titles adding to the ones he claimed in 2006 and 2009. The victory marked Federer's 20th career ATP Masters title and with the win, he will now bypass Nadal and take over the No. 2 ranking on Monday for the first time since March 24th, 2011. Federer, since losing in the 2011 U.S. Open semifinals, is now an incredible 45-3.