Berdych clinches Stockholm title, boosts London bid

STOCKHOLM (AFP) –

Czech Republic’s Thomas Berdych returns the ball to France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during the ATP Stockholm Open tennis tournament final match in Stockholm. Berdych won the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Czech Tomas Berdych boosted his chances of qualifying for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday when he defeated top-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the Stockholm Open final.

Second-seeded Berdych became the first Czech to win the Stockholm title since Ivan Lendl in 1989 as he claimed his eighth career crown.

Berdych is number six in the race to London while Tsonga is at eight with only three singles berths still up for grabs at the eight-man season-ending championship, to be held in London from November 5-12.

Juan Martin del Potro, the number seven player, won the Vienna title on Sunday to also stay in contention.