Federer defeats Berdych into Paris Masters final

 　　PARIS, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Roger Federer defeated Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday to reach the Paris Masters final for the first time in his career.

　　The 30-year-old Swiss holder¹ of 16 Grand Slam titles will play on Sunday the winner between 2008 titlist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France and American giant John Isner.

　　A break of serve in the first game of each set was all the former world No. 1 needed to see off the challenge of Berdych who beat second seed Andy Murray in a marathon quarterfinal on Friday.

　　Federer won the 800th match of his career on Friday when he defeated Juan Monaco in the quarterfinals.

　　Federer made a storming start against a player who had given him problems in the past. He immediately had the big Czech on the defensive² and clinched³ a first break of serve when a rasping cross- court forehand forced an error.

　　The third seed powered through his own serve and had a break point to go 3-0 up in the next game before Berdych finally started to find his range.

　　Federer though was comfortable on his own serve and took the first set 6-4.

　　Berdych stumbled again at the start of the second set handing Federer two break points by netting an easy-looking overhead smash and he then netted a routine forehand from the baseline.

　　Federer, who won just his second tournament of the year last week in his hometown of Basel, smoothly⁴ moved 2-0 up and he never looked like being caught from there on in.

　　A win on Sunday would be just the second time that Federer has lifted a title in Paris with his only triumph at Roland Garros in the French Open coming in 2009 when he beat Sweden's Robin⁵ Soderling in the final.

1 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

2 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

3 clinched   

v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议）

参考例句：

• The two businessmen clinched the deal quickly. 两位生意人很快达成了协议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Evidently this information clinched the matter. 显然，这一消息使问题得以最终解决。 来自辞典例句

4 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

5 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。