At last the World Tour Finals are here, and the season’s top 8 players will battle it out in London, for the prestigious end of year Championships. Day 1 saw Andy Murray who won 3 titles in 6 weeks to qualify, go up against Asian trailblazer Kei Nishikori. Unfortunately for Murray, it wasn’t quite the homecoming he we wished for, as the Japanese superstar stunned the Olympic champ for the first time. In the other group B encounter, 6 times Tour Finals winner Roger Federer cruised past in straight sets, against debutant; Milos Raonic.
ATP World Tour Finals, London: Day 1 Sun, Group B
Nishikori bt Murray: 6-4, 6-4
Home hope Andy Murray who played for six consecutive weeks, in his bid to qualify for the WTFs, came crashing down to earth due to Japanese sensation: Kei Nishikori.
Murray had exhausted himself in the past 2 months, winning 3 titles in Shenzhen, Vienna and Valencia, plus a SF and QF in Beijing and Paris. Nishikori (Debutant) meanwhile continues to make even more history, as the first Asian man to qualify for the ATP Tour Finals.
Nishikori though had never beaten the Scot in 3 previous meetings. Unsurprisingly however, all 3 of those meeting came before his breakthrough 2014 season.
The first set was a it of a weird one, with both players taking their time to get used to things. Murray was the first one to strike, breaking Kei in the 5th game. Nishikori bounced back in devastating style, breaking Andy twice and sealing the opening set by 6-4.
Nishikori looked like running away with his momentum, when he raced to a 3-0 lead in the 2nd. Kei then missed 3 bps for a 4-0 lead, but Murray somehow held on 3-1. Andy though to his credit, never gave up and eventually clawed his way back to 4-4.
But alas, that mini comeback was the last hurrah for Murray, as Nishikori held serve and then broke Murray again for the last time, for a 6-4, 6-4 triumph.
Federer bt Raonic: 6-1, 7-6 (7-0)
They say a wine gets better with age. It must be then that as Roger Federer enters his twilight years at 33 years old, he also seems to be getting better and rediscovering his legendary talent.
Federer who qualified for the Tour Finals for a record 13th year in a row, is looking to end the year as World No.1 for the 6th time. But he faces an uphill task to usurp Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings, as the Serb holds a huge 1310 points advantage.
His opponent in his first match for the 2014 event, was another debutant in Milos Raonic. (after Cilic and Nishikori). The Canadian also like Nishikori has had a stellar year, highlighted by his maiden GS SF run at Wimbledon, where he lost to none other than Federer.
But just a few weeks ago in the QFs of the Paris Masters, Raonic. recorded his first ever win over Federer in their 7th career meeting.
So could Milos replicate that victory at an even bigger stage?
For the first set it seemed no, he couldn’t. Roger completely outplayed Raonic, bklitzing him 6-1 in less than half an hour.
Milos finally though came alive in the 2nd, taking it to Federer all the way.
Raonic’s massive serve soon found it’s juice and began to do it its damage on Roger. Countless BP chances fell to Raonic’s hands, but he was unable to take any of the. He even had set point up 6-5, but Federer once again snuffed out within seconds.
A few moments later and Raonic had missed his chance. Federer held his serve for the tie-break and didn’t lose a single point in it, recording a handy straight sets win.
World Tennis News:
Kvitova seals Czech Republic’s 3rd Fed Cup Crown in 4 years, with epic win over Angie Kerber.
Czech Republic bt Germany, 3-1 :Nov 8-9th, Prague
Day 1 Results:
Kvitova bt Petkovic: 6-2, 6-4
Safarova bt Kerber: 6-4, 6-4
Day 2 Results:
Kvitova bt Kerber: 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4
Safarova vs Petkovic: not played as Czech Republic took unassailable 3-0 lead.
Goerges/Lisicki bt Hradecka/Hlaváčková: 6-4, 6-3
All Things Tennis- from Hamza Shakeel 