Dynamite News Nishikori upsets Federer in ATP Finals opener
Seventh seed Kei Nishikori defeated six-time former champion Roger Federer in straight sets on day one of the prestigious Nitto Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Finals here at the O2 Arena on Sunday.
London: Seventh seed Kei Nishikori defeated six-time former champion Roger Federer in straight sets on day one of the prestigious Nitto Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Finals here at the O2 Arena on Sunday.
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The Japanese ousted Federer, who was attempting to win the 100th title of his career, 7-6(4), 6-3 in a thrilling opening fixture that lasted one hour and 28 minutes. The two-time semi-finalist of the season finale, Nishikori, said, "I'm glad to win, it is never easy to play with my idol, it is always a big challenge against him, so it was great to win," according to the Nitto ATP Finals.
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After going down 5-6 in the first set, Nishikori made a scintillating comeback as he attacked Federer at the backhand to level the game. The Japanese then went onto secure the first game in a tie-break 7-6(4).
As the game advanced to the second match, Nishikori broke Federer's serve for a 4-2 advantage. Federer then made a flurry of errors that allowed Nishikori to end the game in his favour 6-3 and sweep the opening fixture.
The Swiss player, who has dropped to a 46-9 match record in the season, said, "I felt we both struggled throughout the first set."
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"I had my chances may be a bit more than he did. Then I started to feel better in the second set. I think we both did. The level went up. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep the lead that I got early. That was important, I think, at the end. That was the key to the match, that sort of - I guess - [a] 10-minute swing at the end of the first throughout maybe 1-1 in the second," Federer said.
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Federer will next face sixth-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem, who lost to the first-time qualifier and fourth seed Kevin Anderson on Tuesday in the round-robin group. (ANI)