Andy Murray takes on David Ferrer after imperfect World Tour Finals preparations

The 28-year-old will now be guaranteed that milestone if he wins one of his remaining two group matches against Nadal and Wawrinka.

Murray’s victory means that Federer must win all his matches this week to end the year as the world number two.

At 45th in the world rankings, Bedene is clearly Britain’s second best singles player, and Murray was effusive in his praise after using the 26-year-old as a clay-court practice partner last week.

And he is unbeaten since 2012 as he bids to become the first player to win four successive World Tour Finals titles. Murray won 64 points to 49, a fair measure of his dominance, and his serve, although not at the level he has hit earlier in the season, was sound at 60 per cent.

“I feel good. Hopefully I can perform well here and in Belgium”.

“He’s very risky. He’s one of the best younger players on the tour and he’s going to be hard even for Andy to play”.

The first set stayed on serve for the first nine games, although Murray started applying more and more pressure as the set progressed, setting up a break point in the fourth game and three more in the eighth – though Ferrer saved them all.

“I think that’s what made things tough for Leon last time”.

The Briton, aiming to win the prestigious season-ender for the first time in his career, needed to be at full tilt to finally subdue his Spanish opponent 6-4 6-4.

“I think we were both really looking forward to the match”.

The opening game of the second set seemed to be a turning point as Wawrinka fought off seven break points but Nadal wrested the momentum back by fighting off two of his own in the next game, the second with an exquisite lob that the Spaniard celebrated with a leaping fist pump.

One lapse, when he was broken to love in the first game of the second set, was quickly corrected as he broke back twice to beat Ferrer for the 12th time in 18 meetings.

Wawrinka blazed a forehand to fall 5-3 behind in the opener and Nadal wrapped up the set with an ace. Nadal got to the baseline to serve for the opening set.

Nadal will face Murray on Wednesday, while Wawrinka takes on Ferrer. “I believe I’ve given myself the best chance to do that”.

The 14-times grand slam champion has won 14 of his 18 matches since a disappointing defeat in the U.S. Open third round by Fabio Fognini, reaching finals in Beijing and Basel as well as the semi-finals in Shanghai.

Djokovic, who routed Kei Nishikori on Sunday, and Federer tangle in Tuesday’s standout match.