Federer beats Nishikori in 3 sets at ATP finals

“It was important to strike again as quick as possible in the second set, and I did”. The 30-year-old Berdych reeled off five successive games on his way to win the second set and the decider was toe-to-toe, before the Czech flinched first. Federer’s six ATP World Tour titles this year is second only to Djokovic’s 10.

Despite the exciting conclusion, it was hard to foresee such a dramatic match here in the opening stages, as Federer grabbed an early break to lead 3-1.

Nishikori has struggled with a host of injuries during a disappointing 2015 and, still troubled by fitness issues this week, he could have allowed his season to fizzle out when a wayward backhand gifted Federer a break in the fourth game of the first set. Although Djokovic broke right back, Federer regained the lead a short time later and won the final four games.

“Yeah, you have those days as well, when you are not feeling your best, not even close to the best”, Djokovic said. “Credit to Roger for mixing up the pace, giving me always a different ball”. He used the slice and spin very wisely. He served very efficiently.

“I made a lot of unforced errors”.

Victory for Djokovic in the final group match against Berdych on Thursday would see the Serb through to the semis; it would also prevent Nishikori from progressing, regardless of whether the Japanese beats Federer. I served extremely low percentage, maybe lowest percentage I served the whole year in any match.

Djokovic beat Nishikori in his first match, and will face Berdych on Thursday for a spot in the semifinals. But I have had time to reflect on this match with my team and work on things that didn’t go the way I wanted them to go.

The record six-time champion made it nine by defeating, and eliminating, Nishikori 7-5 4-6 6-4 in a rousing affair – despite what had to have been one of the worst misses of his career – and awaits the victor of Andy Murray’s clash Friday with Federer’s buddy, Stan Wawrinka, in the semifinals.

Still Nishikori wouldn’t go away though, and again he fought back from 4-1 down to level at 4-4, as Federer continued to misfire with his serve. “That was a really big point. The way I know Novak, he’s going to find a way to be tougher to beat from now on”, he said. “I mean, last shot, I kind of went for it, closed my eyes”.

Wawrinka bounced back from a awful first-match loss to Nadal to prove he still possesses the desire and game to be a contender at these finals. “I was just trying to hang on and trying to fend off break points”. “Basically, that was the difference today”.

With Federer leading 6-5, he now has a break point chance to claim the frame. He broke again to start the second set and led 2-0, but Berdych won five straight games and eventually the set.