Andy Murray set for Stan Wawrinka showdown

Andy Murray suffered a collapse in form as a rejuvenated Rafael Nadal won their group match at the ATP World Tour finals in London.

But the haircut provided no advantage, with Murray losing the first set 6-4 and eventually losing to Nadal in straight sets (6-4 6-1).

“Just another step for me (to) be able to play at that level against such a great player is good news”, Nadal said.

“I don’t know why such minor things make such a big deal”, he added.

“He was hitting the ball extremely well from the back of the court, but I didn’t really help myself”, said Murray. “I think he [Nadal] was hitting the ball extremely well today from the back of the court”, he said.

The first set of the match between Nadal and Murray was a high-level contest featuring impressive rallies and smart drop shots, but in the second, Murray’s game fell away as Nadal turned up the power. That don’t mean I going to play well on every match.

Murray ended up landing only 43 percent of his first serves, and only 38 percent in the second set. I starting to play a little bit better the middle of the first set. It was very disappointing not to win the match but I need to use it the right way for final match and for the Davis Cup.

The eighth seed was pushing for another break in the third game of the decider but Federer recovered from 0-40 to hold and then rubbed salt in the wound by breaking himself.

Nadal was playing aggressively, dictating with his forehand and keeping Murray firmly on the back foot. Murray had also never beaten Nadal in their four prior encounters in Britain.

During the changeover, the second-seeded Murray pulled out a pair of scissors and clipped off a few strands of hair. He wasted no time in cutting it, saying it only took him two seconds to get it done.

ANDY Murray reckons his ATP World Tour Masters defeat to Rafa Nadal is proof that he needs to sharpen up his game before the Davis Cup final.

And it was two more errors from the Australian that ultimately proved decisive as the American twins clinched a 7-6 (7/5) 6-7 (5/7) 16-14 win to move through to the last four.

The Scot saved three break points in the sixth game and then two more in the eighth, but his resistance faltered in the 10th as Nadal broke to love to take the opening set.

Even though he was defeated, Murray can still progress if he defeats Swiss Stan Wawrinka on Friday, who is ranked fourth.

Hampered by nerves and a loss of confidence for large parts of a mostly disappointing 2015, the Spaniard has performed much better since the U.S. Open to give his fans hope of a sustained recovery next year.