Federer and Djokovic Win There Opening Games

The world number one set the tone when he opened the third successive defence of his ATP World Tour Finals title with an embarrassingly one-sided dismissal of Kei Nishikori, 6-1, 6-1 in 65 minutes on Sunday afternoon, dropping just a game in each set against the only player to take a set off him in the tournament a year ago.

Earlier, Nishikori and Berdych played out the first real contest of the tournament, the O2 Arena witnessing a third set for the first time this week as the Japanese player came through 7-5 3-6 6-3.

The world number 1 also continues his winning streak of 23 matches.

Novak Djokovic laid down a marker in emphatic fashion in the first match of the ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday.

“Undoubtably, it was an incredible performance I was hoping I’d have coming into the match”.

“My team plays a big part in this – I have a great team of experts and most of all they are my friends and people I can rely on”. “I look forward to your support next year, and the year after that, and the year after that”. He’s far from gone.

“The way I know Novak, he’s going to find a way to be tougher to beat from now on”.

Berdych, in his sixth straight appearance at the World Tour Finals, has never won his opening match but has responded by winning all five of his previous second encounters.

Though he started slowly and was broken in his first service game, Federer rebounded with a love break in the very next game to get back on the serve.

Djokovic had been untroubled until the 12th game when Federer earned a couple of set points, converting the second with a sublime half-volley dink off a dipping Djokovic backhand.

Is Djokovic “better” from the baseline?

On Federer’s second match point, Djokovic shot wide and challenged, but the ball was correctly called out as Federer celebrated victory.

Defending champion Djokovic and six-time victor Federer have dominated the season-ending event for the last decade, lifting the trophy eight times between them in the last nine years.

Whereas he used to look vulnerable in long matches and occasionally retired hurt in the heat of battle, Djokovic these days looks invincible physically and mentally.

“I made a lot of, lot of unforced errors”.

The Serb did go on to win the match in three sets, but as he sat on his chair after losing that second set, he struggled to take a sip off his bottle because his hands, usually the steadiest pair in the business, were shaking violently.

“Undoubtedly, he was the better player on the court”.

“I didn’t have this follow-through on my shots, no depth, many mistakes. It’s a great honour to play Roger”.