Rafael Nadal Beats Andy Murray at the ATP World Tour Finals

Trailing 2-1 in the opening set of his ATP World Tour Finals game against Rafa Nadal, something was clearly on Murray’s mind.

After losing to Rafael Nadal in the first round, Wawrinka knew a win was vital with the same going for Ferrer after losing to Andy Murray.

Nadal, beset by problems during the worst year of his career, at one stage slumped to 10th in the world – his lowest position since 2005.

But the 14-time Grand Slam champion showed how risky he could be in 2016.

“Against a home player the crowd is unbelievable”.

“Is just the beginning”, Nadal said. “I need to keep working so hard to try to keep going the same way”. It’s always hard to play David and I’m really happy. “I was enjoying on court”.

In the late match at the O2 Arena, Wawrinka and Ferrer were to play.

Murray strangely used scissors to snip his fringe during an interval, but it was Nadal who offered the cutting edge in numerous prolonged rallies and forced the Scot to repel two break points at 4-4. He wasted no time in cutting it, saying it only took him two seconds to get it done. Earlier, he had defeated Stan Wawrinka.

Murray, who beat Spaniard Ferrer in his opener, faded badly in the second set after Nadal finally broke serve decisively in the 10th game having wasted several earlier opportunities. Nadal was unfazed by any noticeable discomfort from Murray as he gladly accepted a few more mistakes from his opponent to get to match point. “I have had a different career also”, the world No4 said.

“I served an extremely low percentage of first serves (43%), maybe the lowest percentage I have served the whole year in any match”, said Murray.

Twelve months ago Wawrinka came here in exactly the same situation as Murray, with his first appearance in the Davis Cup final looming. Britain face hosts Belgium in the November 27-29 final on a specially-laid clay court in Ghent.

Wawrinka is the only player to have beaten Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam tournament this year – in the French Open final – and has won two Grand Slam titles since Murray won the second of his at Wimbledon in 2013.

But the third seed was determined not to let Nishikori pull away and pumped his fist as he broke back for 4-4 before a backhand into the net from Nishikori gave Federer the set. He lost 7-5 6-2.

Neither man was serving well but it was Murray who was paying the price, and successive double faults helped Nadal to a second straight break at the start of the second set.

Nadal could secure a semi-final spot later today depending on the result of the evening match between Ferrer and Wawrinka.