Murray cruises into last four of ATP World Tour Finals

Djokovic was already guaranteed to top the group while Goffin had no chance of progressing to the semi-finals, but there was still the small matter of almost £150,000 and 200 ranking points at stake.

Playing a match knowing victory is not essential is a odd scenario for sportsmen who rarely play anything other than knockout tennis, while Murray had three hours and 20 minutes in his already tired legs from Wednesday’s epic clash with Nishikori. That would either be in the semis or the final.

Murray v Raonic is live on BBC Two, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and online at 14:00 GMT.

The group stage will conclude when Nishikori takes on Marin Cilic in Friday’s evening session at 20:00 GMT, but the Croat can not overhaul the fifth seed to qualify.

Djokovic, whose year has tailed off since he claimed the French Open in June and was usurped as world number one by Andy Murray last week, has been prickly in London and argued with a reporter during a news conference on Sunday.

In a thrilling tie-break, Murray came from 3-6 down and saved four set points but crucially he was unable to take two set points of his own and Nishikori finally sealed it when the Scot missed a wild forehand.

But, the decline is all relative as Djokovic has now won 21 of his last 22 matches at the Tour Finals, keeping him on course to win the tournament for a fifth successive year and record-equalling sixth overall.

“The first set was tight, there weren’t many chances”, he said.

The Scot defeated Stan Wawrinka easily going 6-4, 6-2.

“He just played a good point”.

“I will try to think tonight or tomorrow what I have to do to beat Djoko. I respect that”, Raonic said.

Nishikori also won their only previous meeting here two years ago, and was impressive in beating an albeit lackluster Wawrinka on Monday.

It never happened in the history that the last match of the ATP World Tour determined the year-end No. 1.

And the US Open champion has no qualms about potentially knocking out the home favourite. “In the second set I’d already qualified for the semis, so maybe it was easier for me to play more free than him”, Murray told BBC.

“I know that the rules are strict, you have to follow”. This news story is related to Print/166036-Djokovic-expects-return-to-number-one/ – breaking news, latest news, pakistan ne.

“I think this format is exciting”, Djokovic said Thursday after winning his third straight match at the ATP finals.

Should Djokovic, victor of the event for the past four years, and Murray meet on Sunday it what would be their first clash since Djokovic’s French Open triumph in June.

In an early match at O2 Arena, Murray’s brother, Jamie, ensured he will finish the year the as the top-ranked doubles player, along with partner Bruno Soares.