Djokovic survives Thiem scare at ATP World Tour Finals

Nishikori is aiming to reach the final of the prestigious tournament for the first time, but he will have to survive a tough group featuring new world number one Andy Murray, US Open champion Stan Wawrinka and former Grand Slam victor Marin Cilic.

His joy was short-lived though as Djokovic roared through the second set in a mere 22 minutes, with Thiem winning just ten points.

Djokovic was warned for smashing a ball in anger in the direction of his support team sitting courtside, but firing himself up worked and he raced through the second set without dropping a game.

Djokovic, the defending champion, was questioned by journalists over the incident which evoked memories of his near-disqualification against Tomas Berdych at the French Open.

Completing their group are Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori and, while Murray hasn’t enjoyed the best of fortunes at the season finale in recent years, he’s sees no reason as to why this can’t be his time to shine. It could have snowed in O2 arena, as well, but it didn’t.

“It is not an issue for me”. “First of all, I was talking about having certain ups and downs that everybody has”. Novak Djokovic in joined in Group Ivan Lendl by No 4 Milos Raonic and first-timers No 6 Gael Monfils and No 8 Dominic Thiem.

Djokovic has finished four of the past five seasons at the No. 1-ranked player.

Nishikori’s first match comes on Monday when he faces Wawrinka in a rematch of the US Open semi-final won by the Swiss world number three earlier this year.

He has failed to win a title since claiming the Rogers Cup in July and suffered a first career loss to Cilic in Paris last week, opening the door for Murray to climb to the top.

Three sublime winners helped Thiem into a 6-3 lead but he twice double-faulted as Djokovic clawed back to 6-6.

He was warned for unsportsmanlike conduct after losing the first set but he then found his groove.

Before the start of play, Djokovic was a combined 23-0 against his group opponents, and 3-0 against Thiem including their Roland Garros semifinal, whom he had yet to lose a set to.

Thiem displayed nerves in the first set but the Serbian could not capitalise before the Austrian wasted a break point opportunity at 5-5. It was just the very high quality of his game that prevailed. “I started swinging more freely in the second set”. I feel a lot more level-headed.

“I just want to finish the year on a high note by playing well”, the Scot told BBC Sport.

Thiem, who met the watching Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho after the match, admitted that he had “lost a little bit of energy” after the opening set.

Thiem, a huge Chelsea fan, said: “It w as awesome”. It was right after the match.