Nadal outlasts Ferrer to stay unbeaten at ATP finals

Ferrer’s dismal career record of 23 defeats from 29 meetings with Nadal suggested more misery was in store for the 33-year-old when the former world number one raced into a 3-0 lead before most of the crowd had even settled into their seats.

“Have been little bit tough year, in terms of odd feelings on the court for me”, said Nadal.

The Swiss had been heavily criticised for his performance against Nadal on Monday but he showed his fighting spirit to recover from 2-5 in the opening set against David Ferrer and win 7-5 6-2.

Ostensibly there was nothing for either man to play for – 200 ranking points and £109,000 aside – with Nadal already guaranteed top spot in the group and Ferrer eliminated.

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 victor will take a different type of encouragement from the battling spirit he showed in seeing off his tenacious fellow Spaniard. I’m trying to win every match that I play. “But it is just the beginning”. I need to keep working so hard to try to keep going the same way. “Today I feel free. I feel I’m enjoying it on court”.

But Murray said: “I think the way the format is, nearly every game is important”.

“I think he’s going to get stronger”.

Murray won only 10 percent of points on his second serve in the second set, and a nine-point losing streak virtually sealed his fate and left him waiting for a first win over Nadal in London, having lost three times to him at Wimbledon and once before at the O2 Arena in 2010. However, Nadal missed a set point after rallying from 0-40 down and Ferrer eventually converted his fifth break point to force the tiebreaker. “He was able to dictate most of the points”, said Murray.

“Also I didn’t help myself out there”. I served extremely low percentage, maybe lowest percentage I served the whole year in any match. “That’s not good enough against someone as good as Rafa”.

At least for Murray there is the Davis Cup final to look forward to against Belgium next weekend, where he will hope for a more uplifting conclusion.

But there was still no sign of Nadal saving his body for the Djokovic match and his perseverance was rewarded when he broke at 4-4 to set up the win.

Wawrinka then motored through a second set in which he hit 19 winners to two from Ferrer.

World No. 5 Nadal, who had already beaten fourth-ranked Stanislas Wawrinka and number two Andy Murray, buckled down though and levelled the match before breaking the Ferrer serve in the final game of the contest.