Kei Nishikori has become the first player to defeat Roger Federer in an opening match at the ATP Finals after dismissing the Lackluster swiss player 7-6(4), 6-3, on Sunday.
Despite boasting one of the greatest ever records in the history of men’s tennis, Federer’s performance against top 10 opposition this year has been less than desirable. Winning just two out of six matches with the last being against Grigor Dimitrov in February. The trend continued at the season-end finale with Federer producing an erratic performance that featured 34 unforced errors and four double faults.
“I’m glad to have won today. It is never easy to play against my idol.” Nishikori said during his on-court interview. “It is always a big challenge to play against Roger. It was great to win tonight.”
“The first match is never easy, I think both of us was playing a bit off in the first set, but I think I played better in the second set.” He added.
It was a far from a perfect encounter between the top players, who both struggled to find range and consistency in their games. Federer’s usually smooth and visually appealing game was one marred by mistakes and gaffs. Nishikori also struggled, hitting three winners to 13 unforced errors during the opening set, but dug in deep to keep within contention.
Sore one for Roger 🙈#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/4BGLJYLc3I
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) 11 November 2018
With all to play for, it was once again Federer’s inconsistency that elevated Nishikori to a 7-6 lead. The Swiss world No.3 hit a barrage of unforced errors from the forehand side to push his Japanese rival to a commanding 6-1 lead in the tiebreaker. Four points on from that, Nishikori sealed the set with the help of a perfectly placed serve out wide.
Cheered on by an animated crowd inside The O2 Arena, there was hope that Federer was going to stage another mighty comeback after breaking at the start of set number two. Only to lose his serve in the following game.
“I couldn’t keep the lead that I got early. That was important, I think, at the end.” Reflected Federer. “That was the key of the match, that sort of I guess 10-minute swing at the end of the first throughout maybe 1-All in the second.”
Nishikori continued to attack throughout and eventually got the breakthrough he sought. After a Federer double fault, his fourth of the match, Nishikori broke for a set and 4-2 lead with the help of a shot out wide that proved too much for the former world No.1. Closing in on the shock victory, Nishikori triumphed on his second match point opportunity at the expense of a Federer forehand shank.
“You could tell it was sort of a first round. I had my chances may be a bit more than he did.” Said Federer, who failed to convert both of his break point opportunities.
“I started to feel better in the second set. I think we both did. The level went up.”
Nishikori now narrows his head-to-head record against Federer to 3-7. Avenging two losses he suffered at the hands of the 37-year-old within the past month. He will next play Kevin Anderson, who defeated Dominic Thiem earlier in the day.
