nishikori upsets federer on day 1 of atp finals anderson wins
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today
Egypt Today, egypt today
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today

Nishikori upsets Federer on day 1 of ATP Finals; Anderson wins

Egypt Today, egypt today

Egypt Today, egypt today Nishikori upsets Federer on day 1 of ATP Finals; Anderson wins

Japan’s Kei Nishikori.
London - DPA

Kei Nishikori ended a six-match losing streak against Roger Federer with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 win on the opening day of the ATP Finals in London on Sunday.

Japan’s Nishikori had only beaten the 37-year-old Swiss record-breaker twice previously, with his last success coming in the quarter-finals of the 2014 Miami Masters.

Federer, who had been aiming to claim a 100th career title at the season-ending event, started strongly on serve but his work was undone through a plethora of 34 unforced errors.

"You could tell it was sort of a first round," Federer said.

"I had my chances maybe a bit more than he did. Yeah, then I started to feel better in the second set. I think we both did. The level went up."

His poor run of fortune continued though and with his usual trusted backhand out of tune, Federer conceded two breaks in the second set to lose an ATP Finals opening match for the first time since 2013.

"He deserves credit and respect," Federer said of Nishikori.

"I think we all have that for Kei because he's a great fighter."

The first set was deservedly decided by a tie-break after an intense display of first-attack tennis from both men who have a combined total of 20 appearances at the ATP Finals, with six-time champion Federer beginning his 16th campaign.

The 20-time grand slam champion could have won the first set in game 12 if he had capitalised on the 0-30 pressure he put on Nishikori’s serve, but the world number nine stood firm to force a breaker where Federer unravelled.

The world number three gave away six straight points through errors and even though he fought to save two set points, a seventh mistake into the net secured the lead for Nishikori.

Federer put his first set frustrations to good use in the second set to gain an opening break but he could not cease the opportunity as his 28-year-old opponent hit back with an immediate break to remain on level terms.

And Nishikori finally found the crucial breakthrough he needed to topple Federer as he broke for a 4-2 lead before consolidating his work behind a heavy serve with victory now in sight.

On his next service game, Nishikori rallied to win in one hour and 27 minutes, which ended with one more Federer misfire.

Earlier, South Africa’s Kevin Anderson opened the eight-man tournament with a 6-3, 7-6 (12-10) success over Austrian Dominic Thiem at the O2 Arena.

This year’s Wimbledon finalist Anderson was making his ATP Finals debut at the age of 32 against another grand slam runner-up Thiem, who was bested by Rafael Nadal at the French Open.

"I definitely felt a little bit nervous," Anderson said.

"But I was able to settle very quickly and find a really good rhythm, taking care of my serve games nicely, created quite a few opportunities on his serve."

A netted return from Thiem opened two break point chances for Anderson, and even though he saved one with a lashed forehand, his next attempt landed long to fall 3-1 behind.

Thiem faced six more break points and he erased them all but the single break was enough for Anderson to seal the first set after he forced his 25-year-old opposite into a net error.

"I didn't have a good start," said Thiem, who has now lost a third straight opening match in as many years at the Finals.

"I had no chance basically in the first set to break him. I was in trouble almost every service game. So the first set was not really good."

The second set was much tighter and with no break points offered as they entered a tie-break that was on a knife's edge.

"The second set could have been anybody's set," said Anderson as the sole South African representative in the tournament's history dating back to 1970.

"He started serving well. I was taking care of my serve games. It really could have gone either way."

An ace helped Thiem cancel out a third match point but Anderson unleashed a forehand winner to lead 11-10 before claiming the contest on his racket with his 13th ace after one hour and 48 minutes.

egypttoday
egypttoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

nishikori upsets federer on day 1 of atp finals anderson wins nishikori upsets federer on day 1 of atp finals anderson wins



GMT 09:45 2021 Friday ,21 May

test

GMT 12:12 2012 Sunday ,15 July

Sunita Williams goes on second trip to space

GMT 15:29 2011 Wednesday ,13 July

Director of National Museum of Iran dismissed

GMT 11:26 2017 Monday ,28 August

Bahrain congratulates Iraq on Tal Afar liberation

GMT 21:36 2017 Friday ,06 January

Kohli takes over India ODI, T20 captaincy

GMT 08:55 2017 Friday ,25 August

Haj medical team ready to serve pilgrims

GMT 07:13 2015 Tuesday ,28 April

Elvis's planes staying put at Graceland

GMT 07:51 2016 Thursday ,13 October

Pentagon: US strikes Huthi rebel targets in Yemen

GMT 12:58 2017 Monday ,25 December

More than 30 bodies found in burnt Philippine mall

GMT 23:33 2011 Monday ,19 September

Neymar quells rumours: He is staying put

GMT 21:31 2012 Wednesday ,18 July

Baseball: Texas 6 Oakland 1

GMT 11:19 2011 Thursday ,06 October

GCC ministers of culture kick off meeting

GMT 11:05 2011 Tuesday ,09 August

Minister of culture inaugurates al-markhiya

GMT 13:20 2018 Sunday ,09 September

Earthquake strikes south of Dhahran Al-Janoub City

GMT 11:58 2016 Friday ,16 September

Ballon d'Or deal between France Football and FIFA ends

GMT 01:09 2012 Tuesday ,10 July

Zambia women walk long way for maternal shelters

GMT 09:13 2011 Friday ,08 July

EU clears Rio Tinto\'s sale of leading talc

GMT 08:04 2011 Sunday ,03 July

Awards designed to encourage innovation

GMT 13:33 2011 Friday ,02 December

From hero to villain-Prince Boateng

GMT 13:06 2016 Friday ,21 October

India agrees to trial DRS for England Tests

GMT 09:18 2016 Wednesday ,05 October

China, Qatar seek 2018 World Cup boost

GMT 11:40 2014 Monday ,24 February

Renault to launch electric \'Twizy\' in Middle East

GMT 16:32 2011 Tuesday ,20 September

Horn migrants beaten, deported, imprisoned

GMT 08:32 2014 Thursday ,02 January

Big Bang star Cuoco marries tennis pro
 
 Egypt Today Facebook,egypt today facebook  Egypt Today Twitter,egypt today twitter Egypt Today Rss,egypt today rss  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
egypttoday, Egypttoday, Egypttoday