GLOBAL CHICK CHECKS IN FROM THE BARCLAYS MEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS @02ARENA

Written by: Global Chick on 12th November 2014

GLOBAL CHICK CHECKS IN FROM THE BARCLAYS MEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS @02ARENA

epa04485465 Japan's Kei Nishikori during his two set loss to Switzerland's Roger Federer at the ATP World Tour Finals mens tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 11 November 2014. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

Calculators at the ready for the Group B showdown

For the non-mathematically minded, all we really want is a simple “win this or go home” scenario, as we look ahead at the final round robin matches for Group B.

We kick off on Thursday with the battle of the rookies. Kei Nishikori had to work to overcome his nerves in his opener, when he edged the home-town favourite Andy Murray in the first match. But it was a different kettle of cup-noodles in the second where Nishikori was effectively closed down by Federer.

With a 4-1 lead over the Canadian, Nishikori looks the favourite to scoop a win and to hold Murray’s fate in the palm of his hand. Nishikori seems to have the better ability to settle into the environment here, and will be very motivated to hustle the Canadian for all that he is worth.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer returns to Japan’s Kei Nishikori at the ATP World Tour Finals mens tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 11 November 2014. EPA/ANDY RAIN

On Federer’s current form, it is going to be very tough for Murray to pull off certainly an easy win. While the Brit made a monumental effort to get here, and has started getting those all-important wins against players ahead of him, he has yet to snare a win with the biggies.

This of course would be the place to do it, home advantage and all that but this event has a global appeal and the peculiar vibe of having perhaps as many if not more fans supporting Federer than the home-boy himself.

It is certainly not impossible to see him win but in reality he will need to grind out a three-setter to get there and unless he runs away with one set to help those all important game ratios, expect to see Federer in the top slot, with Nishikori following in his wake.

Take nothing away from the Brit though – he came back from back surgery, fell out of the Top 10, got back in the Top 10 and he has a poachers dog named after him for his humanitarian work, for which he won the ATP World Tour Humanitarian Award this year. All in all, not a bad year for the British No. 1, and let’s face it there is no-one else on the Thames horizon to take his place just yet, so let’s applaud a great effort when we see it. Just so long as he gives us the three-set match we have all been yearning for,

Editors Note : Global Chick was spotted hitting balls on the indoor courts At Queens Club. Glad to hear she is gracing tennis courts once again. All in the spirit of GORGEOUS GUSSY MORAN

Topics: Andy Murray, Atp World Tour, Barclays, global chick, Kei Nishikori, Roger Federer, Tennis News

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10sBalls_com says:

November 12, 2014 at 10:28 am

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