By Ricky Dimon
Roger Federer had been on an 11-match winning streak in Nitto ATP Finals round-robin matches. He had also defeated Kei Nishikori twice already this fall, and in straight sets no less. So perhaps no one could have seen this result coming.
Nishikori tuned the tide with a 7-6(4), 6-3 upset during Group B competition on Sunday night, avenging recent setbacks against the Swiss at Masters 1000 events in Shanghai and Paris. The Japanese world No. 9 raised his level starting in the first-set ‘breaker and erased an early break deficit in set two to triumph in one hour and 27 minutes.
Maybe Federer was less surprised as anyone, because the 37-year-old admitted afterward that he had not been practicing well heading into this week–and he is a traditional slow starter relative to how he plays at the latter stages of most events.
“I felt we both struggled throughout the first set,” Federer noted. “You could tell it was sort of a first round…. Then I started to feel better in the second set. I think we both did; the level went up. Unfortunately I couldn’t keep the lead that I got early.
“I think it plays different or it’s definitely slower than I think the last three tournaments that I’ve played (Shanghai, Basel, and Paris). So I think everybody’s making a minor adjustment; so am I. I’ve been feeling fine; it’s just that practice has been a bit all over the place. Practiced in Queen’s, practiced on the outside courts here, then center as well. So it’s not always exactly the same conditions.”
Conditions will be unique for Federer on Tuesday, when he makes a rare appearance in the proverbial “losers match” and potentially faces a must-win situation against Dominic Thiem.
Up next for Nishikori is Kevin Anderson, who beat Thiem 6-3, 7-6(10) in one hour and 48 minutes. Each man finished with more winners than unforced errors, including plus-seven for Anderson (29-22). The Wimbledon runner-up imposed his will on Thiem, firing 13 aces and winning a commanding 17 of 19 net points.
Both players stepped up their game in the second set, especially Thiem–but it was not enough for the eighth-ranked Austrian to force a decider.
“I had no chance basically in the first set to break him,” Thiem commented. “Me, I was in trouble almost every service game; so the first set was not really good. Then the second one was a very good set of tennis, I would say. (It) was just one little ball here and there why I lost at the end.”
“Going into this year I was 6-0 against him,” said Anderson, who now leads the head-to-head series 7-2. “I must be honest; even though I was 6-0, in Paris a few years ago I saved match point against him. In Washington he was up a break twice in the third set…. I feel like we’ve always had very close matches.
“I don’t think there’s any particular thing that matches up incredibly well. We’ve had close matches. I’ve managed take my opportunities–close out matches better than he has in our head-to-head.
“I think from today’s match, I did a really good job of not giving him time. I think just overall I’ve done that pretty well against him. I think that’s why he’s been such an amazing clay-court player because he creates a little bit more time. When he has time, he’s just so dangerous. I’ve had to play great tennis against him. I think I’ve done a great job of just making him feel a little bit uncomfortable. That’s why I’ve had good success against him so far.”
Topics: 02 Arena, 10sballs, Kei Nishikori, London, Nitto ATP Finals, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis, Tennis10sBalls