By Erik Gudris | Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Roger Federer posted his 70th win of the season with a straight sets result over Kei Nishikori at the ATP World Tour Finals.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
The only ones not complaining about the recent straight set results at the ATP World Tour Finals in London are probably the players earning those wins. Case in point, Roger Federer.
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Federer, having won his opening round robin match in straights versus Milos Raonic, entered Tuesday likely hoping for a similar result. This time against Japan's Kei Nishikori. Though Nishikori beat local favorite Andy Murray earlier, his goal was to play better himself in order to pull off the upset.
At least in the opening moments, it looked like Nishikori might just do that. The US Open finalist tested Federer in the Swiss star's first two service games. Both men exchanged some fine shotmaking early with Federer scraping out a volley that landed just on the baseline for a winner. Nishikori, holding another break point, would just miss on a forehand, and soon enough Federer held for 2-1.
Federer pounced on Nishikori's second serves in the next game. Federer struck a pair of blistering forehands, one that whizzed by Nishikori so fast it almost sent the Japanese to the ground. With that, Federer had the break lead for 3-1.
With Nishikori often mistiming on his favorite backhand wing, it allowed Federer safe passage to claim the set a few games later for 6-3.
By now, Nishikori had racked up 17 unforced errors with 10 of them from his backhand.
Federer didn't wait around to take hold of an early lead in the second set. Once again with his forehand, Federer would hold a break point. Nishikori's own forehand would create yet another error.
In the lead at 2-1, Federer never looked ruffled even when Nishikori started to play a bit better. Though Nishikori started to move Federer around more in their rallies, it often ended with Nishikori sending another shot wide or into the net.
Nishikori, who didn't improve his serve from his last match, paid the price for it late in this one. Facing another break point, Nishikori tossed in a double fault trying to send a serve out wide. That handed Federer a 5-2 lead.
Federer faced some mild pressure serving for it in the next game, but that was the only drama left. On match point, Federer banged down one final big serve to close out the convincing 6-3, 6-2 win.
Federer was almost even in the stats department with 17 winners and 18 unforced errors. Nishikori struck 15 winners but had a glaring 30 unforced errors overall.
Now 2-0 in round robin play, Federer looks almost assured to reach the semifinals. The win over Nishikori was also historic in that it was Federer's 70th victory of the season. Per the ATP, at age 33, Federer is now the oldest 70 plus match winner in 35 years.
The win also keeps Federer's hopes alive for possibly finishing the year at No. 1.