In summary: Djokovic 6-1, 6-1 Nishikori
Djokovic was utterly dominant – losing only seven points on his serve and never really looking like being broken. He also refused to give Nishikori a single easy game on the vanquished’s serve. The Japanese can of course still progress – but he will need to beat Federer and Berdych to do so. Djokovic is now being given the 2015 world No1 trophy. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for Kevin Mitchell’s report. Bye!
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Djokovic wins the second set!
Djokovic* 6-1 Nishikori: Nishikori smashes an ace on the way to 30-0 but cannot push on and Djokovic claws him back to 30-30. They exchange points before reaching deuce, where Nishikori is sent running and finds the net when attempting to change direction. Match point! And game, set and match after Djokovic sends his opponent running again and comes to the net to send a match-winning backhand to the Japanese’s right.
Djokovic* 5-1 Nishikori: To quote Scott Murray of these parts from a report of the 2007 British Grand Prix, this is “an experience slightly less exhilarating than necking 800mg of rohypnol followed by a turps chaser”. Another simple, straightforward game goes in favour of the world No1 and we can all get ready to pack up and head home.
Djokovic 4-1 Nishikori*: There is a pretty quiet atmosphere despite the big crowd here – it’s all been so, so predictable. I apologise for the lack of surprise but you were told beforehand … Nishikori gets to 40-15 before being dragged to deuce. He is broken again by a machine-like Djokovic and looks pretty crestfallen. The Japanese sits down, dripping in sweat, and has a drink but almost spills it because he is shaking his head so much. Djokovic, on the other hand, looks as fresh as when he stepped on to court less than an hour ago.
Djokovic* 3-1 Nishikori: Back to normal. Djokovic only lets one point go against him when re-establishing a two-game lead. This should finish up sharpish.
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Djokovic 2-1 Nishikori*: The rot has been stopped! Nishikori, as you would expect though, has to battle hard to close out a game, dropping two points before getting on the board in this second set. Can he repeat last year and win the second set? Or was this game merely a blip for Djokovic?
Djokovic* 2-0 Nishikori: Nishikori claws level from 30-0, then does so again to get to deuce. Djokovic gains an advantage but is hauled back once more. Nishikori, however, runs out of juice and the Serbian closes.
Djokovic 1-0 Nishikori* (*denotes server of described game): This is getting ugly. Djokovic breaks immediately and is finding it all so easy. Nishikori saves the first of two breaks but cannot manage it on the second.
This sounds about right …
@alansmith90 Can't see Novak's form dipping enough or KN upping his game 2 another level 2 change the outcome of this 1, Novak in an hour
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) November 15, 2015
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Here is a match report from the doubles action
Djokovic wins the first set!
Djokovic* 6-1 Nishikori: Such is the gulf in class between both players, when Nishikori wins a point with a backhand winner most of the crowd applaud as if he has won a game. It does not stop Djokovic from dominating the rest and he takes the first set in a little over half an hour. Simple and entirely expected.
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Djokovic 5-1 Nishikori*: Nishikori really is trying everything he can but he cannot overpower Djokovic with that aggressive style of play. The Serbian’s movement is just too good and he breaks again and will now serve for a rapid first set …
Djokovic* 4-1 Nishikori: Normal service resumed, although Nishikori wins a point at 30-15 to temporarily stall Djokovic’s rhythm.
Djokovic 3-1 Nishikori*: A better game for the underdog. He’s attempting to attack every shot and that aggression sees him to 30-0. Djokovic pulls back the next two points though. Nishikori reaches his first game point of the match but the net denies him and at deuce Djokovic sends a remarkable crosscourt forehand back that cannot be returned. Nishikori saves the breakpoint, and finally closes a game out.
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Djokovic* 3-0 Nishikori: Nothing much to bother the Serbian. Nishikori does manage a decent rally for the third point but shoots too long again. He does win his first point against the serve for 40-15 but Djokovic hits a winner to make it 3-0 and heads back to his chair for a drink having barely broken a sweat.
Djokovic 2-0 Nishikori*: This looks ominous. Nishikori wins the first point but Djokovic’s movement is terrific and it’s soon 15-40. Nishikori saves the first break point. And the second. At deuce, the Japanese gets an advantage but is hauled back. Djokovic wins a third break point and, pressure turned back on, Nishikori overhits a forehand. This, for a hard court, is very slow.
Djokovic* 1-0 Nishikori (*denotes server of described game): The world No1 settles quickly, winning to love in a game that includes two aces and only one missed first serve. That’s seven games Djokovic has won in a row on this court against Nishikori is you look back to last year’s 6-0 win in the final set of their semi-final.
Nishikori lost the toss – calling heads – so Djokovic has elected to serve first. It’s warm-up time! *Moves away from computer and attempts to touch toes*
There will be a minute of silence before play begins in memory of those who lost their lives in Paris on Friday.
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The players have emerged from their changing rooms in the bowels of the dome and are about to stride down a floor lit-up with their names and rankings. There is loud music, there is a PA announcer with a voice similar to a horror movie narrator and there are logos of multinational companies everywhere!
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Doubles update
Murray & Peers have won their first match on a tiebreak, beating Bolelli & Fognini 11-9 in the tiebreak after winning the first set 7-6 and losing the second 3-6.
These two met in the semi-finals here last year. Djokovic won 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 but Nishikori did produce this stunning shot on the way to taking the second set
Welcome to the 2015 ATP World Tour finals – a sporting event so painfully commercially polished that there are sponsors for the nets, aces and maybe even this year break points. There will be loud music from the likes of Rudimental deafening those attempting to cheer on their favourite players, an announcer delivering regular doses of hyperbole and hashtags galore.
But at least we will also get some decent tennis and, if we are lucky, maybe a competitive final at the end of it all!
This is the opening of the singles but there should really be no contest here. Novak Djokovic – world No1, current title holder and overwhelming favourite to be crowned champion for a fourth successive time in south-east London this day next week – should and will have too much for Kei Nishikori, a good player with plenty of potential to develop into a genuine competitor with time but not quite there yet.
The 25-year-old Japanese is ranked eighth out of the eight battling here and if betting is your thing – not that it’s mine or anybody else’s sat around Guardian HQ – you could get 10/1 on him winning here. Djokovic is 1/10. The Serb is taller, faster, stronger and, due to that fascination of his with stretching and a gluten-free diet, more flexible. On a 22-match winning run, Djokovic also enjoys a 4-2 head to head record, though Nishikori did shock him at Flushing Meadows last year.
Tomas Berdych and Roger Federer are also in this group – named after Stan Smith – and play this evening. The focus is on the opener though, which will start no earlier than 2pm but maybe a little later depending on the doubles between Jamie Murray/John Peers and Simone Bolelli/Fabio Fognini.
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