That was a good match, undoubtedly the best we’ve seen this week. Kei Nishikori was outstanding at times and he showed tremendous resolve to fight back in each set and take it to a third. Yet it wasn’t quite enough to beat Federer, even a Federer who seemed to be suffering the effects of a cold. It’s a shame we won’t see any more of Kei Nishikori this week, but he knew it was always going to be tough to get out of a group containing Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Attention now turns to tonight’s match between Djokovic and Tomas Berdych, who has to win in two sets to go through. Any other outcome sees Djokovic go through in second. Join me for live coverage of that match later! Until then. Bye!
Federer is wrong on one count. He can’t play Nadal in his semi-final on Saturday, as his great rival has already won his group. Instead he’ll play the winner of tomorrow night’s match between Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka. I have a sneaky feeling he’d rather play Murray given his recent dominance over him. Wawrinka has beaten him this year and was extremely close to winning their semi-final here last year.
A very sweaty and victorious Federer speaks. “It was extremely difficult. It was a good match, maybe some more breaks than we’re used to. Kei is one of the best returners. Kei put on a great fight and congratulations to him on a good year and a good match. I was trying to hang on and trying to fend off break points. Kei was staying aggressive and hitting his shots. It was close, but enough at the end. It [the semi-finals] is going to be rough - Rafa, Andy or Stan.”
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Roger Federer beats Kei Nishikori 7-5, 4-6, 6-4!
Nishikori serves to prolong the final set. The first two points are shared and you fancy that Federer is going to come after him here. Nishikori is given an unofficial warning by the umpire to speed it up between serves. He’s then given an official warning by Federer, who lands a big blow with a glorious backhand bass from left to right for 15-30, leaving him two points from victory. Nishikori is undeterred and he wins the next two points for a 40-30 lead, but a skittish error brings the game to deuce and a looping forehand goes long to bring up Federer’s first match point. He’s been clinical in these situations so far. Nishikori misses a first serve. A baseline rally ensues and Federer is nerveless, ripping a forehand down the line, forcing a flailing Nishikori to knock the ball into the air. Federer doesn’t miss many smashes and he doesn’t miss this one. At the end of an immense battle, Federer has won the group and Nishikori is out.
Third set: Federer* 7-5, 4-6, 5-4 Nishikori (*denotes server): Federer stops the rot and holds to love. Nishikori will serve to stay in the match.
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Third set: Federer 7-5, 4-6, 4-4 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori wins the first point with a booming forehand to the Federer backhand. Then he knocks a smash straight at Federer, who hits a low shot towards Nishikori’s feet. Somehow, absurdly, Nishikori produces a preposterous winning volley. Federer tries a drop-shot return on the final return, but it doesn’t come off.
Third set: Federer* 7-5, 4-6, 4-3 Nishikori (*denotes server): It’s not over. Federer fails to put away a volley and Nishikori whips a stunning forehand pass down the line to earn a break point. Is it happening again? No! Federer denies Nishikori with an accurate volley at the net and the game goes to deuce. Blows are traded - and then a Federer double-fault brings up another break point. And Federer blinks! He puts too much oomph behind a forehand and the ball flies long! What an unpredictable match. Nishikori is back in it. A pattern appears to be developing.
Third set: Federer 7-5, 4-6, 4-2 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori’s shoulders slump when Federer passes him with a backhand return down the line. That will probably discourage him from any more serve-volleying. He holds to 30, though. It’s not over.
Third set: Federer* 7-5, 4-6, 4-1 Nishikori (*denotes server): But remember, Nishikori has been down 3-1 before. A storming backhand return down the line makes it 30-all. Yet Federer keeps him at bay, moving into a 40-30 lead, before holding with an outstanding forehand pick-up at the net. Federer is supposed to be under the weather.
Third set: Federer 7-5, 4-6, 3-1 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Federer was down 0-40 in the previous game but he won six consecutive points to hold. He extends the run to make it 0-15. Nishikori has to be good to stop him in his tracks; even better to make it 30-all with a stinging cross-court backhand. Federer then swears at himself after missing a backhand for 40-30. Yet the game goes to deuce and Federer attacks. He flays a backhand from left to right - and Nishikori somehow speeds on to it and spears a preposterous backhand winner down the line! No wonder he’s celebrating. That was something else. Yet Nishikori then misses a forehand by inches and Federer, who’s 100% on break points so far, earns his fifth of the match with a clever forehand to the Nishikori backhand. Federer rams a second serve back at Nishikori, who nets his forehand, and there’s the break!
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Third set: Federer* 7-5, 4-6, 2-1 Nishikori (*denotes server): Federer is flat, sneezing a forehand wide to hand Nishikori a chance at 0-30. Federer decides to change tack by serve-volleying, but his half-volley into the net is greeted by his dad shaking his head in the crowd. Nishikori has three break points! Can he take them? Er, no. The first two go begging and Federer saves the third with a thudding serve out wide for deuce. Federer holds from there. A turning point? That was gritty.
Third set: Federer 7-5, 4-6, 1-1 Nishikori* (*denotes server): The problem for Nishikori is that simply winning this match will not send him through - he’ll still need Berdych to do him a favour against Djokovic, who leads 20-2 in his head-to-head with the Czech. Hmmm.
Third set: Federer* 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 Nishikori (*denotes server): Here we go, then, into a third set that no one would have seen coming when Federer led 4-1 in the second set. Who could have predicted that Nishikori would go and win five straight games from there? No one, that’s who, but that’s why we love sport. Federer steadies the ship a little by holding to 30 here.
Kei Nishikori wins the second set 6-4 to level the match!
Nishikori is serving to force an unlikely third set. He begins the game by knocking a forehand long for 0-15, before a powerful forehand into the left corner makes it 15-all. He wins the next point and then earns two set points by going back behind Federer with a classy backhand down the line - and Federer, his game unravelling at an alarming rate, spurts a risible drop shot into the net! We’re heading for a decider for only the second time this week and Federer has dropped a set for the first time in three matches. It’s worth noting that Nishikori came back from a set down when he beat Federer in Miami last year. There’s also word that Federer is suffering from a cold.
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Second set: Federer* 7-5, 4-5 Nishikori (*denotes server): There have been signs that Federer’s focus isn’t completely total today and we get confirmation at 30-all, when he charges on to a short return at the net and sends an astonishingly dreadful forehand off into the nearby River Thames to give Nishikori a break point! Nishikori converts thanks to another Federer error and he’ll serve for the second set next! Incredibly, from 4-1 down, he’s won four consecutive games!
Second set: Federer 7-5, 4-4 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori bangs down an ace to hold to love! A lot of these manages tend to fizzle out in the second set, so Nishikori deserves huge credit for making this a proper fight.
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Second set: Federer* 7-5, 4-3 Nishikori (*denotes server): That forehand winner at the end of the last game seems to have sparked Nishikori into life again and he begins this one with two splendid forehands for a 0-30 lead. Federer then wallops a forehand long to give Nishikori three break points. You get the feeling that he can’t let these slip away. So it’s just as well that he pounces on a tame Federer second serve and pounds a wonderful forehand return down the line. Nishikori breaks back! He’s not willing to give Federer an easy ride.
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Second set: Federer 7-5, 4-2 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori keeps the scoreline respectable, whipping a forehand winner from right to left to hold to 30. He’s not out of this just yet.
Second set: Federer* 7-5, 4-1 Nishikori (*denotes server): Nishikori broke straight back when he was 3-1 down in the first set. But he’s struggling now and there’s no repeat this time. He’s really under the cosh and Federer easily holds to 15. Nishikori cuts a disconsolate, demoralised figure now. This is what Federer does to his opponents. Nishikori has won six points in the first five games of this set.
Second set: Federer 7-5, 3-1 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Federer glides up and down the baseline, mixing up the pace with some top-spin, and Nishikori slices a shaky forehand into the net. Moments later, he’s denied by that pesky net again and it’s 0-30. Alarm bells are ringing. Federer ruthlessly drills a forehand away to earn three break points and he seizes control of the second set, and indeed the match, with another stonking forehand winner.
Second set: Federer* 7-5, 2-1 Nishikori (*denotes server): Federer races through another service game. He holds to love when Nishikori clumps an easy smash into the net. Has Federer got somewhere to be?
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Second set: Federer 7-5, 1-1 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori stays focused and holds to love. He’s determined not to experience a Murray-esque collapse.
Second set: Federer* 7-5, 1-0 Nishikori (*denotes server): This could get away from Nishikori very quickly if he’s not careful. He played some glorious tennis during the first set, but that just forced Federer to up his game and the pressure told. Federer holds to 15 at the start of the second set.
Roger Federer wins the first set 7-5!
Serving to stay in the first set again, Nishikori is in a spot of bother when a change of pace from Federer during a rally makes it 0-30. Yet he claws his way back to 30-all when Federer hits long twice. Federer uses up a challenge on one call; it was well past the baseline. Nishikori then pings a backhand down the line for 40-30, but the game goes to deuce when Federer wins an incredible point. Nishikori fought with all his feline ingenuity to repel Federer for as long as he could at the net, bouncing from right to left to block the ball back over and over again, but eventually Federer spotted a gab and fizzed a backhand down the line. Federer earns a set point when Nishikori nets a forehand and Nishikori runs out of inspiration, smacking a backhand into the net. He’s up against it now. He’s a set away from exiting the tournament.
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First set: Federer* 6-5 Nishikori (*denotes server): Federer begins the game with a second-serve ace. Fair enough. He was very attacking with his second serve against Djokovic on Tuesday and it’s a point-shortening tactic that could bring him joy. A punchy forehand makes it 30-0 and another ace makes it 40-0. He holds to love when Nishikori dinks into the net.
First set: Federer 5-5 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori’s third double-fault makes it 15-all, which is definitely not what’s required when he’s serving to stay in the first set. That could spark a collapse; instead it brings out the best in Nishikori, who holds to 15 thanks to a couple of searing forehands. On we go.
First set: Federer* 5-4 Nishikori (*denotes server): Maybe Federer can hold here. Yet Nishikori continues to press, encouraged by Federer’s low first-serve percentage. He drags Federer to the point and tries a lob. Federer reaches it with an overhead backhand volley. It’s a good effort, but it goes wide for 0-15. Federer decides it’s time to put an end to all this nonsense and he rattles through the next three points for a 40-15 lead. Nishikori hits back beautifully, outsmarting Federer in a battle of wits at the net with a superb flicked backhand. Yet Federer holds with a smash and Nishikori will serve to stay in the first set.
First set: Federer 4-4 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori gets a bit too excited on the first point and blooters a wild forehand miles wide. Then comes an odd moment. Federer hangs a defensive shot high into the air and although it lands in, the umpire spots the ball hit the big screen during its journey over the net and he awards the point to Nishikori. Another poor error from Federer makes it 30-15, but then his forehand finally clicks into gear and he hits his first winner on that side. The game goes to deuce, Federer letting out an “Allez!” when Nishikori nets a forehand on the run. This is an unpredictable match, neither player able to maintain a consistent level, both going through dips at inopportune moments, and another error from Nishikori gives Federer a break point. Nishikori eventually sends a forehand wide and Federer breaks straight back. Is anyone planning to hold serve?
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First set: Federer* 3-4 Nishikori (*denotes server): Nishikori is really making his presence felt now. Federer is missing a few first serves and a weak second serve is gobbled up by Nishikori for a 0-30 lead. Federer finds his serve momentarily, but Nishikori then earns two break points with a superb piece of play, withstanding Federer’s fire and then passing him with an unbelievably good running backhand from way behind the baseline on the left. He’s in the mood! Federer isn’t quite prepared for this and he has no answer when Nishikori rips into a forehand winner to break for the second time! The world No8 was in trouble when he trailed 3-1, but now look.
First set: Federer 3-3 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori’s confidence is growing after that break. He slaps a volley down for a 30-0 lead and Federer, a little below par at the moment, nets a backhand for 40-0. Nishikori holds to 30 when Federer slashes a forehand wide.
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First set: Federer* 3-2 Nishikori (*denotes server): This is a fine response from Nishikori. He grabs a 15-30 lead and Federer, whose first serving percentage has dropped suddenly, finds himself facing two break points when he nets a groundstroke. Yet Nishikori can’t take advantage, two poor errors, the second a sloppy backhand that lands long, letting Federer off the hook. Still, he gets another chance when a groaning Federer nets again, and he shows no mercy this time, a vicious backhand return forcing Federer to net a volley! Nishikori breaks back straight away. “Watching on the telly,” says Timothy Beecroft. “I am thinking of organising an appeal to buy and send to the O2 a 100w light bulb to replace the 30w one they seem to be using at the moment. Anybody care to chip in?”
First set: Federer 3-1 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori is creating problems for himself on serve, chucking in his second double-fault of the afternoon to give Federer a 15-30 lead. He should probably stop doing that. And he should do more of this! He fights to 30-all with a stunning forehand down the line. Yet Federer then earns his first break point, outlasting Nishikori in a drawn-out baseline battle, and he breaks when Nishikori drags a backhand wide. Federer is moving as gracefully as ever.
First set: Federer* 2-1 Nishikori (*denotes server): Nishikori takes a 0-15 lead, so Federer responds with two aces. He follows those with a double-fault, but he moves into a 40-30 lead when Nishikori nets a backhand at the end of a lengthy rally and holds thanks to a clever low slice.
First set: Federer 1-1 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori chucks in a double-fault at 15-0 and then dumps a regulation volley into the net at 30-15. The crowd gasps. He’s given Federer unnecessary encouragement with two dozy points. But he makes sure not to hand out any more free gifts and manages to hold to 30.
First set: Federer* 1-0 Nishikori (*denotes server): Off we go! It’s Roger Federer to serve first and Nishikori fails to get a single ball back in play on the first three points, allowing Federer to cruise into a 40-30 lead. Nishikori then settles down and wins the next two points, but Federer holds with an awkward kick serve out wide.
Tok! Tok! Tokity tok! They’re knocking up.
The players are out! Kei Nishikori first, then Roger Federer, and as usual there are no prizes for anyone who can correctly identify which player got the bigger cheer from the crowd. After Tuesday night’s chairgate controversy with Djokovic, Federer has his favourite chair again.
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Roger Federer speaks! “It’s really about playing today, not thinking too much ahead, because I don’t know who my opponent is going to be. Last year I played a very good match. I was playing aggressive tennis.” He’s still not shaved. That shadow is growing darker.
Kei Nishikori speaks! “I have to have a great defence and hit deep balls and try to come in sometimes too. This is a slow surface and there is going to be a lot of rallies.”
Here are the scenarios in Group Stan Smith, courtesy of the ATP website.
1) Regardless of score, if N. DJOKOVIC defeats T. BERDYCH and R. FEDERER defeats K. NISHIKORI, then R. FEDERER wins the group and N. DJOKOVIC qualifies 2nd.
2) Regardless of score, if N. DJOKOVIC defeats T. BERDYCH and K. NISHIKORI defeats R. FEDERER, then R. FEDERER wins the group and N. DJOKOVIC qualifies 2nd.
3) Regardless of score, if T. BERDYCH defeats N. DJOKOVIC and K. NISHIKORI defeats R. FEDERER, then K. NISHIKORI wins the group and R. FEDERER qualifies 2nd.
4) If T. BERDYCH defeats N. DJOKOVIC in 2 sets and R. FEDERER defeats K. NISHIKORI in 2 sets, then R. FEDERER wins the group and T. BERDYCH qualifies 2nd.
5) If T. BERDYCH defeats N. DJOKOVIC in 2 sets and R. FEDERER defeats K. NISHIKORI in 3 sets, then R. FEDERER wins the group and T. BERDYCH qualifies 2nd.
6) If T. BERDYCH defeats N. DJOKOVIC in 3 sets and R. FEDERER defeats K. NISHIKORI in 2 sets, then R. FEDERER wins the group and N. DJOKOVIC qualifies 2nd.
7) If T. BERDYCH defeats N. DJOKOVIC in 3 sets and R. FEDERER defeats K. NISHIKORI in 3 sets, then R. FEDERER wins the group and N. DJOKOVIC qualifies 2nd.
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Hello. While Roger Federer basks in the warm afterglow of his silky victory over Novak Djokovic on Tuesday night, and the knowledge that his place in the semi-finals is already in the bag, the situation is critical for Kei Nishikori. The world No8 still has hope of reaching the last four after he followed his emphatic defeat in his opener against Djokovic by beating Tomas Berdych in straight sets in his second match, but Nishikori still has his work cut out. If he fails to beat Federer this afternoon – no pressure – then he’s cooked. If he wins and Djokovic beats Berdych later, then he’s cooked.
So he really could do with beating Federer. Sounds simple enough, right? After all, wouldn’t it be in Federer’s best interests to lose, given that it would reduce the chances of him facing Djokovic on Sunday’s final? Yet even if that thought has crossed Federer’s mind in the past day or so, it is highly unlikely to be there when he steps on court, because that kind of attitude would strike against the very essence of why he is still going strong at the age of 34. No, if Nishikori is going to beat Federer, he’ll have to do it the hard way – namely, the normal way. Luckily this is not a foregone conclusion. Federer leads their head-to-head record 3-2 and he beat Nishikori comfortably in London last year, 6-3, 6-2. Yet the Japanese plays with a nimble inventiveness that could make this a very entertaining match.
Play begins: shortly after 2pm GMT.
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