Roger Federer cruises Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori stuns Andy Murray
Nishikori is the first Asian singles player to qualify for the Tour Finals
London: Roger Federer was back in the groove at the ATP World Tour Finals as the six-time champion defeated Milos Raonic 6-1, 7-6 (7/0), while Japan’s Kei Nishikori made a dream debut with a surprise 6-4, 6-4 victory over Andy Murray on Sunday.
Federer last won the prestigious season-ending event at London’s O2 Arena in 2011 and the world number two looks in the mood to add another title to his collection on the evidence of a powerful performance, featuring 24 winners, that avenged his loss to Raonic in the Paris Masters quarterfinals last month.
Raonic, 23, is making his Tour Finals debut as the first player born in the 1990s to compete in the event after a breakthrough year that included a run to the Wimbledon semifinals.
But at 33, Federer has been in age-defying form this year and he arrived as the oldest player to qualify for the tournament in his record 13th consecutive appearance.
Federer is set to become the oldest player to finish a season in the world’s top two and still has a slim chance of becoming the oldest player to end the season as World No.1 if he overhauls Novak Djokovic in the race for top spot.
Nishikori is the first Asian singles player to qualify for the Tour Finals and he rose to the occasion with his first ever victory over former Wimbledon champion Murray at the fourth attempt.
The 24-year-old had failed to win even a single set in those losses to Murray, but the last came over two years ago.
He took the game to Murray right from the start and hit 20 winners in a 95-minute triumph that gives him a good chance of qualifying for the semifinals.