ATP World Tour Finals: Federer, Murray and Nishikori aim to reach semi-finals
Thursday 13 November 2014 19:45, UK
It is all to play for in Group B with three players in contention to reach the last four of the ATP World Tour Finals at London's O2 Arena, following Milos Raonic's withdrawal due to injury.
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Andy Murray takes on world No 2 Roger Federer with the Swiss ace only needing one set against the Briton to clinch his spot in the semi-finals for a record-equalling 12th time.
Victory over Federer does not necessarily guarantee Murray a passage through following Raonic's withdrawal on Thursday lunchtime. Raonic will now play reserve David Ferrer but it means if Murray loses to Federer the Briton will be out.
The good news for Murray is his match will be on Thursday evenihas been scheduled after the clash between Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori, meaning he will know what he needs to do.
Speaking prior to Murray's win, Federer said: "I'd like to be qualified. Usually if you do win in straight sets twice, things look very, very good.
"The advantage of being qualified is just that you can go into the match a bit more laid-back. But, then again, the integrity of the game, and there's so much still at stake for me; wanting to beat a fellow rival and wanting to win the points that are at stake, go in with a clean sheet into the semis.
In contention
The 27-year-old home favourite is glad just to still be in with a chance after Tuesday's 6-3 7-5 defeat of big-serving Raonic.
"Well, for (Federer) I think there's a very good chance that he's going to go through regardless of the results," said Murray."
Murray and Federer are locked at 11-11 in head-to-head clashes, although Federer has won all three of their meetings at the Tour Finals since it moved to London's 02 Arena.
Federer also beat Murray in the 2012 Wimbledon final, although Murray did get revenge when he beat the Swiss maestro to win the Olympic gold medal on Wimbledon's Centre Court.
"It will be obviously a very difficult match," Murray said. "But it will be an exciting match. A good one to be part of.
"We've had some very good matches over the years. I hope on Thursday it will be the same.
"Hopefully I can get through the group and keep going. If not, playing against Roger is a good way for me to finish the year, as well.
"There's a lot of positives for me going into that match. It's nice to go into Thursday with an opportunity to go through. I'm looking forward to it."
Age-defying form
At 33, Federer is the oldest player to qualify for the Tour Finals in his 13th consecutive appearance, but he has been in age-defying form in his first two matches.
His comfortable 6-3 6-2 victory over Japan's Kei Nishikori took him to 70 match wins for the season and to within seven of becoming only the third man behind Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl to make it to 1,000 career victories.
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He can add three more wins at the Tour Finals if he goes all the way to take the title for the seventh time.
With seven Wimbledon titles, five US Open crowns, four Australian Opens and one French Open on his glittering CV, Federer has already experienced almost every high the sport can offer.
But he believes making to 1,000 wins would be an especially significant moment because it is a tribute to a player's longevity at the very top.
"I played only the big tournaments this year. Basically, again, I chased all the Masters 1000s, grand slams, so forth," he said.
"It's not easy to win matches there, as we know, because guys are always very good, margins are small.
"More importantly for me is getting closer to the thousand number. It would obviously be cool to get there. I think it's a great number."
Watch Nishikori take on Ferrer on Thursday afternoon and then catch the big one as Murray faces Federer from 6pm (GMT), with both matches are live on Sky Sports 3HD.
