Murray beaten by Nishikori in ATP World Tour Finals
Andy Murray made a disappointing start to his ATP World Tour Finals campaign with a straight-sets defeat by Japan’s Kei Nishikori.
The Briton fought back from 4-1 down in the second set to level, but Nishikori broke serve for a third time to win 6-4, 6-4.
With six-time champion Roger Federer and in-form Milos Raonic still to play, Murray faces a tough task to claim one of the two semifinal places from Group B.
He will meet the loser of Sunday evening’s match between Federer and Raonic on Tuesday.
“Murray was unrecognisable from the man who has fought his way up the rankings with such conviction since the US Open. Nearly three-quarters of his unforced errors came on the backhand side and his second serve was ripe for attack.
“After a nervous start littered with double faults, Nishikori hit the ball with more power and authority. His straight sets victory means Murray will almost certainly have to win his remaining two matches to have a chance of reaching the semi-finals.”
Nishikori, 24, overcame a nervous start on his ATP Finals debut and built the pressure on Murray, who made 28 errors and won just 27% of points on his second serve.
Murray, 28, had been given a warm reception from the O2 Arena crowd on his first appearance in the UK since Wimbledon, and the Scot looked well set after Nishikori doublefaulted to drop serve at 3-2.
The match then shifted momentum dramatically and it would ultimately prove decisive in a desperate service game from Murray.
Errors off both backhand and forehand sides left him at 0-40, and a wild double fault gave up the game, allowing Nishikori back into the set.