Anderson, Nishikori win in London

The last, and one of the most prestigious events on the 2018 men’s tennis calendar, has begun - the Nitto ATP Finals in London.

At the weekend, the final of the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan was played:

In a terrific spectacle, Stefanos Tsitsipas (1) overcame a first set loss to defeat Alex de Minaur 2-4 4-1 4-3(3) 4-3(3).

Both players should be happy with what they have achieved this year, and the possibilities for 2019.

In the play off for third, Andrey Rublev (5) defeated Jaume Munar (7) 1-4 4-3(4) 2-4 4-2 4-3(3)

Nitto ATP Finals

The eight players who qualified did so based on points gained throughout the year in the ATP Race.  Rafa Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro would have qualified second and fourth, but due to injury couldn’t appear in the London finale.

Their places have been taken by the ninth and tenth placegetters, Kei Nishikori and John Isner.

Group Guga Kuerten

Novak Djokovic (1)

Sascha Zverev (3)

Marin Cilic (5)

John Isner (8)

Group Lleyton Hewitt 

Roger Federer (2)

Kevin Anderson (4)

Dominic Thiem (6)

Kei Nishikori (7)

Day One round robin matches

Kevin Anderson (4) defeated Dominic Thiem (6)

Anderson was aggressive after the pair exchanged service holds in the opening two games, both from the baseline, and moving confidently to the net.

The South African won 12 of 14 points in the next three games to establish a 4-1 advantage, and although Thiem saved five break points in his following service games, he couldn’t find a way through the Anderson delivery which was responsible for 21 of 25 points to the fourth seed, and a solid first set win 6-3.

Set two was a close contest, with each player surrendering just two points on their first serve.

A tie break was inevitable, and Anderson was down an early mini break.  He came back and it wasn’t until late, after saving two set points, when a South African down the line forehand presented Anderson with match point.

Kevin Anderson prevailed 6-3 7-6(10).

Kei Nishikori (7) defeated Roger Federer (2)

Federer was definitely out of sorts in his opening match against a switched on Nishikori.  Although neither player faced a break point in the first set, it was Nishikori who took control in the tie break, winning six of the first seven points, a situation where Federer normally rules.

Down 6-7(4), the Swiss master couldn’t find his first serve, and Nishikori capitalised accordingly.  After an exchange of service breaks, Federer’s game deserted him.  A despondent body language followed a series of unforced errors, not featured in the Federer copybook, which must have been left in Switzerland.

The deciding break occurred in game six, where Nishikori attacked Federer mercilessly and reaped success.

When serving for the match at 5-3, Kei Nishikori received little resistance from Federer and won 7-6(4) 6-3, his first victory over Roger since Miami 2014.