Kei Nishikori v David Ferrer: ATP World Tour Finals – as it happened

So there we are. Thanks for your company, and see you shortly for Federer-Murray, not to start before eight.

“An almost perfect set,” says Nishikori of the almost perfect set that he’s just played. And his evening plans? “I think I’m just gonna relax, have a good dinner, see the match after it’s over.”

So, for Andy Murray to progress, he needs to beat Roger Federer in straight sets - if he does, he wins the group. Sorted.

With the exception of those three games at the end of the first set, Nishikori was clearly the better player today. His power and imagination were just a little too much for Ferrer, who fought gamely as ever, before class told, as often.

Third set: Ferrer 6-4, 4-6, 1-6 Nishikori* After Ferrer goes up 30-0, a violent backhand from Nishikori forces more talking to self, and then another levels the game. And Ferrer is then sent wide on the forehand side, his attempted lob going high but nowhere near the court, earning a match point - which is converted when Ferrer goes long with another forehand.

Third set: Ferrer 6-4, 4-6, 1-5 Nishikori* A serve out wide is missed by Ferrer, who chunters fume at himself. But he wins the next three points - Nishikori has been evicted from the zone - before a one-two of punch out wide and slam down the middle saves the first break point. And Ferrer wastes the second, netting a forehand for no reason, only for a double-fault to replenish his opportunity. Another serve out wide to the backhand, though, and it’s gawn - but a forehand down the middle is just long, and here’s another, saved by a brilliant volley, Nishikori leaping forwards and left to reach a backhand, when it looked for all the world as though he was getting passed. Yet, here we go again, with another Nishikori groundstroke going long, yet, here we go again, with Ferrer opting to go cross-court with a big winner when he might have played something a little less risky. And that’s it, really, Nishikori winning the next two points - the second with a forehand thumper followed a by a drop shot. “Oh, stop it,” coos Rusedski.

Third set: Ferrer* 6-4, 4-6, 1-4 Nishikori Ferrer raises his eyes, but that’s all he can do, really - two more perfect points from Nishikori, and suddenly the bagel suggests itself. But Ferrer fights back to 30-all and Nishikori then goes long, but so too does Ferrer, ceding a deuce. He’s a gamer, though, and wins two quick points to get on the board in this set.

Third set: Ferrer 6-4, 4-6, 0-4 Nishikori* Nishikori’s buzzing here - two big serves take him 30-0 up, and theres really not much Ferrer can do. and what a shot backs it up, a thumping forehand winner, followed by another into the corner that opens the court for the clean-up down the middle. That’s how to win a service game.

Third set: Ferrer 6-4, 4-6, 0-3 Nishikori* Nishikori goes up 15 after outlasting Ferrer in a long rally - that’s 13 of the last 17 points - and he wins the next too, prompting Ferrer to attack the court with his racket. The court remains po-faced, Ferrer changes racket, and the umpire opts not to caution him, before a point apiece gives Nishikori a shy at a double-break. And he’s nearly there first go, an inside-out backhand passing Ferrer and called in. But a challenge reveals that’s it’s out by a nasal hair, but it doesn’t matter! He verily paggas a backhand from the back corner, cross-court and past Ferrer; surely this is now over.

Third set: Ferrer 6-4, 4-6, 0-2 Nishikori* Nishikori is all over this now, pounding a leaping forehand into the corner for 30-0. His first serve percentage is up, and his second serve pace is up - according to Annabel Croft, tendon injuries can become easier to deal with once you’re properly warm. But, typically, Ferrer somehow sneaks back into the game, and it’s 40-30, before an atypical unforced error allows Nishikori to cement the break.

Third set: Ferrer* 6-4, 4-6, 0-1 Nishikori More scurrying, but this time, Nishikori plays a drop-shot that Ferrer can’t reach. He’s clearly the better player, and has played most of the best shots this afternoon - but doesn’t quite have the consistency of Ferrer. Even so, it’s 0-30 after a challenge, and then, a body serve pushes Nishikori into a thunderous return that’s only just long. But another well-constructed point, sending Ferrer into the backhand corner, followed by a clouted ball the arrives the second he leaves, bringing up two break points. The first is taken, and it’s hard to see Nishikori losing from here.

Nishikori has left the arena, hence the de-lay.

Second set: Ferrer 6-4, 4-6 Nishikori* Nishikori starts with a serve out wide - the first time he’s done so so far this afternoon, and it works. But a missed forehand that elicits a wrung wrist levels things, before a quick point, followed by a booming serve-dropshot-lob combo gives him two goes at clinching the set. And there it is! The first singles three-setter of the week!

Second set: Ferrer* 6-4, 4-5 Nishikori At 30-0, Nishikori lobs up a backhand to Ferrer’s forehand corner, and the moment it’s vacated, thunders a forehand back there - he loves that little routine. But Ferrer then polishes off the game in short order, forcing Nishikori to serve for the set.

Second set: Ferrer 6-4, 3-5 Nishikori* Nishikori starts well, sending Ferrer wide on his backhand to shove a forehand into the vacated space. Then, at 30-0, Nishikori plays a decent enough approach, only for Ferrer to blaze a forehand pass cross-court. But two good serves, and Ferrer’s under pressure to stay in the set.

Second set: Ferrer* 6-4, 3-4 Nishikori Ferrer isn’t playing with quite the same consistency as before - and, should Nishikori win this set and the next, Murray will need to beat Federer in two to qualify for the sehmye finals. But, from 15-30 up, Nishikori loses impetus - he allows Ferrer off the hook with slapdash play, and will doubtless face a fight on his own service, in three minutes’ time.

Second set: Ferrer 6-4, 2-4 Nishikori* “I wonder how the players are gonna react to that one,” says Rusedski of Spain’s appointing Gala Leon as Davis Cup captain - the first female to hold such a position in the competitions’ history. He does not provide guidance as to how decent people can only react. In the meantime, Nishikori nashes through a quick one.

Second set: Ferrer* 6-4, 2-3 Nishikori Ferrer is just a ridiculous competitor, going up 30 via more scurrying - but Nishikori then draws him to the next and wrongfoots him with a backhand into the smaller gap on Ferrer’s backhand side. Then, another point for Nishikori, and though Ferrer goes game-point up, a jumping forehand cross-courter earns deuce. Ferrer, though, responds, a service winner and a lob that drops just long, clinching the game.

Second set: Ferrer 6-4, 1-3 Nishikori* More running for Ferrer, Nishikori controlling the centre of the court to go up 15. But a backhand from Ferrer levels things, and then another put him up - a short approach lets Ferrer punch a winner DTL, that clips the top of the net. Nishikori, though, responds well - he barely allows Ferrer into the next three points.

Second set: Ferrer* 6-4, 1-2 Nishikori We might just have both men around the area of the zone simultaneously. Ferrer wins a love game, but is made to work for it, Nishikori’s riskier style leading him to miss a couple after opening up the court with the excellent of his groundstrokes.

Second set: Ferrer 6-4, 0-2 Nishikori* Suddenly, the momentum is back with Nishikori, who races through a love game. You can see that when he really catches one, it flies, and the final shot is one such, a forehand that he barely seems to touch rocketing past Ferrer’s backhand.

Second set: Ferrer* 6-4, 0-1 Nishikori Ferrer opens the second set with a double-fault, and then fials to punish an ill-advised, ill-executed drop-shot, giving Nishikori the chance to panel a cross-court backhand pass. And what’s this? Another error gifts three break points - the first saved by two mighty groundstrokes, first to the forehand side and then pouncing on a short one to slam to the backhand. Then, a Nishikori lob goes long, but just when it looks like Ferrer is certain to retrieve the situation, a forehand lands punkt, on the line, and he can’t keep his response in. Break to Nishikori.

First set: Ferrer 6-4 Nishikori* Nishikori opens with a further double fault. “he really needs to compose himself,” says Rusedski, who, ten minutes ago, was praising his calm demeanour. Nishikori responds, though, before Ferrer opts to leave a backhand floated down the line - and commentary praise his judgment when it’s called out, only for Hawkeye to reveal that it was in, once Nishikori’s opted not to challenge. Then, a further double fault, and an unforced error - and it’s game and first set Ferrer. Dearie me, this has been a miserable quarter-hour for Nishikori.

First set: Ferrer 5-4 Nishikori* Ferrer is suddenly on a boust - well, what was known as a boust in the mid-90s, in HA3, HA8 and NW4 innit. He holds to love - the first love-game of the match - and will fancy himself for the break to win the set.

First set: Ferrer 4-4 Nishikori* Ferrer’s metronomic grunting puts him ahead in the game, and then Nishikori misses a gimme of a clean-up forehand down the line (DTL). He’s quickly level, but Ferrer is right there to earn a break-point - and when Nishikori’s service is out, has a serious opportunity - which he takes! Nishikori dictates the rally, Ferrer hangs out behind the baseline, then sends one to the backhand corner to elicit the error.

First set: Ferrer* 3-4 Nishikori At 15-15, Nishikori sees one pop up into his slot, so waits to Ferrer to pick a direction before clouting a backhand the other way. Ferrer responds well, though, taking the next two points - one via service winner - but we end up at deuce once more. And what a point that brings, Nishikori’s approach shot going deep to Ferrer’s backhand, returned with a cross-court slice that zones over the net. But Nishikori is there to flick a volley off his laces, and a forehand then earns him the first break of the match.

First set: Ferrer 3-3 Nishikori* At 15-0, Nishikori sends down another double-fault; his second serve is, according to Greg Rusedski, “a liabiltiy”. And Ferrer punishes him next point, twinkling along the baseline, running around his backhand, and punishing a forehand down the line. Nishikori then wins the next point, but elects to come in on the next next won, not doing enough with his volley and ceding a break point. It’s soon reclaimed, but another groundstroke is soon netted - but a feathered cross-court forehand-slice of a drop shot deals with the imminent danger. That was lovely, and gives him the confidence to walk into an inside-outer, slammed into the backhand corner - but an error brings Ferrer back to deuce. But what an authoritative ending to things - first, a volley that goes deep, and then a supersonic forehand.

First set: Ferrer* 3-2 Nishikori Ferrer has yet to indulge in any groundstroke fallibility, a double-fault his only unforced error. His consistency takes him to 30-0, but then, in a longer rally, Nishikori’s extra power rushes him, and a half-volley from on the baseline goes long. Quickly, it’s 30-all, but an ace takes Ferrer to game point - only for Nishikori’s forehand to arrange the first deuce of the afternoon. And Nishikori’s forehand down the line nabs him a break point - that looks like being a crucial shot - but is then outrallied, in classic Ferrer style, before Nishikori nets a return.

First set: Ferrer 2-2 Nishikori* Nishikori hasn’t quite settled yet, and chucks in a double fault at 15-all. But what a comeback, Ferrer sending him to the back forehand corner, well behind the baseline, only to be passed by a thunderous zetz down the line. And the next point is won via almost identical backhand, then another excellent forehand synchs the game.

First set: Ferrer* 2-1 Nishikori Longest rally of the game so far, and it’s a belter, Nishikori holding the centre and sending Ferrer scurrying hither and yon, before a slice draws him into the net. Nishikori joins him and tries a lob, but Ferrer leaps to whump it down with a backhand smash. Great stuff, and takes him to 30-15 - but he backs it up with a double fault. And then a better service and an ace give him 2-1.

“Spent most of Monday and Tuesday at the O2”, emails Keith Dyer, “and my dad was fairly spot on, I think, in identifying him as a Richard E Grant-voice-alike. (well actually he identified him as ‘that guy from the Scarlett Pimpernel thing’, which led me to say that was a bit harsh on Leslie Howard.) But he does have a lot in common with Grant at his hammiest (the announcer, that is, not my dad).”

I’m surprised they’ve not boshed out this kind of gig to famous folk, like they’ve done with animations - and Tube announcements.

First set: Ferrer 1-1 Nishikori* Nishikori follows a service winner with a double fault, before opening up an angle to crunch an inside-out forehand into the corner from the centre line. Next point, though, Ferrer is into the baseline groove, hanging in the rally until Nishikori hits a forehand looping and long - but the next point is shorter, won by Nishikori, and the following one shorter still, a serve out wide to the backhand enough to clunch the game.

First set: Ferrer* 1-0 Nishikori Ferrer begins well enough, hitting towards the aforementioned Nishikori’s aforementioned forehand, forcing him to net. Then, another first serve is wasted and Nishikori gets to 15, before two better ones elicit an error apiece. Nishikori then blazes a forehand, his first proper shot of the afternoon, but Ferrer closes out to get on the board.

Play.

What did people do in offices before the internet? And does this equation work?

Where time wasted on computers is x and time saved by computers is y, x=y

Nishikori, unaware that tails never fails, calls heads. It’s tails. Ferrer shall serve.

“WANTED: bloke to imitate voice of X Factor announcer.” That can be the only way they can possibly have happened upon the chap currently introducing the players.

Nishikori has a wrist injury - no doubt Ferrer will be hitting on that side. And, back to Raonic’s quad situation, I can confirm that a snapped quad is the most appalling pain known to mankind.

The players are tunnelled. Both give interviews revealing little, but Ferrer did not sound at all sure about things.

“This has to go the distance,” emails John McEnerney. “Been waiting for a 3 setter all week and if any guy can help, it’s Ferrer. In my opinion, the best player on tour without a grand slam, Nishikori should sneak it and go through along with Federer, but I wouldn’t write off Ferrer, the old warhorse! 3 sets, 3 sets , 3 sets come on everybody together now 3 sets 3 sets!”

From your lips to his ears, as my old fella might say.

“Two modern greats”, says Sky, advertising Murray-Federer. Is Murray a great? On the one hand, two measly slams. On the other, greatness isn’t measured in pots but sentiment and context; I’d say he’s on the cusp. If he can win one more, especially if it involves beating Djokovic in the final, that’d be enough for me.

Of course, this alteration to your advertised programme might just extend it, given Raonic’s aversion to rallies and Ferrer’s hopeless addiction to the same. And might affect Andy Murray, who is British but voted YES, but what is he if he wins/loses/draws?

Basically, or not basically at all:

If Ferrer beats Nishikori and Federer beats Murray, Nishikori is through.

If Ferrer beats Nishokori ands Murray beats Federer, Murray is through.

If Murray and Nishikori both win in two, qualification will be determined by the percentage of games won between Federer, Murray and Nishikori.

If Murray and Nishikori both win in three, Nishikori and Federer go through.

Ferrer can’t qualify.

Preamble Astrobelts, Rauchbier, jungle, trainers; though the world gets a well-earned bad press, it does still have some things going for it - none of them better than elite sport during the working day. And, here is some elite sport during the working day!

Sadly, it won’t involve poor old Milos Raonic, out with low-grade quad-tear; happily, David Ferrer is on-hand to step-to. This way to embroider your acrylic afternoons!