The win meant that Djokovic, who had been defeated by Roger Federer, just two days prior, finished second in Group Stan Smith to set up the meeting with Nadal, who claimed top spot in Group Ilie Nastasie with a match to spare. “I enjoyed, but I feel sorry for David today”, Nadal said on court. I think I competed well.
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This was, without doubt, the best and most hotly contested match thus far, with the two separated by three points out of nearly 200 played. Federer also looked in control in the second set, making a break to love for 4-1, but his first serve deserted him, and the flamboyant shot-making of Nishikori sizzled through five straight games for the set, 6-4.
Djokovic, 28, trails Nadal 22-23 in career matches but has won all three of their encounters this year – including at the Nadal stronghold, otherwise known as Roland Garros, in the quarter-finals.
Perhaps it was the beard – which Federer revealed has taken him a week to grow to grey stubble level – or, more seriously, Nishikori, who finally came to life in the tournament. The final game went to deuce before the Swiss secured the victory with an overhead smash. Djokovic still seemed aware that he perhaps is not playing his best the last few days as he talked about what it will take to beat Rafa on Saturday, saying “He has played great in his first couple of matches in London and hopefully I will be able to play my best”. “It’s a shame to lose like this”. He has beaten the Czech five times in the last six years at the ATP finals.
The Serbian now faces Nadal for a place in the final and seems set to be sternly tested by a rejuvenated Nadal, who eased to a 6-4 6-1 victory over world number two Andy Murray on Wednesday.
Spaniard Nadal, 29, has been feeling positive about his tennis in London and said he plans a long, hard off-season of practice, jokingly adding: “I don’t deserve a vacation this year”.
For the second successive year, Nishikori qualified for the prestigious Tour Finals at the O2 Arena and he took heart from the way he recovered from an opening-match thrashing at the hands of world number one Djokovic.
“If I look in the mirror and I don’t like it, I’ll take it off. Maybe I’ll think of Santa and keep it. It’s around the corner. I want to do well here”. “I’ve got the flawless schedule”.
Despite a calf injury that forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon and pain in his left side and shoulder that sidelined him for parts of the fall, Nishikori managed to remain among the world’s top 10.
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On the prospect of playing Nadal for a 46th time, Djokovic said: “He has another match tomorrow and I will watch that with my team to try and prepare”.
