Seb Kay rounds up the second day of action from the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena
Andy Murray v David Ferrer
Much like on Sunday it was another Murray that headlined the day, but this time it was younger brother Andy who started the singles matches against the Spanish Bulldog, David Ferrer. Both players struggled to break serve, especially when Murray had three break-point opportunities in the eighth game which he couldn’t convert. The British number one did manage hold his nerve to take the next chance that came his way in the 10th game to win the set 6-4.
Now one win away from ending the year as world number two, Murray didn’t get off to the best of starts in the second set as Ferrer took a 2-0 lead. Five double faults from the Spaniard were to prove costly however as Murray managed to find his rhythm and break back to then ease to victory, eventually winning 6-4 6-4.
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka
The days play concluded with the highly anticipated match up of Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka. However, the match wasn’t able to reach the levels the fans wanted as it ended in a comfortable victory in favour of the 14-time Grand Slam champion Nadal.
The match started with neither player able to win a point on serve. Then with new balls in play, Nadal was able to make use of them to break the Swiss’ serve before holding to 15 to claim the set.
The second set was to prove a much different story, with Nadal racing to a 4-1 lead, before both players held their serve ensuring Nadal sealed the match 6-3 6-2 to put himself in a strong position to qualify from what is a tough group.
Jean-Julian Rojer & Horia Tecau v Marcin Matkowski & Nenad Zimonjic
The doubles day started with a fairly routine performance for the number two seeds Jean-Julian Rojer and Horia Tecau. They broke their experienced opposition on four occasions throughout the course of the match to win 6-2 6-4 and avoid the upset that number one seeds the Bryan brothers faced on Sunday.
Ivan Dodig & Marcelo Melo v Pierre-Hugues Herbert & Nicolas Mahut
Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo kept their hopes of ending the year as the world number-one doubles pair alive after they fought back from match point down against their French opponents to win a scintillating encounter.
The French pair Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut looked in control of the match with better tactics and a more consistent performance all round, controlling the first set to win 6-3.
In the second set, again, the French duo seemed to be on the road to victory breaking serve early in the set to take a commanding lead.
However, at 5-3 with two match points on the Herbert serve, the younger Frenchman served nervously and gifted the game to Dodig and Melo with three double faults. The Croat and Brazilian proceeded to take the set on a tiebreak 7-6.
In the match tiebreak third set, Dodig and Melo looked in control for the first time and never gave up the early lead they obtained, closing out the match 10-7.