Bearded Federer outlasts Nishikori in London's ATP action

LONDON – Roger Federer overcame a stubborn Kei Nishikori to finish the round-robin stage unbeaten and claim first place in the group.

 

Federer struggled to put away Nishikori before winning 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 and sending the Japanese player home early in the ATP World Tour finals, Thursday (Friday in Manila).

 

The Swiss star, playing with a weeklong stubble, faced more questions after the match about his beard than about the struggles with his serve that saw him broken five times. Will it stay as long as he keeps winning?

 

"If it itches too much, I'll take it off," Federer said. "If my girls can't stand it, I'll take it off. 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 don't know yet."

 

As for his wife, Mirka, "she's fine with it."

 

"I mean, she's OK, I guess," he added. "I do take decisions by myself sometimes."

 

Federer broke for a 3-1 lead in all three sets but Nishikori came back each time, taking advantage of some rare mishits by the Swiss star along the way. But Nishikori finally ran out of comebacks as Federer earned his sixth break of the match in the last game, clinching the win with a smash.

 

While Federer had already advanced to the semifinals, he never there was no let-up in the third set even as Nishikori kept finding ways of getting back into the match.

 

"It's just another match, a really important one for me, to move on with a good feeling," Federer said. "There's (ranking) points on the line and prestige, wanting to beat Kei, winning at the O2. I want to do well here."

 

Federer will be playing for the UAE Royals in the International Premier Tennis League slated early December.

 

The second leg of the IPTL will be played in Manila at the Mall of Asia Arena from December 6 to 8. - With a report from Philstar.com