ATP World Tour Finals 2015 Day 1 Preview: Djokovic, Federer look for a winning start

It is finally that time of the year when the best eight men on the ATP tour will be fighting it out for the coveted ATP World Tour Finals crown. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has looked unstoppable for most of the season, and he certainly looks the favourite to defend his title. But is there anyone who can wrest the crown away from him?

We take a look at the first day of the Year-Ending Championships as Djokovic locks horns with Kei Nishikori and Roger Federer battles it out with Tomas Berdych.

(1) Novak Djokovic v (8) Kei Nishikori

The pair had an iconic meeting at the 2014 US Open when Nishikori upset the World No. 1

Head-to-head: Djokovic leads 4-2

The day’s first match is a repeat of last year’s semi-final between the pair. The Japanese ace certainly would not have preferred the seemingly invincible Serb as his first opponent at the year-end meet. There were lingering doubts over the World No. 8’s fitness after he retired during his third round match at Paris Masters due to an abdominal muscle pain.

Surely the four-time World Tour Finals champion Djokovic is not the right rival to face with a compromised body.

But Nishikori has announced himself “100 percent OK” and is raring to go. Perhaps he is inspired by his own exploits at this very venue last year. This is the same place where he had a thundering straight-set victory over Andy Murray last year and then beat David Ferrer as well. The Japanese qualified for the semis on his debut at the tournament, and even took a set off Djokovic.

The memories and the experience can definitely help Nishikori to mount his challenge with some confidence. He has won three titles this season. Besides, in his only meeting with the Serb in 2015 too (at the Rome Masters), he did take manage to take a set.

But even that may seem too feeble against the burgeoning self-confidence of the man called Novak Djokovic. The World No. 1 has been on a 22-match winning streak but ominously for others, has looked even more ruthless since winning the US Open.

He did show signs of fatigue during his winning run at the Paris Masters but none was successful in derailing the man who has looked poised, determined and ever-so-ready for any kind of challenge. The 10-time Slam champion has added 10 titles to his name so far this season and would want to kickstart his campaign with a huge momentum.

Prediction: Djokovic in straight sets

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(3) Roger Federer v (6) Tomas Berdych

Federer met Berdych at Indian Wells this year, routing him 6-4, 6-0

Head-to-head: Federer leads 14-6

This match is a contest between two veterans. While 17-time major champion Federer boasts of a record 14 consecutive appearances, Berdych will play for the sixth consecutive time at the championships. They are very familiar with each other, having faced one another 20 times.

The Swiss maestro obviously holds the advantage, after having triumphed 14 times out of those meetings which includes twice this year at Rome and Indian Wells.

However, the Czech is coming to the season-ender brimming with confidence. He has won two titles in the fall season, one of which was on indoor hardcourts at Stockholm. The surface aids his flat, big-hitting groundstrokes as evidenced by his gritty fight against Novak Djokovic at the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters.

If anything, Berdych would surely like to have this surface against Federer. Unfortunately for him, the former World No. 1 has an astounding record indoors and his six titles at this tournament can vouch for that.

Federer did lose in a close match to the big-serving John Isner at Paris but his triumph at home over Rafael Nadal in the Basel final must have been an added fillip before the World Tour Finals.

Berdych can make this a tight match but the Swiss can still carve out the win.

Prediction: Federer in three sets