LONDON – Kei Nishikori hit a backhand so good it threw Roger Federer off his game as the 20-time Grand Slam champion earned a code violation before capitulating in a surprise defeat at the ATP Finals on Sunday.
Two points away from losing the opening set and on the back foot in a rally, Nishikori hit a stunning shot up the line, which prompted Federer to hit the ball into the crowd and receive a warning for ball abuse.
Federer never appeared to regain his composure and went down 7-6 (4), 6-3 in a first opening match defeat at the season-ending tournament since 2013.
“I thought ‘What was his argument, why the warning?” Federer said of his exchange with the umpire. “But nothing more than that. He thought I was angry. I wasn’t. Now I’m angry because I lost, but I wasn’t, so...”