LONDON — Roger Federer withstood a stunning fightback from Kei Nishikori to claw out a 7-5 4-6 6-4 victory and stay undefeated at this year's ATP World Tour Finals on Thursday.
The win means Swiss Federer tops Stan Smith Group, having won all three of his round-robin matches at the ATP's season-ender for the ninth time in 14 consecutive appearances.
It was touch and go, though, at the end as Federer let slip a 4-1 lead in the second set, losing five games in a row as Japan's Nishikori began to dominate from the baseline.
The Japanese looked the stronger player at the start of the deciding set but allowed Federer off the hook when he failed to break the Swiss's serve in the third game having been 0-40 up.