Andy Murray goes down 6-4 6-4 to Kei Nishikori

Andy Murray by Getty Images

Andy Murray goes down 6-4 6-4 to Kei Nishikori at the 02 area in London at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, but why? Here are the key insights.

So what happened when Murray took on Nishikori ?

Murray went down in straight sets to Nishikori in one hour and 35 minutes; this is the first time in four meetings Murray has lost to the Japanese player.

After the match Murray commented: "Both of us struggled at the beginning of the match. The conditions, when you play with no one in there, it seemed like it was pretty full today. It's obviously warmer, which then makes it quicker, the ball becomes a bit more lively."

What does this mean for Murray?

Well not much (yet). The beauty of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals is that it’s not all over. Murray, who is in Group B, still has two other contenders to play – Milos Raonic and Roger Federer. However Murray faces a tough task to claim one of the two semi-final places from Group B.

When does Murray play next?

He will meet the loser of Sunday evening's match between Federer and Raonic on Tuesday.

Did Nishikori play well?

He did - eventually. The world No.5 overcame a nervous start on his Barclays ATP Finals debut, taking advantage of Murray’s deep positioning in the court, playing with authority.

Speaking about his opponen,t Murray said: "He's got a lot of talent in his hand. Even when you get the ball in difficult spots on the court, he's a good shot‑maker. Yeah, he's always been able to do that. But with the confidence, he's a bit more consistent throughout the course of the match, as well."

Serving

Murray hit seven aces including an ace to bring the score line even to 4-4 in the second set. However the Japanese player monopolised on Murray’s weaker second serve, winning 74% of points.

Commenting on his performance, Murray said: "I didn't serve well enough today. I would say that was the biggest difference in the match. And when you're not serving well, obviously on your own service games you want to be looking to dictate the points. When you're returning, you kind of dictate when you have the opportunity. You don't always have the chance if someone's serving well."