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 Already assured of a place in the semi-finals of the ATP World
Tour Finals after Kei Nishikori's three-set win in Group B earlier
in the day, Federer only required a set against Murray to top the
standings.
He managed that objective in 24 spellbinding minutes, allowing
former Wimbledon champion Murray only eight points in the opening
set, then went in pursuit of a rare 'double bagel' -- the nickname
for a tennis whitewash.
At 6-0 5-0 and 30-0 ahead on Murray's serve the O2 crowd, many of
whom were in the Federer camp, held its breath.
Swiss maestro Federer then missed a relatively easy volley and
Murray somehow clawed his way to a game -- avoiding the fate that
befell Argentina's Gaston Gaudio in 2005 when Federer recorded the
only 6-0 6-0 win in Tour Finals history.
Federer ended Murray's torment a game later and will now go in
search of a seventh season-ending title to cap a remarkable comeback
year for the 33-year-old after a disappointing 2013 when his powers
appeared on the wane.
 Tournament debutant Nishikori deservedly joins Federer in the last
four as Group B runner-up after beating alternate David Ferrer 4-6
6-4 6-1 in the day's first singles.
Ferrer was a late replacement for Milos Raonic after the Canadian
withdrew on Thursday morning with a leg injury and almost inevitably
the dogged Spaniard ensured the first three-set match of a
round-robin phase littered with easy wins.
Who they play on Saturday will be decided on Friday when world
number one Novak Djokovic looks to wrap up top spot in Group A
against Tomas Berdych and Marin Cilic faces Stanislas Wawrinka.
Victory for Djokovic would also guarantee he finishes the year on
top of the rankings.
For Murray, his year ended in crushing fashion.
"Everything he tried tonight came off," Murray, still sweating, said
minutes after coming off court.
"It's not a nice way to finish the year."
Strangely, Murray was 0-30 ahead on Federer's opening service game
and was then involved in a sensational baseline rally that ended
when he netted a forehand.
From that moment on Federer took control as only he can.
Striking nonchalant winners from the baseline, teasing his quarry
with drop shots and lobs and flashing away volleys, the points raced
by in a blur with Murray's head spinning.
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The only sympathy seven-times Wimbledon champion Federer appeared to
show Murray was afterwards, as he spoke on court.
"Clearly I'm very happy to play a good match today," he said. "I
knew I was qualified so maybe I went in more relaxed.
"It's not the way I thought it was going to go but there's always
next year for Andy, hopefully he'll have a good season."
While Federer continues to defy the passing years, Nishikori showed
again that he will be part of the next generation challenging for
grand slam silverware.
The 24-year-old only found out that he was playing Ferrer rather
than the big-serving Raonic shortly before the match, but after
re-adjusting to the very different challenge the Spaniard presents,
the U.S. Open runner-up played beautifully.
"The final set (was) almost perfect," said Nishikori, who leads the
ATP Tour in winning decisive sets with 21-2 record.
Ferrer, beaten in nearly three hours by Nishikori in the
quarter-finals of the Paris Masters, a result that scuppered his
hopes of qualifying for the year-ender by right, hit back from a
break down to snatch a high-quality opening set.
From then on, however, Nishikori showed why he has become a
trailblazer for Asian tennis, unleashing his full repertoire to run
Ferrer into the ground.
After converting his first set point in the second set with a
backhand winner, Nishikori raced ahead in the decider against a
tiring opponent, who returns home around $85,000 richer for his
brief appearance in London.
(Editing by Ed Osmond and Toby Davis)
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