LONDON—It was a gloomy Monday at the predominantly-blue 02 Arena as David Ferrer beat Andy Murray, 6-4, 7-5, in a turgid, poor-quality affair in which the Scot accounted for 44 of the pair’s combined 79 unforced errors.
The underrated Ferrer, a veteran of the season-ending championships, looked in trouble early on as Murray broke for a 2-1 lead. But in a pattern that would endure throughout the match, Murray handed the lead right back with four forehand errors. Despite some eye-catching points—Murray's drop shot/flicked forehand pass combination at 2-3 down was particularly noteworthy, as was a searing winner that landed inches from Ferrer in the same game—whatever initial fizz Murray seemed to possess quickly went flat. He was consistently uncertain whether to venture forward or not, frequently backing off from a good attacking position. In contrast, Ferrer, who on his worst day is an excellent counter-puncher, was taking every opportunity to come forward, landing some particularly slick backhand volleys in places even the explosive Murray could not reach.
Serving to stay in the set at 4-5, a couple of scrappy, fitful rallies from Murray contrasted with Ferrer’s decisive volleys and clean returns. At deuce, Murray’s drop shot was good but Ferrer’s delicate drop-volley riposte was even better, and he took his second set point as Murray, rocked back on his heels yet again, watched his forehand fly out.
A break for treatment on Murray's left hip/thigh area seemed to do him some good, as his abysmal first-serve percentage of 37 climbed into the low 50s. Murray broke to lead 1-0 after Ferrer snatched at a short ball he should have handled with ease, but with Murray failing to hit well on the run at all—normally one of his strongest points—he was quickly pegged back with a terrible game at 2-1. He saved two break points for 2-2, before Ferrer took his turn at missing consecutive forehands wild, wide and long; and was broken to fifteen for Murray to lead 4-3.
This break didn’t last any longer than the others, however, and Ferrer looked increasingly sharp as he held serve for 5-4, while Murray’s tactics in general and drop shots in particular had an increasing whiff of being out of ideas. Murray managed to prolong the set to be serving at 5-6, but that's as far as he'd go, and at any other event would have been on the verge of elimination. The round-robin format holds out hope, but as Ferrer pulled off another sneaky backhand volley onto the line for match point and punished Murray for trying to be too cute, it leaves Murray in the dispiriting position of being the only singles player at the World Tour Finals not to have won a set.
Ferrer, on the other hand, enjoys for the moment the distinction of being the first and only straight-sets winner at the event so far. The world No. 5 suddenly looks a good prospect to reach the knock-out stages.
—Hannah Wilks