Kei Nishikori unable to explain 'one of the worst matches' after Kevin Anderson humbling at ATP Finals

Kei Nishikori cursed his performance in “one of the worst matches this year” as he suffered a humiliating defeat to Kevin Anderson in the ATP Finals.

The world No.9 was outclassed from first point to last as he slipped to a 6-0, 6-1 defeat to Anderson in little over an hour, winning just 21 of 49 points on his own serve and dropping the first 11 games of the match.

It was a far cry from the energetic, consistent Nishikori who had stunned Roger Federer at the O2 on Sunday and the 28-year-old was at a loss to explain how his game had fallen apart so dramatically in less than 48 hours.

"I don't even know why I didn't play well today, missing a lot,” he said. “I don't know. I just didn't feel the ball today. It wasn't my day today.

“I think he started well. That's why he was more confident after a couple of games. For me, I think I was opposite. I lost the second game and I was lost a little bit and just didn't feel the ball today.

“I mean, I played one of the worst matches this year and also he was playing well, too.”

Despite that bruising defeat Nishikori remains firmly in the hunt for a place in the semi-finals in London and his destiny will be in his own hands should Dominic Thiem beat Roger Federer later this evening.

Asked how he would clear his mind in time for Thursday’s meeting, Nishikori told Standard Sport: “I don't know. I try to forget about today.

"Something was wrong. I’ve got to fix it tomorrow. And I will try to be positive for the next one.”