Nadal withdraws from ATP Finals

In London at the ATP Finals, Alexander Zverev (3) finished the opening night by recovering from a break down in the deciding third set to defeat Marin Cilic (5) 6-4 3-6 6-4.

The second day/night saw two matches from the Pete Sampras Group.

First up, Grigor Dimitrov (6) played Dominic Thiem (4).

In set one, both were terrific on first serves, Thiem winning 10 of 11 points, and Dimitrov 16 of 18.

However, Thiem could only manage a terrible 37% of first serves into play, and enabled Dimitrov to have a go at three break points, one of which was converted.

The Bulgarian faced no break points and won the set 6-3.

Set two was somewhat a reversal, with Dimitrov poorer on first serve percentage and winning far less points overall.

This time the only break point converted was initiated by Thiem who levelled the match 3-6 7-5.

Points won on second serve determined how the third set was won. Dimitrov won 69% of points on his second delivery, while Thiem won 44% on his.

Break points were created more at will for the sixth seed and he just required one to be converted and the match was his 6-3 5-7 7-5.

David Goffin (7) picked up the biggest win of his career when he toppled Rafa Nadal (1).

After taking set one in a tie break, Goffin would have been concerned when Nadal levelled by winning set two, also in a tie break.

From five chances, though, Goffin broke twice in the decider to shock the top seed 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-4.

A bigger shock came after the match with Nadal’s withdrawal from the tournament through injury.

Fellow Spaniard, Pablo Carreno Busta, is the replacement for Nadal.