Nishikori upsets Federer

Defending champion Roger Federer was stunned by Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the last 16 of the Mutua Madrid Open yesterday.

Despite a second-set fightback, the second seed Swiss was too often below his best form and succumbed in an hour and 35 minutes to end his first tournament back after a two-month break.

Nishikori led by a break in the first set and, although Federer held serve at 3-5 to keep himself in the set, he fired a backhand into the stand at set point as Nishikori took a shock lead.

Federer responded in predictable style by winning the second set 6-1, but Nishikori broke in the fourth game of the deciding set to nudge ahead once more.

He held to lead 4-1 and then 5-2 and, after a pair of unforced errors from Federer set up match point, the Japanese player completed the break to wrap up a 6-4 1-6 6-2 win.

Nishikori told Sky Sports 4 afterwards: “He started playing much better in the second set, the match was going his way, but I played a bit more aggressive and was playing well.

“I think it’s the biggest win (yet) for me – especially on clay, it’s not my favourite court. It’s an amazing day for me.”

Fifth seed Rafael Nadal, in contrast to Federer, was scarcely troubled in beating Mikhail Youzhny 6-2 6-3.

Nadal broke the Russian’s serve on five occasions in the 75-minute encounter, wrapping up victory with a neat cross-court clip after chasing down a Youzhny drop shot.