Federer quick to put rookie in his place

The Japanese player was the only debutant to win his opening match and was looking to maintain his good record against Federer.

However, this was a contest only in the early stages as Federer breezed to a 6-3 6-2 win to add to his straight-sets victory over Milos Raonic.

Nishikori admitted the first time he played his idol he had too much respect for him to offer a challenge, but he had won two of their previous three meetings.

The 24-year-old had begun nervously against Murray but this time he looked sharp from the start and things might have been different had he converted one of two break points in the third game.

But Federer saved both and made Nishikori pay by breaking in the next game with two bullet forehands. That seemed to deflate the fourth seed, whose usually reliable backhand began to let him down.

Federer had a point for 5-1 which Nishikori saved but he could make no headway on Federer’s serve and the world No 2 easily wrapped up the opening set.

Things showed no sign of improving for Nishikori as Federer broke again early in the second set and he wrapped up victory in an hour and nine minutes.