Roger Federer benefited from stress, but the struggling David Ferrer won their matches Sunday at the season ending ATP World Tour Finals.
Federer, four times champion and world's top eight players in the tournament, stretched his record to 11-0 against the seventh ranked Spaniard won 6-1, 6-4 on hard court inside the O2 Arena.
"I'm really happy with the way they managed to get the first race here," said Federer, who will face Andy Murray in round-robin tournament on Tuesday. "Starting with the feisty top-10 player is not easy."
The fifth ranked the Murray beat Robin Soderling 6-2, 6-4 at the start of the race.
Ferrer, playing the final at the ATP for the first time since losing to Federer in the 2007 final. And he looked nervous in the beginning, so to stop Federer in three games in the first term. Spaniard to win the game when Federer came to serve, and already trailing 4-0.
"I served very badly during the race," said Ferrer. "With Roger, it is impossible to take the chance if you're [not] good."
Despite the result, Federer did not dominate. 16-times Grand Slam champion was forced to deuce five times and had to save five break points in the second.
"Looking at the score, which does not reflect how difficult it was," said Federer. "There were many close games, especially in the second."
Federer the only break came in the second 2-2 when Ferrer was sent to the right width and then make a racket over his head, before deciding not to break it to court.
The crowd was mostly cheers for Federer - not surprising in light of the six titles at Wimbledon All England Club.
"This № 2 in the world and the best player [en] history," said Ferrer. "Every time you play Federer, more people support him than other players."
Federer and Murray are in Group B of the tournament. The group will take place in court Monday to face Rafael Nadal in the best Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic playing Tomas Berdych.
Murray, who fell one place below Order No. 4 Soderling last week, keep the ball from the Swede, a strong right hand.
"I played very smart tennis today," said Murray. «And even if it is known, it was increasingly difficult in the second, at high concentrations, was on the defensive pretty much stuck with my tactics well and managed to come through. "
Soderling, who returned to the French Open final this year and won the Paris Masters, for the first time, there were only five winners from the right, and make 12 unforced errors, with often dominated by one shot.
"We had to defend well," said Soderling. "I hit the ball pretty hard sometimes trying to be aggressive. Every time I went in the net, came up with a really good shot. "
Murray appeared to be a stronger player throughout, facing only one turning point and converted three of six.
Britain got its first break at the start of the match, hitting a backhand winner away to serving Soderling is 2-1. Convert one another for 5-2 and then served in the first set with a drop shot that hit the line.
"The first set was very good. I'm really there, "said Soderling. "I think the second set was better. But he played better than me today."
In the second, the pair traded games until 3-3 when Murray broke immediately after the lead 00-40 in the seventh game.
Second I had to do much running, "said Murray. "Do not always go the lines. I hit well below his feet, he just uncomfortable to play a lot of pictures."
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