Roger Federer paid for his errors as he lost to Japan’s Kei Nishikori in his opening group match at the ATP Finals.
The Swiss, chasing a 100th career title at the season-ending event, lost 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 to the world number nine.
The normally unflappable Federer showed uncharacteristic frustration, while a calm Nishikori sealed victory when the Swiss hit a wild forehand.
World number one Novak Djokovic opens his campaign against John Isner at the O2 Arena in London on Monday.
Federer hit 34 unforced errors – and was given a warning by the umpire for swiping a ball into the stands in the first set – in a performance that he will be keen to forget.
The 37-year-old will be back in action on Tuesday when he faces Dominic Thiem, who lost to Kevin Anderson earlier on Sunday.
It is the fourth time Federer has lost his opening match at the event, but he can take some comfort from the fact that in 2007 he still went on to win the title.
Federer began the match calmly and he put pressure on the Nishikori serve in the fourth game, taking him to deuce. But as his errors began to mount, his mood visibly soured.
Nishikori looked like he would run away with the tie-break, forging a 6-1 lead before Federer clawed it back to 6-4, but the Swiss then sent a forehand into the net to hand the set to the Japanese player.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion grew increasingly frustrated with himself, while Nishikori simply grew in confidence.
Having traded early breaks in the second, the Japanese player broke in the sixth game to go 4-2 up and then served to love in the following game.
More Federer errors gave Nishikori three match points and one final mis-hit forehand way beyond the baseline handed him victory.
“I’m glad to win, it is never easy to play with my idol, it is always a big challenge against him, so it was great to win,” said Nishikori, who has reached the semi-finals here twice.
