Roger Federer blazed past Fernando Verdasco after an early stumble while Andy Murray marked the start of London's five-year hosting of the ATP Tour Finals with a three-set victory over Juan Martin del Potro.Federer, looking to regain the year-end top ranking after being overthrown by Rafael Nadal last year, dug himself out of trouble to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 and join Murray at the top of Group A in the season-ending showpiece.
The Swiss world No1 lost his opening service game to love and sprayed 15 errors in the first set as Verdasco threatened to cause a shock.
He then survived a crisis at 5-5, 0-30 in the second set, breathing a sigh of relief as Verdasco went agonizingly wide with a forehand - a near-miss confirmed by a Hawkeye replay.
"Only in the second set was I able to sort of get the ball into play, find my range, find my rhythm," Federer, a four-time winner of the tournament, said.
Scotland's Murray withstood a ferocious comeback by US Open champion Del Potro to claim a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 victory that at one stage looked to be slipping away from him.
Del Potro, who lost the first five games, scorched some huge forehand winners but was finally undone by the wily world No4.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
