Swedish world No. 4 Robin Soderling edged David Ferrer 7-5, 7-5 on Tuesday, smashing the Spaniard's to the bottom of Group B at the ATP World Tour Finals.
Both Soderling and the seventh seed Ferrer lost their opening matches on Sunday and had to try hard to get on the board with a win on Tuesday.
The two played solidly in their service games until Soderling broke in the 12th game to take the first set. They changed service breaking in the middle of the second set, but French Open finalist Soderling managed to wrap it up by breaking in the 12th game again.
"I tried to do my best. I fight to win the second set. But Robin played better than me and he had more chances all the match," said Ferrer who qualified for the season finale for the second time as he grabbed his career high year ending place world No. 5 in 2007.
With two losses in a row, the 28-year-old Ferrer's hope of advancing into the semifinals is only existing technically. But he didn't believe that his confidence would be affected.
"I am with confidence. I finish the season top 10. I don't have any problem physical, mentality," said Ferrer who will fight in his last group match against British favourite Andy Murray on Thursday.
"I know with Andy it will be a very difficult match. But with all the players, we are the eight top players of the world. So nothing else, nothing special. I fight everything. I fight, and with Andy too," claimed Ferrer.
Earlier, the world No. 5 Murray was crushed by Swiss world No. 2 Roger Federer 6-4, 6-2 after one hour and 16 minutes.
Although Murray led their head-to-head series 8-5 including two straight-sets wins in two finals this year, Federer was one on fire while Murray was the one struggling.
Murray didn't make any trouble in Federer's service games but was broken three times in the whole match.
“I'm surprised that I was able to win my service games that comfortably,” said the 16 Grand Slam title holder Federer. "I heard I dropped eight points on my serve. That's not the norm against Andy, who is one of the best return players."
The 29-year-old Federer will play Soderling on Thursday, whom he only lost once in their previous 15 clashes.
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