Andy Murray improved his chances of making the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals for the first time in four years after a record-breaking contest against Kei Nishikori in London. Not since his debut in 2008, when the tournament was held in Shanghai, has the Scot won both of his opening two matches and his 6-7 (9-11) 6-4 6-4 victory over Nishikori will be enough for a first last-four appearance since 2012 as long as he beats Stan Wawrinka on Friday. Six months half price Upgrade to Sky Sports to watch Man Utd v Arsenal on Saturday and get the first six months half price This was the fourth meeting of the year between the pair, with Murray having won easily at the Olympics but enduring long five-set tussles with Nishikori in the Davis Cup and at the US Open, where he came out second best. And the Briton rose to the occasion once again, after his victory over Cilic, to defeat Japans finest in the longest ever match at the season-ending tournament, lasting three hours and 20 minutes.Shot of the matchMurray showed remarkable powers of recovery with a moment of pure genius to be in the right place at the right time to save a third set point in an opening set tiebreak with this attacking winner from the tightest of angles. It was reminiscent of his winning effort to win the Rome Masters earlier this year against Novak Djokovic. This was just about the best point in a dramatic tiebreak in which Murray had three set points and Nishikori had five Expert analysisSky Sports Peter Fleming: Hes the world No 1 and you dont get to that position without having incredible resolve and will and reserve of mental and emotional stamina. He is a great physical athlete, hits the ball beautifully and his backhand is incredible, but it was just his willingness to keep going and his willingness to butt heads with Nishikori.Mentally and emotionally, it might be more of a strain for him to recover than physically. Knowing what is at stake, I think it will be quite easy for him to get up for the rest of his matches here. Murray had to dig deep to beat Nishikori in what was the longest match in Tour Finals history The matchThere were no less than 17 breaks of serve during their US Open encounter but Nishikori, who could yet finish the year ranked No 3, failed to capitalise on those offered on a plate during an opening set lasting 85 minutes, including 40 unforced errors. Heres Murrays stunning cross-court winner on the run which left Nishikori at the net... After a slow-burner of an opening with both men failing to take opportunities to break, the first set tiebreak lit the blue touchpaper.Murray was forced to produce a remarkable reflex winner from an impossible angle to save a third set point at 6-3. But ultimately the Scot failed take any of his three opportunities created, while the 26-year-old broke Murrays resistance at the fifth time of asking to stun the home support. Nishikori needed a couple of smashes to eventually get past Murray after this exchange... That only inspired the 29-year-old, who started his fightback with an immediate response in the opening game of the next set. A re-energised Nishikori broke back in the eighth game, but Murray struck immediately back to send the match into a decider.Wimbledon and Olympic champion Murray took advantage of a lucky net cord in the third game to move ahead in the match and he quickly made it a double break advantage. Although Nishikori, who reached the 2014 semi-finals on his debut at the season finale, won the next three on the spin, it was the world No 1 who held his nerve to seal a famous win at the second time of asking. Heres the moment Murray closed out the match at the second time of asking... The victory made it 21 in a row for the Scot, who needs to match Djokovics performance this week to ensure he holds onto top spot until the end of the year.Check our game-by-game coverage from all group matches at the ATP World Tour Finals in London - including Andy Murray v Stan Wawrinka on Friday - on skysports.com/tennis, our app for mobile devices and iPad and our Twitter account @skysportstennis. Murray v Nishikori: Match Stats Murray Nishikori Aces 8 0 Double faults 6 4 1st serve points won 75% 72% 2nd serve points won 48% 40% Break points won 4/7 2/11 Unforced errors 39 49 Total points won 130/251 121/251 Upgrade to Sky Sports now to watch Man Utd v Arsenal this Saturday and get the first six months half price! Also See: WATCH: How good is Murray? As it happened... Murrays service syndrome over? That was pulsating tennis Cheap Hydro Flask Free Shipping . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. Discount Hydro Flask Cheap .4 million title. Ryan Riess emerged with the title after a session in which he started behind, but used expert skill to gather the chips to his side amid the unpredictability of no-limit Texas Hold em. Riess put his final opponent Jay Farber all-in with an Ace-King. http://www.discounthydroflaskcheap.com/ . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. Discount Hydro Flask . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hydro Flask Clearance . William Carrier opened the scoring for Cape Breton (6-4-2), but Andrew Ryan tied the game and Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in front for good with a short-handed goal at 13:49 of the second period. WASHINGTON -- After Kemba Walkers potentially tying 3-point try went around the rim and out at the buzzer of the Charlotte Hornets third consecutive loss, the star guard and coach Steve Clifford agreed on this: The team needs to be more physical.Sooner or later, weve got to respond. We have to respond as a group or its not going to get better, Clifford said. Im sick of watching it, frankly.John Wall and Bradley Beal combined for 19 of their 45 points in the third quarter, and the Wizards outrebounded the Hornets while scoring twice as many points in the paint during Washingtons 109-106 victory over the Southeast Division leaders Wednesday night.Its the lack of physicality overall. I just told them that. I love our guys, but listen: We got knocked around ... again tonight, Clifford said. If guys arent willing to be more physical, were going to be an up-and-down team. Well struggle to make the playoffs. You have to change -- no matter how old you are, how many years youve been in the league.Told of his coachs assessment, Walker said: He sees it all. Hes watching the whole game. So hes right.Charlotte is 0-3 to start a five-game road trip after losses at Cleveland on Saturday, then at Indiana on Monday.Against Washington, the Hornets led by as many as 10 early in the third quarter, then trailed by as many as 12, but made things interesting at the end.The Hornets pulled within two points after Marco Belinelli stole the ball from Wall, leading to Cody Zellers layup with 10.6 seconds remaining. Wall made one of two free throws a second later for a three-point lead, before Nicolas Batum and Walker both missed 3s that would have tied it.After Batums miss, Walker got the rebound and moved out beyond the arc to launch his shot, which came oh-so-close to going in at the buzzer.dddddddddddd.Beal said afterward he was a little nervous, Im not going to lie, because he had a solid look.TIP-INSHornets: Batum scored 20 points on his 28th birthday. He had game highs of 14 points and seven assists in the first half, helping Charlotte lead 54-49. ... G Ramon Sessions, who played the last two seasons for Washington, scored four points.Wizards: Wall drew a technical -- his sixth of the season -- for jawing with Belinelli after making a basket in the fourth quarter. ... Markieff Morris was a late scratch because of a sore left foot. Kelly Oubre Jr. started in his place and scored 15 points. ... Rookie F Danuel House missed his 10th game in a row with a broken right wrist.WALL VS. WALKERWall, wearing bright orange neon shoes, outplayed Walker, finishing with more points (25-17) and assists (10-9), along with seven steals to become Washingtons franchise leader in that category, surpassing Greg Ballard, who played in the 1970s and 1980s. Wall became the teams career leader in assists earlier this season.He wants to be the best at everything he does, Beal said of his backcourt mate.BIG QUARTERWashington eclipsed its season high for points in a quarter during the third, outscoring Charlotte 38-23 in that period, including a 23-5 run.BEALS DEALBeal, 0 for 6 in the first half, scored 11 points in the third. He finished with 20 points, a career-high nine assists and one turnover.Oh, thats a good ratio, he said with a big smile.UP NEXTHornets: At the Boston Celtics on Saturday night.Wizards: Host the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich ' ' '