LONDON -- It was a foreboding touch to hear a gong-type noise played on U.K. television coverage as Andy Murray failed to save a fifth set point against Kei Nishikori in an epic 18-minute first-set tiebreaker on Wednesday.A similar booming sound played over Arthur Ashe Stadiums loudspeakers in Septembers US Open. After the mysterious noise, Murray melted down in a five-set quarterfinal defeat to Nishikori. But this time, Murray just about regrouped at the World Tour Finals to beat the world No. 5 6-7 (9), 6-4, 6-4.He still flirted with disaster here. Several times he got wound up into a similar state of agitation as he had in that fourth set at Flushing Meadows; he was distracted throughout, remonstrating with himself and shouting at his box.I didnt feel like I was hitting the ball as well as I would have liked, Murray later told a news conference. He was dictating so many of the points. For me it was frustrating. Didnt matter whether I tried to hit the ball a bit harder, adjusted my position on the court, nothing was making me hit the ball cleaner.As the match went on, I was getting kind of frustrated, then becoming like sarcastic with myself that I couldnt seem to hit the ball as clean as I wanted to. Yeah, I dont often do that, but today I was definitely being more sarcastic towards myself than usual.His frustrations almost cost him dearly when he failed to take two set points at 5-4 in the second set, having already been broken back once. He then needed four games to finally put away Nishikori, after building a 5-1 lead in the decider.No doubt about it, this was a step up in class for the Scot -- not since his French Open final defeat to Novak Djokovic in June had he faced a top-five opponent.There was nothing really in it, Murray admitted. He could have won in two sets, for sure. He was dictating many points. He had a number of chances.Murrays place in the semifinals is far from guaranteed, though, after Stan Wawrinka?rebounded from an opening loss to beat Marin Cilic 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) in Wednesdays evening session at Londons O2 Arena.If Wawrinka beats Murray in two sets, and Nishikori wins against Cilic, then Murray will be out of the tournament and Djokovic will finish as year-end No. 1. But if Cilic gets his first win here, Murray and Wawrinka will both qualify for the semifinals regardless.All I know is if I want to have a chance to qualify, I need to win, said Wawrinka. Thats all I know. Thats all Im trying to do.Im going to try to play my best tennis, to beat the world No. 1. Its going to be a tough match. We played many times each other. Hes playing his best tennis so far. Its going to be interesting. Im happy to play here in front of his home crowd. Im sure its going to be a great atmosphere.One man who definitely wont be here at the weekend is Gael Monfils, who withdrew from the Tour Finals with a rib injury that he first picked up in Stockholm last month. The Frenchman had lost his opening two matches to Milos Raonic and Dominic Thiem -- Djokovic will now play alternate David Goffin in his final round robin match Thursday.Definitely I cant play for tomorrow because I still feel worse and worse, my ribs, that I had lately, Monfils told a news conference. Yeah, I feel that even yesterday was tough in the game. I feel unfortunately today I couldnt be feeling great and couldnt practice, so I just decide that I couldnt play tomorrow.Monfils announcement pushed Murrays own news conference even further back -- the Scot had already been scheduled to come in to press two hours after his match against Nishikori finished.I was in the ice bath after the match, he said when he finally turned up. That obviously helps kind of make you feel a bit better. But, yeah, sort of 10, 12 hours afterwards the body starts to stiffen up. Im sure tomorrow Ill be a bit sore. But its positive I get a days rest, a days recovery tomorrow.He will need the rest -- this was officially the longest three-set match in Tour Finals history at 3 hours, 20 minutes.Not quite as long as the near five-hour epic between Murray and Nishikori that went five sets in the Davis Cup in March, nor the three hours, 57 minutes they played in New York, but still draining.While it wasnt a vintage performance, Murray found a way to get the job done, stretching his win streak to 21 matches, one short of his career-best set earlier this summer.For now, he is quickly learning that it is one thing to get to the top of the rankings, and another thing to stay there. He must match or outdo Novak Djokovics results here to finish year-end No. 1, and it could come down to a straight shootout in Sundays final.I think for the tournament and for everyone interested in tennis that would probably be the perfect way to finish the year, admitted Murray. Bobby Wood USA Jersey . Team physician Dr. Steve Traina performed the surgery Friday. Robinson was injured in a spill underneath the Nuggets basket during the first quarter of Wednesday nights loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Joe Corona USA Jersey . Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists. http://www.usasoccerauthority.com/jorge-villafana-usa-jersey/ . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends. Kellyn Acosta USA Jersey . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. Justin Morrow Jersey . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed.A preview of the pick of the action from the first day of The Open at Cheltenham on Friday. Trainer Ben Pauling is relishing the prospect of seeing stable star Barters Hill make his debut over fences in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices Chase at Cheltenham.The two-and-a-half-mile contest has an illustrious roll of honour, with Cheltenham Gold Cup heroes Denman, Imperial Commander having landed successive renewals. Grade One winners Grands Crus, Dynaste, Taquin Du Seuil and More Of That have also struck gold in the race.A quality field of seven runners has assembled for the latest running, with Barters Hill perhaps the headline act, having won seven of his eight previous starts.Pauling had been aiming his charge at next weeks Hennessy meeting at Newbury, but decided to let him line up at Cheltenham following significant midweek rainfall.With March in mind, I dont think you can have too much experience of the place, really, said the Bourton-on-the-Water-based trainer.If wed been forced to go to Newbury next week I was considering bringing him here at Christmas for the Dipper.Now were getting a run here it means we can also consider the Feltham (Kempton). It just opens up options for us.At Newbury, wed have been taking on horses who had managed to get a run under their belts at level weights, but by running here those that have won already will be giving us weight.As ever, he will come on a good deal for his first run but hes as fit as we can get him at home. Im just so glad its rained, we can finally crack on with him.Its a relief all round, for me, his owners and everyone in the yard as we were getting frustrated.The Philip Hobbs-trained Rock The Kasbah made a fine start to his chasing career at Chepstow a month ago, but must concede 8lb to Barters Hill as a result.With Barters Hill in the race, it will be interesting, Hobbs told At The Races.He was very safe with his jumping at Chepstow, which is probably a good thing for a first time novice chaser.Hes got the penalty to carry, which might not be easy against some of these ex-hurdlers, but hopeffully hes a very decent horse and probably our best prospect for novice chasing.ddddddddddddO O Seven won three times over hurdles last season and was twice runner-up in Grade One company.Trainer Nicky Henderson, who also saddles Theinval, said: O O Seven is a novice to look forward to - he is a pretty talented horse.He has schooled very well and his technique looks very good. We are not as forward as some people at this time of year.The horses are winning what they are capable of winning, getting away with it, but when you get into this sort of standard of races you need to be a little bit riper than we probably are.Dan Skeltons high-class hurdler Itsafreebee made a smart debut over fences at Fakenham last month, while the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Flying Angel won at Perth before falling when beaten in the race won by Rock The Kasbah at Chepstow.Sizing Tennessee from Colin Tizzards yard completes the line-up.Grade Two honours are up for grabs in the Neptune Investment Management Hyde Novices Hurdle.Wholestone and Thistlecracks half-brother West Approach do battle for the second time within the space of three weeks, having finished first and second respectively at The Showcase fixture last month.The Skelton-trained Spiritofthegames, Baden from the Henderson yard and Paul Nicholls Pilansberg also feature in a nine-strong field along with two Irish challengers in Crosshue Boy and Peregrine Run.The latter steps up in grade, having won his last three starts for trainer Peter Fahey.He said: I cant say I have got a reason why he has improved - maybe he has just taken time to mature.Since he won his maiden hurdle, he has been thriving and improving with each run.Once the ground softens, we might try him over two miles and see how he gets on but we wont keep him too busy him over the winter.We will have him back for the spring festivals. 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