Roger Federer Handed Andy Murray The Worst Loss Of His Career

End of the nightmare: a stunned Andy Murray shakes hands with Roger Federer after being hammered in the O2 Arena

Andy Murray suffered one of the most humiliating defeats of his career as Roger Federer thrashed him at the ATP World Tour Finals. Federer won 6-0, 6-1 in a match Murray had to win.

Media reports say it could even have been worse for the Scot, as he was two points away from losing 6-0, 6-0 for the first time since he was 16.

In a tournament of one-sided matches, the final 6-0, 6-1 scoreline gives Murray the unwanted distinction of having suffered the worst defeat since the event moved to London's O2 Arena in 2009. It was also his heaviest loss for seven-and-a-half years.

Federer was already guaranteed a last-four spot but his display was proof that, at 33, he is playing some of his best tennis.

As good as the Swiss maestro was, though, Murray was awful. Afterwards he made no attempt to hide his disappointment.

"It was a tough night," he said. "Roger played exceptionally well, that's for sure.

"I'm disappointed with my level tonight. But if I'd played well he probably still would have won anyway.

"Obviously, 6-0, 6-0 has never happened to me in my professional career. I think 6-0, 6-1 has maybe happened once to me. It's very disappointing, especially in a match like that.

"I would have obviously hoped to have done a lot better than that. It wasn't what I was looking for when I went on the court.

"When Roger is extremely loose like he was tonight, with him through in the group, he can try some shots he might not try in other situations. Everything he tried came off."

Federer happy to spare Murray ‘double bagel’ at the O2 Arena

Kei Nishikori's earlier 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over David Ferrer - who had replaced the injured Milos Raonic - meant Murray knew he could not lose a set if he wanted to pip the Japanese player to a spot in the last four.

Nishikori said he would not be following the match because he wanted a "good dinner" but he would barely have tucked into his starter when his progress was secured after a first set that lasted only 24 minutes.

A packed crowd roared their approval as Murray won the first two points on the Federer serve. He then lost an epic rally and from there things unravelled in double-quick time.

From deuce in the second game, Federer won 14 points in a row to lead 5-0. Murray managed only eight points in the whole set. It was the first-ever love set in 23 matches between the pair.

The second set was heading the same way until Murray got on the board in the 12th game.

But he succumbed one game later to concede a match that lasted only 56 minutes.

A disconsolate Murray added: "There are some matches you can maybe look back on where you might have behaved badly, felt like you hadn't given your best effort or whatever, maybe be embarrassed about that.

"But I was trying tonight. I tried from the first point through until the last. So it's very frustrating when that's happening to you."