Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori successfully started the ATP World Tour Finals with a victory over Swiss Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3 in the John McEnroe Group.

The win on Monday helped the Japanese world Number 5 narrow the gap with the third-ranked Swiss to 210 points in the ATP rankings, Efe news reported.

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The victory boosts Nishikori’s chances of finishing the season third in the world rankings for the first time in his career, a spot that has been rarified air in men’s tennis.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Wawrinka, Spain’s Rafael Nadal, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, Britain’s Andy Murray – all of whom are virtual locks for tennis’ Hall of Fame – and Spain’s David Ferrer are the only players to hold the Number 3 spot since August 13, 2007.

IANS