Roger Federer's masterclass sends Andy Murray packing from ATP Tour Finals at O2 Arena Psychologically, this was a stiletto in the ribs. Murray knew that when the points stayed short, Federer's sharp and sudden style would outrank his own metronomic steadiness. His best chance was to keep the rallies long, and hope that the Swiss shoulder grew tired. And here was the result - a wall that he could not break down. Passivity has always been Murray's mortal sin - the place he slips back to when he is feeling uncomfortable. We saw something similar in the match that just about outranks this one as the most disappointing of his whole season - the Wimbledon quarter-final against Grigor Dimitrov. But while Dimitrov is "Baby Fed," and allowed Murray to collect a handful of games, the real model was even more ruthless. Federer was sweet-talking the ball, making it swoon, flutter its eyelashes and do anything he wanted. Murray, by contrast, was barely on speaking terms with the thing. On this one horrible day, his relationship with his racket, the court, the crowd, the very sport - all felt in need of counselling from Relate. There must now be a serious question about Murray's planning for 2015. Will he keep faith with Amelie Mauresmo as his coach? He is clearly not inspired by her presence in the way that he was when he had Ivan Lendl at his side. Now he has a winter training block to look forward to - perhaps the first chance he has had to tinker with his game and his technique this year. But is she the right person to guide him in his work? Pippa Middleton and Jose Mourinho were among the disappointed fans in the arena but happily it was only Mourinho who was booed. Despite the 56-minute duration of the match - which was the latest in a series of one-sided encounters at the O2 this week - Murray received a respectful round of applause as he left the court. At least he managed to win his final service game, which saved him from the first double-bagel of his career, even if it took him 52 minutes to get there. Murray had known that the equation would be a demanding one since the early afternoon. He had been hoping that Milos Raonic would turn around his disappointing week - the giant awoken - and notch a win over Kei Nishikori. But in the end, Raonic did not even appear, citing a thigh injury, and Nishikori put paid to reserve player David Ferrer with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 comeback. It was the first and only three-set singles match of the tournament to date. According to the mathematics, this left Murray needing not only to beat Federer in order to qualify for the semi-finals, but to get the job done in straight sets - a dream that lasted precisely 24 minutes. While many British tennis fans were hoping that their man could find a way through, his performance over the three matches was not deserving of a place in the last four. If we accept that Djokovic and Federer have been a level or two above the hoi polloi this week, then Nishikori's speed, balance and wonderful hands have made him the next best thing on show.