ROGER Federer extricated himself from a close shave in his final round-robin match against Kei Nishikori at the ATP World Tour finals then said his lucky beard might stay for the weekend. The Swiss maintained his perfect record with a hard-fought 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win against his Japanese opponent, enough to clinch first place in Group Stan Smith and keep his hopes of stealing Andy Murray's World No 2 spot alive. Some designer stubble has been an unusual adornment to Federer's usually clean-cut image during this fortnight and the 34-year-old said he was tempted to keep it for the last four.

"If it itches too much, I'll take it off," said Federer, who will now face Murray last on Saturday in the event that the Scot can take care of Stan Wawrinka today. "If my girls can't stand it, I'll take it off. If I look in the mirror and I don't like it, I'll take it off. Or maybe I'll think of Santa and keep it. It [Christmas] is around the corner. I don't know yet. Mirka [his wife] is okay with it, I guess. I do take decisions by myself sometimes."

Christmas would have come early for the Swiss if his nemesis, and World No 1, Novak Djokovic had gone down in straight sets to Tomas Berdych, the only eventuality which would have eliminated the Serb from the competition. It was a feat the Czech player, only twice a winner in 22 previous career meetings with the Serb, was unable to achieve, as the World No 1 ran out a 6-3, 7-5 winner.