Federer starts bid for Tour Finals title on winning note with facile Raonic win

World number two Roger Federer started his bid for a seventh end-of-season title on a winning note as he beat Canadian Milos Raonic in the opening round of the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

The Swiss won 6-1, 7-6 (7-0) to gain some measure of revenge for his defeat by Raonic in Paris nine days ago and he now joins Japan's Kei Nishikori at the top of the Group B table after the Japanese player earlier beat British number one Andy Murray.

The second round of matches on Tuesday would see Federer face Nishikori with Murray up against Raonic, The BBC reported.

Federer remains in the hunt for the end-of-year number one ranking and would be keen to wrap up qualification for the semifinals as quickly as possible.

He made an impressive start, dismantling the huge Raonic serve in the first set before edging a more competitive second to win in one hour and 28 minutes.

Federer said that he was very happy with how he performed and thanked fans for the ovation when he entered the building. He admitted that the second set was much tougher and an important set to win

The Swiss also admitted that it's a small relief, but agreed that they have a tough group there so it's always going to be hard advancing, but nonetheless he admitted that it brings him a step closer.