Djokovic mauls Cilic in ATP Tour Finals opener

Novak Djokovic began his challenge for a hat-trick of ATP World Tour Finals triumphs in London with a 6-1 6-1 demolition of Croatia's Marin Cilic on Monday.

The Serbian world number one produced a ruthless display against a ragged US Open champion, opening his Group A account with a 56-minute masterclass.

The 27-year-old has now won 28 consecutive matches indoors dating back to 2012 and should he win his remaining two group matches against Stanislas Wawrinka and Tomas Berdych he will be guaranteed to end the year on top of the rankings.

Stanislas Wawrinka pummelled Tomas Berdych 6-1 6-1 in 58 minutes before the evening's main course turned into fast food as world number one Novak Djokovic needed two minutes less to send newcomer Marin Cilic packing by the same scoreline.

As for Czech Berdych and Croat Cilic, they have a day to lick their wounds before meeting on Wednesday in a match each must win to keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.

Monday's singles were the most one-sided contests since the Tour Finals arrived in London in 2009, eclipsing Roger Federer's victory over Rafael Nadal in 2011 for the loss of three games.

In 2009 eight of the 12 round-robin matches went to three sets. None of the four singles matches so far have gone the distance and organisers and fans alike will be hoping for a rise in the excitement levels in the days to come.

Cilic won the opening five points of the match but his debut at the ATP's prestige event quickly turned sour as Djokovic turned up the heat with a clinical display.

The only blemish was dropping his serve early in the second set but even then he broke again immediately to snuff out any chance of a Cilic fightback.

You have to go back to the Paris Masters in 2012 for the Serb's last defeat under a roof when he lost to American Sam Querrey. Since then he has been untouchable.

"I like outdoor hard courts, as well. I love playing on clay and grass not too bad," smiled this year's Wimbledon champion.

"But indoor has been very successful the last couple years.

"I don't play too many indoor events. As a matter of fact, only two, Paris and London. But I give myself a lot of time to prepare for these events. I enjoy them. I really do."

That was beyond question, but for Cilic his first taste of ATP World Tour Finals action was not much fun.

Although the 26-year-old was not too downhearted.

"You know, there are two more matches. Luckily this is the first one where I played bad," he said.

"There is still the opportunity to go through. That's a positive part of it."

Wawrinka, who like Cilic also won his first Grand Slam this year in Australia, has been flitting in and out of form since beating Nadal in Melbourne and after losing in the quarter-finals of the US Open had chalked up only one victory.

But his free-flowing game returned with a vengeance against the hapless Berdych whose timing was badly off.

"I didn't expect to win that easy for sure," Wawrinka, who made the semi-finals here last year on his tournament debut, told reporters. "But I was ready to play well.

"I had a great week of preparation. Today, the start of the match was really important. That changed it completely."

He came within a point of winning the opening set 6-0 but was thwarted by a Berdych ace.

His opponent could not turn the tide, however, and Wawrinka wrapped up victory before the hour mark.

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