Roger Federer celebrates victory number 50 at the ATP Finals and ends Novak Djokovic’s three-year dominance on indoor courts beating the Serb by 7-5 6-2 at the ATP World Tour Finals in London. After 23 consecutive matches, Novak loses to the last player who had beaten him in Cincinnati. The last time Novak had lost a match indoor was in 2012 to Sam Querrey in Paris. The Swiss has qualified for the semi-finals at the O2 Arena.
There was a lot at stake for Novak Djokovic as he entered the O2 Arena on Wednesday for the big match of the Stan Smith Group. Facing the last opponent that had managed to beat him all the way back in August, the Serb and World No.1 was the player who had it all to lose.
A 38-match indoor winning streak. A 15-match winning streak at the ATP Finals. A 23-match winning streak since that match lost to Federer in the final of Cincinnati, a three-year dominance on indoor courts having lost the last match to Sam Querrey in Paris back in 2012. Finally, a shot at taking the lead in the Head-2-Head record against Roger Federer for the first time in his career. Tied at 21-21 after the US Open final, the Serb had never managed to hold the lead against the Swiss. Clearly, the Round Robin match in London seemed the best chance for Novak to turn that around.
Bidding to become the first player to win the ATP Finals for 4 consecutive times, Djokovic has now to win at all costs against Berdych to reach the semi-finals. Roger Federer on the other hand, has already qualified. If he were to lose a set to Nishikori in the last match of the group, he could also be sure to have the biggest threat sent out packing before the semifinals (if Berdych beats Djokovic in straight sets). It something that will hardly happen, considering the huge amount of respect the top players on the ATP tour have for one another.
Federer won the match simply playing better. More solid on the baseline, more keen to attack on the important points, the Swiss took advantage of a bad day at the office for the Serb. Djokovic closed the match with 22 unforced errors, far more than what the Serb had accustomed us to since winning the US Open in September and then one after the other Beijing, Shanghai and the Paris Masters.
Roger Federer on the other hand, can celebrate his victory number 50 at the ATP World Tour finals, a tournament he has won a record 6 times. Sure to be in the last 4 in London yet again, Roger will play out of pressure against Nishikori on Thursday.
With the win Federer has now tied the Head-2-Head record to 2-2 against Djokovic at the ATP Finals, without counting the final that wasn’t played in 2014.
Roger Federer b. Novak Djokovic 7-5 6-2 in 1 hour and 17 minutes
RR ATP World Tour Finals
O2 Arena, London
Head-2-Head tied at 21-21
Federer 1st match
+ Berdych 6-4 6-2
Djokovic 1st match
+ Nishikori 6-1 6-1
MATCH REPORT
Roger Federer starts the match on serve, at the left of the chair umpire.
THE FIRST SET
Novak Djokovic calls for a challenge on the first shot he hits in the match, a return that finishes just long, as confirmed by Hawk-Eye. Federer starts on the aggression, closing the third point at the net with a backhand drop volley and then a winner smash. The rallies are played on the baseline, where the Serb has the control. On a great defensive game, Djokovic gets to break point at 30-40. Federer saves the first chance with a first serve and forehand winner. The Swiss recovers quickly from the early scare, fires his first ace of the match and holds to lead 1-0.
With a drop shot and forehand return winner, Federer makes clear his intention to cut the rallies short and not spend too much time on the court. The aggression isn’t enough as the Serb resists and holds serve to 30 to impact on 1-1.
Roger starts the third game with his second ace, after a first serve he then fires his third ace of the match. Djokovic responds with a stunning backhand cross-court return clean winner at 40-0. After the aces, Federer also commits his first double fault in the match, but then holds to 30 with another deep first serve aimed at Djokovic’s body.
At his third chance, Djokovic wins his first point on a second serve, firing a forehand inside-in winner to get to 30-0. The Serb also loses his first point on first serve, after winning 5 in a row, but holds easily to 15 to tie the score at 2-2. The rallies are within the 5-shot range as Federer hits his 4th ace to get to 40-0. Djokovic steps in again with another stunning backhand return winner to trail back 30-40. The Swiss closes the game with his 5th ace.
Serving down 2-3, Djokovic insists on Federer’s backhand, but sees every ball coming back. Federer wins another point with a spectacular backhand drop shot to see his first chance on Djokovic’s serve at 15-30. The Serb attacks with his backhand to cancel the threat, winning the 5th point of the game with a first serve and forehand winner to get to 40-30. Federer loses the battle of backhands hitting long as Djokovic holds to set the score at 3-3.
The rallies stay short in the match, with both players looking for the winner right away. On serve Federer manages to keep the edge, holding to 15 as Djokovic hits a forehand wide. With the score at 4-3 in favour of Federer, both players have a 76% of first serves on court.
In the 8th game Djokovic finally hits his first ace in the match. Novak attacks on Federer’s backhand to raise to 40-0 and holds serve to love thanks to an impressive centralised second serve. The match continues in its equilibrium with the score set at 4-4.
Federer responds with a service game held to love, started with a forehand down the line winner and finished with a backhand down the line winner, sending Djokovic to serve to stay in the match down 4-5. Djokovic starts sending a backhand long, but recovers from 0-15 down winning the point with a smash. Federer misses a chance to get to 15-30 missing a forehand on court open. The Serb hits his first double fault of the match at 40-15, but holds to 30 as Federer exaggerates on a forehand return hitting way too long.
With Federer on serve at 5-5, the match doesn’t see a turning point, as the Swiss holds to love, winning the game on a deep second serve. Djokovic is called to serve to stay in the match a second time down 5-6. On the longest rally of the set, it is Federer who wins the baseline battle, forcing Djokovic to hit long with his backhand. The Serb quickly recovers with a first serve on Federer’s serve to lead 30-15. Federer steps in the court, attacks on Djokovic’s backhand and wins the point to get to 30-30. In the following point, on another prolonged rally, Djokovic misses first, hitting a forehand wide. At 30-40 Federer has both his first break point and set point. Djokovic takes control of the baseline, insisting on Federer’s forehand and forcing the Swiss to miss. Djokovic then hits his second ace of the match to get to A-40. Federer stays in the game, winning the following point attacking with his cross court forehand. Djokovic doesn’t close a rally with a smash, Federer comes back in the rally and wins the point as Djokovic hits a backhand in the net. At 40-A Federer has a second set point, this time played on Djokovic’s second serve. The Swiss wins the set in spectacular fashion, attacking with his forehand, Roger wins the point with a backhand drop volley that hits the line.
After 44 minues, Roger Federer wins the first set by 7 games to 5.
Djokovic closes the set with 11 winners and 11 unforced errors. Federer with 13 winners and 10 unforced errors.
THE SECOND SET
Federer starts the second set holding serve to 15, closing the first game with a strong first serve on the line. Federer takes control of the baseline in the second game, forcing Djokovic to miss first twice. The Swiss swings a forehand down the line full power to get to 0-40 and see three consecutive break points. On the first break chance, Djokovic wins the point with a first serve and forehand winner. On his third chance, Federer hits a sneaky short slice backhand, on which Djokovic has to use one hand and finishes by hitting a tentative of sliced backhand in the net. Federer breaks in the second game and leads 2-0.
The Swiss pays off the effort in the following game, as Djokovic gets to double break point at 15-40. On the first break chance Federer wins the point with a first serve, but on the second the Swiss hits a forehand wide. Djokovic breaks Federer’s serve for the first time in the match to get back to 1-2.
Djokovic gets back to 2-2 winning the fourth game with a stunning backahdn down the line winner, which leaves Federer still and turn the crowd on fire. The rallies are now growing longer. Federer serves with new balls at 2-2 but starts the game with a double fault. The Swiss recovers firing his 6th ace, then holds serve with a first serve on the line to regain the lead at 3-2.
Djokovic fails to be as continued as seen against Nishikori on his backhand. Missing two in the game, the Serb trails back 15-30. The World No.1 then kills a forehand in the net and faces two break points at 15-40. On his first chance, Federer breks firing a backhand down the line passing shot. As the 02 Arena explodes, the Swiss leads 4-2.
Djokovic clearly isn’t moving at his best as he keeps on losing the timing on the ball. Federer takes advantage of the momentum to hold to love as Djokovic hits a forehand wide. Federer leads 5-2 and sends Djokovic to serve to stay in the match.
Federer has his first match point in the 8th game, with a stunning backhand cross court passing shot. The first match point sees one of the most intense rallies in the match. Federer loses the point after more than 15 shots, hitting an exhausted backhand in the net. Djokovic misses another forehand to let Federer have his second match point. On the second match point Djokovic hits a forehand that is called out. The Serb asks for the challenge to verify the call. Hawk-Eye confirms the call ending the match after 1 hour and 17 minutes.
Federer closed the match with 19 winners and 19 unforced errors and over 70% of the points won on first serve. Djokovic finished with 12 winners and 22 unforced errors.
