Roger Federer won his fifth year-end title beating archrival and world No. 1 Rafael Nadal 6–3, 3–6, 6–1 at the ATP World Tour Finals in London on Sunday.
It was a commanding win for the second-ranked Swiss at The O2.
He lost only 13 points on serve for the match and won 92 percent of the points played on his first serve in front of the crowd of 17,500. It was his fourth undefeated tournament in the ATP World Tour Finals.
“I always believed in a plan from start to finish,” Federer was quoted on the ATP website.
“Like at the first match I came out and played against [David] Ferrer, I think I always stayed true to how I wanted to play.”
“It was the same thing today. Even though I lost the second set, I’m really happy the way I stayed positive throughout the match today. I thought it was clearly a very high level. I don’t know if I could have played any better, so I’m really pleased.”
The year-end title must give the former No. 1 a tremendous boost of confidence before the Australian Open, which Federer won this year. Nadal won the other three grand slams, in addition to four other tour-level titles in a near perfect year.
But on Sunday all the praise went to Federer.
“He played unbelievable. He was unplayable I think in this first set,” Nadal was quoted on www.barclaysatpworldtourfinals.com.
“I just can congratulate him for his victory and another great tournament for him. He played unbelievable during all the week without losing a set, being in the final.”
Federer dominated the first set losing just three points on serve before Nadal battled back in the second set to extend to a 4–1 lead.
Federer won a second game but Rafa broke Federer and jumped ahead 5–2 after an excellent volley that delighted the crowd.
Federer would win his third game in the second set with four-straight points on serve, threatening a comeback. But Nadal powered through for the win on serve.
Nadal captured a tough three-set victory over Andy Murray on Saturday in the semifinals while Federer cruised past Novak Djokovic in straight sets.
Federer got the third set off to a good start easily winning the first game. But Rafa won the second game with some excellent returns.
It was all Federer after that. He won the third easily and the fourth and fifth games after deuce.
Federer easily won the sixth game, and then moved to triple championship point in the seventh game, winning on a forehand that painted the line.
At first the crowd didn’t react to the championship point, thinking the ball was out. But when Rafa walked toward the net to shake hands and Federer raised his arms in victory the outcome of the forehand became clear.
The win gives Federer 1,500 ranking points and $1.63 million in prize money.
It was a commanding win for the second-ranked Swiss at The O2.
He lost only 13 points on serve for the match and won 92 percent of the points played on his first serve in front of the crowd of 17,500. It was his fourth undefeated tournament in the ATP World Tour Finals.
“I always believed in a plan from start to finish,” Federer was quoted on the ATP website.
“Like at the first match I came out and played against [David] Ferrer, I think I always stayed true to how I wanted to play.”
“It was the same thing today. Even though I lost the second set, I’m really happy the way I stayed positive throughout the match today. I thought it was clearly a very high level. I don’t know if I could have played any better, so I’m really pleased.”
The year-end title must give the former No. 1 a tremendous boost of confidence before the Australian Open, which Federer won this year. Nadal won the other three grand slams, in addition to four other tour-level titles in a near perfect year.
But on Sunday all the praise went to Federer.
“He played unbelievable. He was unplayable I think in this first set,” Nadal was quoted on www.barclaysatpworldtourfinals.com.
“I just can congratulate him for his victory and another great tournament for him. He played unbelievable during all the week without losing a set, being in the final.”
Federer dominated the first set losing just three points on serve before Nadal battled back in the second set to extend to a 4–1 lead.
Federer won a second game but Rafa broke Federer and jumped ahead 5–2 after an excellent volley that delighted the crowd.
Federer would win his third game in the second set with four-straight points on serve, threatening a comeback. But Nadal powered through for the win on serve.
Nadal captured a tough three-set victory over Andy Murray on Saturday in the semifinals while Federer cruised past Novak Djokovic in straight sets.
Federer got the third set off to a good start easily winning the first game. But Rafa won the second game with some excellent returns.
It was all Federer after that. He won the third easily and the fourth and fifth games after deuce.
Federer easily won the sixth game, and then moved to triple championship point in the seventh game, winning on a forehand that painted the line.
At first the crowd didn’t react to the championship point, thinking the ball was out. But when Rafa walked toward the net to shake hands and Federer raised his arms in victory the outcome of the forehand became clear.
The win gives Federer 1,500 ranking points and $1.63 million in prize money.
