ROGER FEDERER BEATS STAN WAWRINKA IN LONDON, HE WILL FACE NOVAK DJOKOVIC IN THE BARCLAYS YEAR END CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS TOMORROW, RAFA LOST TO NOLE TODAY IN THE OTHER SEMIS

Written by: on 21st November 2015
ATP World Tour Finals 2015
ROGER FEDERER BEATS STAN WAWRINKA IN LONDON, HE WILL FACE NOVAK DJOKOVIC IN THE BARCLAYS YEAR END CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS TOMORROW, RAFA LOST TO NOLE TODAY IN THE OTHER SEMIS

epa05036395 Switzerland's Roger Federer returns the ball to his compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka during their semi final match of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 21 November 2015. EPA/ANDY RAIN  |

Djokovic downs Nadal, joined by Federer in World Tour Finals championship match

By Ricky Dimon

 

After a relatively lackluster run to the second seed out of Group Stan Smith, Novak Djokovic picked up the pace when the World Tour Finals brought a do-or-die situation to the table on Saturday afternoon. Djokovic rolled over Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-3 in just one hour and 19 minutes during semifinal action at the O2. The world No. 1 dropped a mere 10 points in nine service games and did not face a break point.

 

Nadal had been undefeated this week, but the fifth-ranked Spaniard proved to be no match for his recent nemesis. He was broken three times and won only 54 percent of the points even when he put his first serve in play.

 

“Everything,” Nadal said when asked what is making Djokovic so difficult for him and everyone else. “Hitting amazing. The return (is) always amazing…. He was better than me and he deserved to do what he did during the whole season. He played just fantastic.”

 

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in action against Spain’s Rafael Nadal during their semi final match at the ATP Tour tennis finals tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 21 November 2015. EPA/ANDY RAIN

Djokovic could not disagree.

 

“I’ve had some matches where I’ve played some really flawless, incredible tennis,” the 10-time major champion said when asked about his best performances this year, before highlighting the Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals.

 

Those two titles came against Roger Federer, who will once again be Djokovic’s adversary on championship Sunday in London.

 

Federer punched his ticket to the final by taking care of fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka 7-5, 6-3 in Saturday’s nightcap. The 34-year-old needed just one hour and 10 minutes to get the job done.

 

“It’s not that I play really bad,” Wawrinka assessed. “I’m not tough enough mentally with myself. I’m not completely there…. [Federer] has the perfect game against my game. He’s mixing (things) up a lot, he’s serving well, he’s putting a lot of pressure (on me); playing so fast.”

 

“Feeling slightly better than last year,” joked Federer who had to withdraw from last year’s title match because of a back injury. “I’m feeling good. I feel completely normal.”

 

This time it won’t be game off. It’s game on.

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

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