ROGER FEDERER LOSES IN LONDON TENNIS – QUALITY AMIDST UNCERTAINTY BY GLOBAL CHICK

Written by: Global Chick on 22nd November 2015

Switzerland's Roger Federer returns to Japan's Kei Nishikori during a singles group match during the ATP Tour tennis finals tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 19 November 2015. EPA/ANDY RAIN

epa05032948 Switzerland's Roger Federer returns to Japan's Kei Nishikori during a singles group match during the ATP Tour tennis finals tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 19 November 2015. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

Consider this. This time 12 months ago, we packed into the rails behind the seats to see Roger Federer be-clad like a red-shirt from Star Trek announce that he sadly was withdrawing from the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals… umm… Final.

The crowd were pro-Federer, and that was no surprise, although no fan was pleased at a raucous shout from someone just moments in to the first game. In truth both of them looked a big jumpy, but Djokovic settled the nerves with an early break, and he took the plunge late in the set to break for it, 6-3.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer returns to Japan’s Kei Nishikori during a singles group match during the ATP Tour tennis finals tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 19 November 2015. EPA/ANDY RAIN

The second set was more competitive, and an amazing rally with Federer controlling a point masterfully, was bookended by errors and that really seemed the way of the match for the Swiss.

Give him credit though, he had to dig very deep and pull out every stop to prevent a break, and just ever so slightly for a fraction of a moment we wondered whether that would shake Djokovic’s resolve. A hold to love and a break to win 6-3 6-4 would suggest no!

Take nothing away from the Serbian – he has had an outstanding year, and we look forward to seeing him trying to defend it! That is not being a snark, by the way. Much is always made of the tag ‘The Greatest of All Time’ and to be worthy of that comparison, with greats both ancient and modern, you have to be consistent and be able to play at that level consistently.

Djokovic said: “This season definitely stands out. I can’t say I expected it, not at all. But I always gave my best, and I’m always asking from myself the most. I was always hoping that I can play this well throughout the entire season. Managing to reach this kind of season and achievement this year obviously gives me a lot of confidence for anything that is coming in the future.”

This was something that Federer agreed with, commenting in his press conference:

“It’s hard to do. It’s hard to play at this pace all the time. Margins are small at the very top. That’s why this year of Novak’s is amazing. Rafa has been there. I’ve been there. We both know how hard it is to back it up year after year. It’s not the first good year of Novak.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic lifts the ATP Tour Finals trophy following his two sets win over Switzerland’s Roger Federer at the ATP Tour tennis finals tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 22 November 2015. EPA/ANDY RAIN

Clearly he’s going into next year with massive confidence, but you can’t just repeat a year like this. It takes a lot of effort. You’ve got to be physically in shape, no injuries whatsoever. Mentally you have to be at your peak at all times. It’s not as easy as it seems sometimes.”

And thus the ATP season comes to a close, with ITF fun and frolics and all that the fan-crazy Davis Cup brings.

A moment of pause though. 10sballs will be proudly reporting from the Davis Cup Final, but even as the evening closes early here at the O2, news is coming in that Brussels remains on high security alert after the shocking atrocities th week previously in Paris.

At the start of the day the LTA announced they were delaying the British team’s travel plans to head to Ghent, and indeed sporting events have been continuing this weekend in the city. But travelling journalists are almost all travelling through Brussels. They have to travel by train to the city whether then zoom in on the train under the Tunnel or fly in.

Whatever happens in the world, we should always be able to live our lives and enjoy what we do, whether that be covering tennis tournaments around the world, in and out of security checks and travelling here and there, or staying at home and watching it in the safety of our own homes.

Whatever we choose to do, stay safe, Global Chick handing over the baton, grabbing a caramel waffle, and signing off… until 2016 (Probably!)

Topics: 02 Arena, 10sballs.com, ATP Finals, global chick, London, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Tennis News, World Tour Finals

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10sBalls_com says:

November 22, 2015 at 5:31 pm

-@rogerfederer Loses In #London #Tennis – Quality Amidst Uncertainty By Global Chick
https://t.co/RJ7zZ1E29J #Federer #ATPWorldTourFinals