The year-end championship was Roger Federer’s personal playground from 2003 to 2011, when he captured the title six times. Now the stomping grounds once again appear to be his as the 2017 event heads into semifinal Saturday.
Federer is 16-0 lifetime against the other three remaining players at the Word Tour Finals, including 6-0 at the expense of upcoming opponent David Goffin. The Belgian has tried and failed against his idol four times on hard courts–and often in less than competitive fashion–since they first squared off in a memorable contest at the 2012 French Open. Goffin stole the first set of that showdown, but he is 1-14 in his last 15 sets against Federer. They most recently faced each other a few weeks ago in Basel, where the Swiss cruised 6-1, 6-2 on his eventual way to the title.
Nobody has been able to beat Federer this fall, a stretch that has seen him recover from a back issue that plagued his U.S. Open–in which he suffered a quarterfinal loss to Juan Martin Del Potro. The world No. 2 is 13-0 in his last three tournaments with titles in Shanghai and Basel to go along with victories this week over Jack Sock, Alexander Zverev, and Marin Cilic. All three round-robin foes were competitive, but Federer still improved to 55-12 for his illustrious World Tour Finals career and his hopes for a seventh title are very much alive.
Even though Goffin has not been 100 percent physically since a freak ankle injury at Roland Garros, he has managed to produce an impressive last three months. The world No. 8 reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open and owns a 19-6 record this fall with back-to-back titles in Shenzhen and Tokyo. Goffin opened in London with a 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-4 upset of Rafael Nadal, got blown out by Grigor Dimitrov 6-0, 6-2, and then beat Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-1 in a virtual quarterfinal clash on Friday.
“I’ve never found a key to beat Roger,” captain obvious commented. “Honestly, I don’t know what to do tomorrow. But I’m going to try something…something different; something that I’ve never done in the past. I will try to do my best to play a better match than in Basel, for sure. In Basel, it was not easy. He played well. He didn’t miss. He was really aggressive, as always. He returned so well…. I hope that tomorrow he’s not going to play the same match.”
That hope is slim, because Federer is in fine form right now and this–as Goffin pointed out–is his best surface along with grass. The 19-time major champion has done no wrong indoors so far this fall, and there is no reason to think he will run into any trouble on Saturday.
Pick: Federer in 2
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I’m stunned at how well Goffin closed this match out. Can’t complain with Roger’s 52-5 season but still saddened by this loss. I didn’t see the second set but from looks of the third set, Goffin took this match from Fed. He earned it. I’ve never seen him play that well and aggressively in a match. Unbelievable 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I am thankful to Federer for this season. He needs to go home and rest. What and excellent season.
At the same time I’m happy for Goffin. It doesn’t matter if Fed made it easier. The Belgian played very well today. Well done!
Stone the crows !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was the only one who predicted Goffin in 3! Fed not playing at a good level
You’re not the only one. You think you deserve a prize now?
Wow! Bravo Goffin! So calm, so self-confident to serve it out! I did not foresee this win especially when I come to think that Rafa on one leg almost best him! However, Goffin proved his no-fear attitude when beating Nole in Monte Carlo this year!
Btw, Fed looked very nervous out there, made some uncharacteristic errors…
Wow! Goffin!!
Can’t believe it! I’ve written him off before this match, can’t imagine him beating Fed who’s a big favorite here! I just hope he has enough energy for the final tomorrow.
Yes, for the first time after so long, we do not have any big four guys in the final! Also, we have two rookies in the final! Even the big four guys didn’t reach the final on their debut.
Wow! Before the match, I said that there was no way that Goffin would win. I was sure it was going to be like Basel after the 1st set. But Goffin turned it around! Great match from Goffin! Let’s see who he’s gonna face in the finals.
I am surprised as well. Goffin was really carm. So happy for him. Goffin is so gritty. I think Goffin’s USO run did not end well. Knee problems were there. But he has just played superb. I just love the way he closed this out. Service was good.
Signs of things to come !! Fed and Rafa not winning without Djoker and Murray is possible. This was a fairy tail year for both of them but 2018 might not be.
I doubt both have ended the season in 80% fitness.
Happy for Rafa as well, I dont think he can lose his no. 1 ranking till April now for sure.
Well done Oliver. Did you you have any money on the dark horse?
Goffin beats Fed with aggression and never lets up, well done. I hope Rafa watches this and learns a thing or two; staying at the baseline is not going to work against Fed on the HCs, you got to take it to him.
£200 at the start
Oliver Paton,
£200 at the start. What do you mean by that?
How many pounds in the end?
Roger, Oliver Paton is the same person who in the 3rd set between Fed and Zverev said he ‘is the only one’ who predicted an upset, but it didn’t happen. It didn’t go his way. This time around, after Goffin won, he is coming here as saying he ‘is the only one who predicted’ the result.
I guess the only one in the planet. And predicting in this forum only when Zverev was in a good position in 3rd set and only after the match ended between Fed and Goffin, not before. Well done genius.
Not only did Goffin upset the applecart big time he is still struggling from that nasty accident at RG.
I hope this big win will benefit him in the future, and not melt down against top4 when he’s on the edge of winning. I believe this will give him great confidence.
I think it will, Eugene. These wins are huge for a player like Goffin. He knows he has the game to play with the best, on any surface. He just needs the self-belief, and there’s nothing like these sorts of wins to give it to a player.
Shocker..Strange things can happen in tennis..Goffin who has never beaten Fed beating him on his fav indoors in a pressure match..
Atleast Rafa was injured when Goffin beat him..Was fed injured too? Or just played poor?
Good for rafa that he ends with 1000 plus points difference..atleast now no one will say Fed had better season as 1000 pts plus difference is sizeable. If it was just 140, he had a good shot at being best player though being No 2 as he would have had 2 more titles..Rafa now has more final appearances this year and is deservedly best player of the year.
That’s not a shocker. Not for me at least. What’s shocking sanju is your obsession over Rafa ending no.1 after he ALREADY has been rewarded the trophy. Too much reassurance.
Eugene..You cannot refute that many Fed fans have been going on and on about Fed being player of the year though Rafa ended No 1..Is it not happening all over..by few on this site too? Why did you not stop them? I am not obsessed about Rafa ending No 1..he has and it is a fact..my only grouse is some Fed fans not crediting what he has done this year by deliberately putting Roger above him all the time..and I have been very polite and not made any bad comment on Fed anytime whatsoever as he is incredible ..my grouse is over his few fans (surely you not in that list) crowing about him being better than Rafa this year.
Sanju, I see what you mean. But you can’t control their reactions. You can’t make everyone think same way. You only hurt yourself. Other people are entitled to their opinion as long as they don’t discredit anyone. Focus on your circle of influence, otherwise you’re putting yourself at risk to be hurt by something you don’t have control over.
I am sooooo happy that Fed’s loss silenced Fed’s worshippers who had been trolling Rafa since Rafa clinched the YE#1 ranking. They created their imaginary ‘Player of the year’ award for Fed in Fedfans’ alternate universe! LOL
Sanju,
I don’t think either Rafa or Federer was injured enough not to play. They obviously thought so too or wouldn’t have played.
I think it discredits one player’s victory to focus on injury to the other player. After all, Goffin has been injured lately as well. No one would have mentioned it had he lost to Rafa or Fed.
Totally agree. When Fedal lose, their fans are too quick to find excuses and maybe ‘lean’ on a potential injury. Come on. This is tennis. You’re supposed to put pressure on your back, knees etc.
I doubt both Fed and Rafa will be 100% for AO. Djoker must be licking his lips.
Murray too 🙂
I dont see them both doing even 50% of what they did this year to be honest. If either wins 1 slam, it will be good enough..
I think one of them might do quite good, but it’s difficult to see them both come strong. No way they will be up to Fedal 2017 level.
I have an inkling that Fed’s back problems are back again . Its started to hurt him more frequently. There is already a speculation about this. I dont think it is going to be easy for Fed to win best of five matches so frequently.
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/880557/Roger-Federer-Andy-Murray-coach-Jamie-Delgado-Marin-Cilic-ATP-World-Tour-Finals
I think that’s going to be a miracle actually if riches finals at AO. As I said previously after this match against Goffin, the Belgian played very well, but Fed was not himself today. His both FH and BH were very poor especially in the 2nd and 3rd set. Too many UE and serving poor again. That’s not to take anything from Goffin. He overcame himself and I hope he will do it more often against top10.
Yeah, afraid so. If that’s the case I’m much sorrier about the back problem resurfacing than the loss. Fed didn’t *need* this title or the ranking points. He’s #2 by a considerable margin. He should have time to get his back problem sorted, if necessary, before the AO. And yes, slams get MUCH harder to win – for most – post 30. Just look at the history books.
That’s not to say that I don’t hope… It’s just if he will not win any more slams, I will be thankful as I am now and as I was when he won his 7th Wimbledon at age 32. Everything from now on is a bonus…
Yes, a BIG bonus.
That was freakin’ awesome from Goffin… He got wins over Novak, Rafa, and Fed this season. Aside from Stan, who did it twice, I can’t even think of the last person who beat those three guys in one season? Davydenko? Nalbandian?
Both Davy and Nalby, Davy in 2009, Nalby in 2007.
Novak and Rafa were both injured. I suspect Fed is too. How often does Fed lose badly from a set and a break up??
He was not a break up in the second set.
It was his knee and back, especially his knee.
Injury is reason why, if not.
Just looked at the best match of the year. Dimitrov versus Rafa. I think it was a real brutal match for Rafa and Dimi lokked fresher in the fifth set. Rafa just willed to win.
Credit to him making the final competitive after that 5 hour encounter.
I hope Rafa set his scheduling for 2018 . He should be fit for FO no matter what. I think he could have won 2016 FO had his wrist been OK. Only Djoker could have beaten him that year. And Djoker did not play all that great against Murray in RG final.
I was surprised to come on here and find out that Fed lost to Goffin. I did not see the match, but hope to see the replay. It sounds like Fed was having some problems.
Someone unexpected is going to win this year.
Me!
NNY i saw the first two sets, then i assumed that Federer would cruise through, imagine my surprise to see Goffin come from a set down to win in three, Goffin beating Fedal who saw that coming ?
Alison,
I saw the score and was surprised that Fed won the first set but still lost the match. If I had seen it, I would have been surprised, too!
I still have not watched the match. I forgot to check back with the tennis channel and now they are showing Dimi and Sock.
I am still going to keep my eye out for another replay. I want to see how Goffin pulled it off!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hmmHgJ_Xea8
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TQl4ed8_0LQ
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=38xKvA5aprc
Hope Goffin wins the whole thing now, i think it would be special after beating both Federer and Nadal b2b, no disrespect to Grigor ….