Novak Djokovic just tied his lifetime head-to-head record against Rafael Nadal on Saturday at the World Tour Finals. Now he has a chance to do the same against Roger Federer in Sunday’s championship match. Federer broke what had already been a tie by beating Djokovic earlier in the tournament.
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will be squaring off for the 44th time in their careers–and for the second time at these 2015 World Tour Finals–when they battle for the year-end title on Sunday evening.
Federer pulled ahead 22-21 in the head-to-head series by upsetting Djokovic 7-5, 6-2 during Group Stan Smith competition on Tuesday. The 34-year-old broke Djokovic a whopping four times in 10 return games and won a hard-to-believe 49 percent of the points even when the top seed put his first serve in play.
Despite that result, Djokovic has still won four of their seven meetings this season. He triumphed 7-6(1), 6-7(10), 6-4, 6-3 in the Wimbledon final and 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to lift the U.S. Open trophy. In addition to his London victory earlier this week, Federer also prevailed in Dubai (6-3, 7-5) and Cincinnati (7-6(1), 6-3).
When two rivals have faced each other on 43 previous occasions, there are certainly no secrets–especially not when the 42nd encounter came just five days prior to this upcoming showdown.
The only real question is which Djokovic is going to take the court. Aside from an opening beatdown of Kei Nishikori, the world No. 1 mostly sleepwalked through round-robin action. But when the tournament brought a do-or-die situation to the table on semifinal Saturday, the three-time defending champion picked up the pace and rolled over Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-3.
“I don’t feel unbeatable, but it does definitely feel great when I’m playing the way I played today,” Djokovic said after beating Nadal. “When I feel like I’m dictating the pace, the match itself, most of the rallies, I feel like I’m on top of my opponent.”
Whereas Djokovic has been all over the map inside the O2, Federer has been rock-solid the whole way without any significant forays to one or the other extreme. The Swiss is undefeated at 4-0 with victories over Tomas Berdych, Kei Nishikori, and Stan Wawrinka to go along with his defeat of Djokovic. He dismissed his countryman 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals on Saturday night.
“For me it’s an advantage because it gives me a bit of confidence,” Federer said when asked about what the Tuesday result means for Sunday’s final. “For him it’s an advantage because he gets a second chance. He’s played some great tennis since we played. So I still believe his confidence is slightly higher than mine.”
“We always play matches with a lot of tension,” Djokovic added. “There is a lot at stake. I know I have to be [in top form] in order to win against him. Hopefully I’ll be able to play better than [I did] a few days ago. But the performance [against Nadal] definitely gives me reason to believe that I’ll do that.”
The top seed was more motivated quite simply much better than he had been previously this week. Unfortunately for Federer, the same Djokovic will likely appear on Sunday and the same one cannot be defeated.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
[polldaddy poll=9192449]
I think Federer is playing well enough to take a set, so Djokovic in 3 is my pick.
Fed 4-1 vs Nole on BO3 hard court since last fall all four wins in straight sets.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This one’s easy peasy.
In Nole’s own words, he’ll hand it to him.
Fed in two.
#HowManyTimes???
Absolutely spot on. It’s a best of three on indoor hard courts. Gives no added advantage to the younger Djokovic. Federer it will be
This is the final of a big event Djokovic is hard to beat in these type of matches, he will not make 22 unforced errors this time.
That’s my point, this is just a glorified exho for which Fed excels.
Fed 3-1 vs Nole on BO3 hard court in FINALS: Cincy, Dubai, Shanghai.
Plus one meaningless exho match early this week.
I made my pick on the wrong thread. I am picking Novak in 3 sets. I don’t think this final will be decided in straight sets. I don’t care about the H2H. I don’t see Novak losing again to Fed. He’s capable of raising his level and going to another gear when he gets to the business end of tournaments.
I also do not expect Novak to make as many UE’s as he did against Rafa. I think he’s going to be even sharper. It should be a good one, because both guys are playing well. They have been the two best players this year, so it’s only appropriate that they are in the last tournament final this year.
Djokovic can match the Great Pete Sampras with 5 titles at World tour finals if he triumphs tomorrow, he hasn’t lost a knock out match since Cincinnati, no one has won 4 straight titles at WTF so that is added motivation for Djokovic. He played a high class match today expect more of the same tomorrow but Federer has a better serve so he can steal a set.
He managed to steel two just 48 hours ago.
Nole’s best will win tomorrow which is why he will lose.
Fed too good on BO3 HC for Nole to handle mentally.
It is Fed’s last stronghold but he is playing better now than he has all year against the top guys.
weak era
Jeff Sackmann @tennisabstract 26s27 seconds ago
This will be the 5th time that Fed beats someone in the round robin then faces them in the final. He’s won 3 of 4–the loss was ’05 v Nalby.
Will be 4 of 5 after tomorrow.
I remember that 2005 Final it was a best of 5 set match, Federer had won the 1st 2 sets vs Nalbandian and then lost the next 3.
Gosh, I loved Nalbandian…his tennis was so unpredictable…he could beat just about anyone when he was on…I wonder where have the players like that disappear?…nobody to inherit him…weak era it is…
before yesterday I would say Federer in 2 (Nole not playing great this tournament and Federer won against Nole this week), but now that I’ve seen Nole playing against Nadal; Nole in 2 sets. this was another level than his last 3 matches and he probably will play today like he did against Nadal so… Nole for the win.
yep
Novak has been playing well against Rafa for a while now. He has Rafa’s game all sorted just like Rafa did for Federer’s game. But Novak has always had troubles against Roger and never could get too many wins in a row against Roger ever. Plus it’s a best of three sets so the physical conditioning and younger age won’t be to Djokovic’s advantage unlike the best of fives. So Federer should win this one
I picked Fed in RR play but this is a final and Novak played really well against Rafa.
I am also going with Novak in 3. Roger’s the only , though, who can beat Novak here.
vamosrafa,
As usual, good reasoning from you. I also picked Fed in RR play. But we have seen how Novak raises his level when it comes to the semis and finals of a tournament. He did play well against Rafa, but that wasn’t his best. I expect to see that against Fed in the final. I know that it wouldn’t be shocking to see Fed beat him, but I am still going with Novak as I said previously on this thread.
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
Djoko in 2 sets, one tight another easy 7-5, 6-3
Nole in 3. New GOAT.
Federer destories djokovic to remind everyone who is the supreme master
I apologise in advance for harping on about this but it enrages me everytime Djokovic is referred to as the reigning champion with ‘four consecutive wins’. This will be his fifth consecutive final and he is reigning champion by virtue of Federer’s withdrawal from the 2014 final. But he did not win the title. IMO the result should be listed as ‘Final Not Played’. It should not count when statistics are compiled for the Record Books.
ridiculous and absurd
Are you agreeing with my premise or is that a ‘put down’ of ed
Truth be known I agree. I was merely letting off steam 🙂
Unfortunately, asterisk is not used in sport, certainly not in tennis. No one puts an asterisk when someone retires from a match it is put down as a win/loss. Of Andy’s 6 wins over Rafa one of them was when Rafa retired from the AO 2010 during the match.
Rafa was 2 sets down and 3-0 in the 3rd when he retired.If they start putting asterisk for such losses then the players will start retiring just before the match point to save their H2H record. If someone wants to retire they should do before the start of the match
I must be getting soft in my old age but I am hoping Federer will not be bull dozed off the court and when Djokovic wins he does not rub salt into the wound by succumbing to his former bellicose celebrations.
That’s logical……………………he wasn’t fit and eventually retired. What part of that is not clear?
alpha25 (at 12:08 pm),
—If someone wants to retire they should do before the start of the match.—
===
.
Rafa didn’t know before the match that he would get injured at the end of the 2nd set.
ESPN, January 29, 2010: ¤¤ Rafael Nadal will miss up to four weeks of competition to recover from a knee injury that forced him to quit in the third set of his Australian Open quarterfinal against Andy Murray.
MRI and ultrasound tests showed a small tear at the back part of Nadal’s right knee… ¤¤
Show it to me in the rule book.
ed, I also wince when I hear it but then I realise that’s how it is so I have to accept it.
Cilic is a Queens champion even though it’s because Nalbandian was defaulted for ‘assaulting’ a line judge.
@Alpha. They already do and we all know who holds the record for doing this!
I so wish Fed to win this as he deserves it in a way…he beat Novak once and it would be so to say justly for Novak to lose this final…however, I really think that Novak is going to play his A game which he reproduced vs Rafa…he will be so high on confidence (if it can go any higher than this right now) and Fed as he grows older unfortunately shows tendency to stumble in key moments…
Novak in 3 is my pick…
My post @ 12.00pm ––I must be getting soft–– was in repy to Natashao
Djokovic in 2
Yes I really have the feeling he will blow Federer off the court today. Unless he is too overconfident and lets him back into the match.
I am rooting for Fed!!! Allez Fed!!!
I can guaranty that federer wins in straight sets.
?
New GOAT is born, will stay in his throne firmly by displacing the old GOAT in today”s final.
3 sets win 75 67 62.
22-22
23-23
Old GOAT still the GOAT….Fed in straight!!!
Novak for the moment is almost unbeatable. The only thing you can do is congratulate him. But things are like this today. What Novak is doing is just amazing. It is obvious that it’s true if somebody can do it, it’s him, but it’s not easy to stay at that high level four years in a row or five years in a row.
He’s hitting amazing. The return is always amazing. This year he is serving great. And then he is able to play with no mistakes and changing directions so easy, playing so, so long. He’s doing everything good.
That maybe true,
But Fed,
In two.
Un petite poem from le hawk.
@at 4:13 pm
You skip this from Rafa’s text you quoted:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CUbB7vEVEAM2M8I.png:medium
Correction to my post @4:32 pm
skip ➡ skipped
I add to my post my post @4:32 pm:
You skipped this also:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CUbgJbfWIAACJwX.png
@ 5:54 pm
Speaking of ORIGINAL thoughts, you posted Rafa’s thoughts (at his press conference on Saturday) at 4:13 pm, not yours!
@ 5:54 pm
I have created an imaginary world where you have an imaginary friend and an imaginary fan. 😆
The match will be starting and then we can finally talk about tennis!
Berdych should have put Djoker out of my misery by eliminating him from
the RR.
any comments not about this match, regardless of what thread they are on, will be deleted. Effective until this match is over.
+1
Fed will break here
Ajde Nole!!! Break!
Hey, he did! He is playing some impressive tennis right now, but I think Fed is also looking really good. This should be an entertaining match.
@hawkeye,
is this antijinxing again?
I thought you predicted Fed in 2? In fact you are cheering for Nole, are you…
Well I just hope that you’re not comparing predicting and cheering. Don’t you? Or do you.
foolish me to think that you would ever cheer for Fed…sorry dear…but then your prediction sucks as usual… 🙂
Easy nats. It’s just an exhibition.
Both guys have started out looking sharp. But Novak has once again raised his level of play and gets the break.
Ajde 🙂
Vamos Roger
Nole shows Roger too much respect.
And this is why he will lose.
Roger is going for a bit too much, he should calm down a bit.
Fed has 6 backhand UE’s. 11 overall. He had his chance in that game, but Novak seems to just clamp down and get so tough when he is behind in his service games. Important hold by Novak.
Roger needs to break to go 4:4 otherwise the first set is done and dusted and in Nole’s pocket.
Koenig saying Nole playing less freely and more conservative against fed as shown by him going dtl half as much as usual.
He respects Roger too much.
That;s because Roger beat him in the RR.
Novak has 4 aces, Fed 0 so far.
Novak came up with some solid serving in that last game.
Roger needs to go to the net more because Novak’s game is mainly defending the baseline. What happened to SABR?
Ajde Nole!!! Idemoooo!
Let’s do this!!!
Novak wins the first set.
I think Novak has taken Fed out of comfort zone and out of his game.
All said and done, Novak broke Roger twice and broke Rafa once in a 6-3 first set win 🙂 🙂
Exactly.
yep…
Roger needs to get his team to send SABR to the court.
Nole dulled his sabr at us open
That’s right and Novak’s doing it again. He is able to take Fed out of his game plan. Rafa’s been successfully doing it for years.
Fed can’t go to the net, because Novak will blast a forehand or backhand right by him. Right now Novak is dictating the points. Same as he did in the USO, when everyone was going on and on about the SABR. That’s not going to work against Novak.
Novak is able to transition from defense to offense so well.
Nice tennis analysis nny!!!
Nole cheers fed points.
This is why he will lose.
Novak is making Fed play from the baseline. That’s what he wants. Rafa’s been able to do it for years.
Love to see a shirt rip and roar if Nole somehow wins but he’d never do it against Roger.
Federer holding easy now. Crowd behind him big time.
what a point!!
Point of the match.
Fed will break here.
Nice hold. Hope Ricky is right for a change.
great return and pass nole!! adje!!
nole!! wow!! on fire!!
Yes, he’s dialed in today!
Fed seems to have relaxed a bit and is playing better now, but Novak is hanging tough. They compared Fed’s serve stats from the RR match earlier this week. Fed won 68% second serve points in that one, while in today’s match he is only winning 47%.
Also Novak is winning a much higher percentage of second serves points than first serve. I think it was something like 59% of first serve points won but 85% of second serve points won.
what an escape from fed!!
shut up crowd!!
Brilliant hold by Fed
They just posted stats for Fed – 28 UE’s!
Novak is just not missing right now. 15-40. Can Fed hang in there?
This is the turning point of the match.
Where is Waldo?
Wow! Clutch hold from Fed! Novak had him down 0-40 and couldn’t get it done. Will this be a momentum swing?
such mental composure from nole there…could have got rattled but holds to love…
crowd cheering for fed as well..
great game from nole!!
Great response from Nole to hold at love. That could have shaken him.
Break to win now Nole!!!
is nole going to break and win here
What do you think? 🙂
sorry didn’t see that but yes i did think so…
Roger looks like a man walking to the gallows as he makes his way to the service line to stay in the match………….
Novak comes right back and holds at love! That quieted the crowd.
nole!! so proud of you!! adje!!
Fed exceeded 25 seconds. No call.
Novak wins. Congratulations Novak fans.
He only broke Rafa twice and Roger 3 times.
He broke rafa twice in set 2
But Roger didn’t do any better than Rafa so Rafa is not that bad. In fact, Rafa is not bad at all.
Noone is bad, nadline. Djoko is just too good
anyone notice the smirk after the handshake ? 😉
vmk1,
Yes! Thank you for saying it! He deserves credit for what he’s done!
I changed channels as soon as the umpire said GSM, I’d had enough by then.
#SOUR GRAPES
why did fed have such problems winning second serve points? he hardly won any….
All credit to Novak’s ROS! 🙂
nole’s ros is amazing..i agree…but i was talking about fed not being able to return nole’s second serve with any effect..which was quite strange..he only won a handful of points….
How often do you see Fed double fault away the match? Unreal! Novak was not going to be denied today!
I think it’s because Novak has a great second serve. The stats at one point showed Novak winning only 59% of first serve points, but 85% of second serve points. The ESPN commies made note of that. Novak’s always had a strong second serve and that takes a lot of pressure off him if for some reason he can’t make his first serves. It’s very effective.
I should add that they said Novak won 16 out of 19 second serve points. Which makes him very tough to beat!
don’t you think that nole’s serve has improved with becker’s help?? it’s so effective now..
whenever he was under any pressure he pulled out aces or unreturnable serves..just the same as at wimby…but that is also of course down to his mental strength…he just brings it when he needs to…same as rafa used to!
Hey, but Rafa also won > 80% on his 2nd serve so in that respect, Rafa has also improved. I remember not too long ago, Rafa had problems winning points on his second serves which were so returnable.
Agree with amy, that Rafa was also used to clutch serving to save him out of troubles. Rafa’s serve level has gone down ever since his back injury.
Should add Rafa did it some point during a match, not for the full match though.
Ajde Nole!!!!! Idemoooo!!!
Congrats to me for getting it wrong!!!!
Crowd so quiet!!!
Shhhh #BYOAT at Work!
Again super analysis from nny during the match. You know your stuff.
Yes, I do think that Novak’s serve has improved with Becker’s help. I remember the ridicule here when Novak first added him to his team. I admit that I didn’t get it at the time. But now we see that it’s paid off big time.
As you said, whenever Novak was in trouble, he came up with aces or big serves to bail him out. Yes, it’s not just about technique. I think that his mental strength has improved, too. He just digs down and refuses to let himself get broken.
It’s true that this was the way Rafa was when he was at his best. He would fight like a demon to hold his serve. That’s why it’s hard to watch Novak like this, because so much of it reminds me of Rafa at the top of his game.
yep nny…let’s just hope our champ brings it next year. talking about the mental strength which allows nole to play as he does at crucial moments is a reminder that it is this aspect more than anything else that rafa needs to bring to his game…that’s what saw him through before and what he needs most…
also, tennis is like anything else where you have to adapt to survive..you cant just stay still…i do hope that rafa realises that!!! nole has made himself into a killer by being prepared to change/bring in changes constantly as with the diet and becker…
i do have my doubts that even rafa with his great gifts can modify and adapt without some new external help…
am signing off now nny…!! really hope that you have a good week! do take care!!
hawkeye,
Aaaawwwhhh! Thanks so much! 🙂
But I did pick Novak in 3 sets. Ricky got it spot on!
Amy,
Thanks for your thoughts. Of course, I agree with you about the necessity to change and adapt. You said pretty much what I have been thinking!
See you soon!
Take care!
Not happy with the outcome….I mean, I hate big matches between federer and djokovic because whoever wins ,they gain something on rafa in terms of overall legacies…
I predicted Novak to win this final…. did not post here I guess but that was my pick…I had picked fed in the RR match . This was a final and the expected happened.
Djokovic closes 2015. As rafa said, he has been impossible for almost all year.
Rafa, PLEASE do something next year. You are the only hope.
And no, rafa will have to play better tennis than ever to win against Djokovic. Yes, better and more offensive tennis than he was ever has played on hard courts.
vamosrafa,
Yes, Rafa is going to have to play better than ever to beat Novak. He needs to get to work with his team during the off season! We need Rafa back at his very best to challenge Novak.
You and I both picked Fed to win the RR match. I do believe that you posted your pick. We both picked Novak to win, but in 3 sets.
Rafa knows how good Novak’s been. I hope that Rafa also knows what he had to do to come out playing great in 2016. We need him to do that!
sorry you are feeling glum vr!! i picked nole in 2….
i do wish rafa would get some extra help ie with his serve…it’s just not cutting the mustard (excuse ridiculous phrase) right now….he cant beat nole without a better serve
I think Rafa’s best hope is still on clay and then the USO series. Novak is dominant first part slow HC season and then after the USO. On grass, unless players with big serves could knock him off, I see no one able to beat him. It’ll be interesting to see Murray vs Novak on grass next year.
If Rafa gets back to his high level, I think he’s capable of reaching no.2 next year. Novak will still be no.1 next year end I think, unless someone together with Rafa can beat Novak for the slams.
Novak could hit hard flat shots with depth all day from both wings, its so hard to defend against them! His retrieving skills is also second to none, not to mention his now almost unreadable serves and unbelievable ROS placements! There’s just no loopholes in his game. In the past he’s not so good at handling slices snd change of pace, now he’s doing much better at that and he’s now so efficient with his net approaches and his volleying skills. His court position has also improved, playing more often inside the court. He has speed, stamina, power and precision all added in, who’s going to beat all that??
Have to hand it to Nole. He’s played the year of his life.
Hard for Federer to accept the inevitable waning of his powers but he put up a good fight in the second set.
Quietest crowd of all time. Boo hoo hoo.
The Grinch who stole Christmas.
Little wonder. The Serb supporters did their best but they were outnumbered by Fed supporters big time. No matter how hard he tries Nole will never capture the hearts of the public the way Federer and Rafa do.
Lendl 2.0
Novak played a great match, really.What can you say but congratulations, he deserved it.
yep
my pick was Novak in 3 because I thought Fed would steal the set with good serving…however, he was not able as Novak was just on fire, playing brilliant tennis…
Fed was caught in the trap made by Nole which is basically forcing Fed to play long points which puts Fed immediately at disadvantage…
Great accomplishment by both players, though…playing the WTF at the age of 34 is really something…
Congrats to Novak’s fans! They are really happy people!
Congrats to hawkeye and amy!
thanks nats ….really sweet of you given that you don’t like nole!! let’s really hope rafa comes back strong for AO!!
btw i am not really that happy…i was very sad after rafa lost yesterday…have still not got over it..i was expecting too much i suppose,thought he would push nole more..
I do not like him for beating Rafa, but I think Novak is amazing tennis player and deserves to have his fans…they must be so proud of him! He did such a great job this year! I hope next year the distribution of GS titles will be more even… 🙂
So Roger did not do much better than Rafa , won just 1 game more and got broken thrice too on his favorite surface.
So Rafans , Novak is at another level now. The whole field has to upgrade to reach him.
Don’t be so sad about Rafas performance yesterday .
How long will Djokovic continue this?
the commentator (which I like) just said: in the year to come Rafa will be a stern test and tough opponent for everyone as it becomes obvious that Rafa is back!
Vamos Rafa!
Novak will continue his dominance as long as no one is challenging him and he remains fit and healthy.
He has the good fortune of having a good body that doesnt break down so easily, unlike a Rafa or a Delpo. Even Fed has a bad back, Murray too but Novak is fit and healthy most of the time. Those who are big and strong like Stan for example are just too inconsistent throughout a season to challenge Novak.
Its interesting to note that in the decade past, Fedal owned Novak for the first five years, from 2006 to 2010; and then Novak owned Fedal for the next five years, from 2011 to 2015 and the H2H is now equal, 45:45 (22:22 vs Fed; 23:23 vs Rafa)!
Its as if they’ll start from ground zero come next year and so it depends on who plays well enough to surge ahead. The advantage now is with Novak, being the form player and still in his peak. It’ll be interesting to see how Fedal fight back.
2016 is the year of tiebreaks then. Can djoko break him self from Fedal or can they rein him back in ?
I think Koenig mentioned that since Shanghai last year this is the first tournament that Djoko has lost points in :-O. And he still ended up winning the tournament
That’s why the format is pants.
Novak has probably set the record for defeating Fedal b2b in tourneys
I remember this tournament, USO 2011, IW 2011, Canada 2007, London 2013
“Please help us Rafa, you’re our only hope!”
The group leaders should be in the final. This format is unfair giving some a second bite of the cherry.
Djokovic seems to have developed the ability to hit championship quality shots the second it’s necessary.Otherwise he simply keeps the ball deep.He’s going to dominate for another year.Fed seems unable to turn it on at will anymore.He was a bit flat out there.
Fed is 34 for God’s sake.
why is this forum poll always pro nadal and federer and anti djokovic? the most sane tennis observer here is Ricky himself who gets it spot on yet again. it looks like posters vote with their hearts and not their heads. such a shame.
I was red hot this week!
No.
#Memento
@joe
You are right the poll results are often driven more by hope. Try reading the comments on the prediction pages – they are usually, but not necessarily always, more objective.
Yesterday was a good example. A fair number of people, including Rafans and Fed fans, predicted the win for Djokovic.
Djokovic was empyreal this year and deserved to finish the season on a great note.
I think they drain all his body fluids (Djokovic) every night and then put them back in.. they say he can even train in his sleep because of this, his next technique to acquire will be to momentarily stop time while inhaling vigorously..
Wonder if empyreal is the phonetic spelling or autocorrect at work. Your response is worthy of Pseudofed