Either Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer will improve to 2-0 at the World Tour Finals and take control of Group Stan Smith on Tuesday. Djokovic is coming off a straight-set beatdown of Kei Nishikori, while Federer made similarly quick work of Tomas Berdych.
A tie will be broken–at least temporarily–when Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer square off for the 43rd time in their careers during round-robin action at the World Tour Finals on Tuesday.
The head-to-head series stands at 21-21 following Djokovic’s 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 triumph in the U.S. Open final this summer. Djokovic has won four of six meetings in 2015, including four of the last five. The world No. 1 also prevailed in the Wimbledon title match via a 7-6(1), 6-7(10), 6-4, 6-3 scoreline. Federer’s two victories this season have come in Dubai (6-3, 7-5) and Cincinnati (7-6(1), 6-3).
This ends a streak of four consecutive encounters between the two players in finals. But they are not entirely strangers to early-tournament meetings, as they also battled in London round-robin competition in 2013. Djokovic took that match 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-2 to improve to 2-1 lifetime against Federer at this event. The Serb also got the job done in the 2012 championship match, while Federer came out on top in the 2010 semifinals. They were scheduled to vie for last year’s title, but the Swiss had to withdraw due to a back injury.
Federer is dealing with no such troubles now and can leave everything on the court without a Davis Cup final to worry about, as was the case in 2014. The 34-year-old, a recent champion in Basel, is a stellar 60-10 for his 2015 campaign after beating Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday night. Federer won 12 of the last 16 games following a brief 2-0 first-set deficit.
Djokovic needed only one hour and five minutes–four minutes fewer than Federer–to roll over Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-1 on Sunday afternoon. The top seed is now 79-5 for the season and 23-0 in his last 23 matches since falling to Federer in Cincinnati.
“It was quite unusual [in 2013] to play each other so early in a tournament,” Federer said of their previous World Tour Finals round-robin contest. “This doesn’t feel now so crazy early because we’ve had the week of preparation; we’ve both had a match now. I think we both feel like we’re in the tournament.”
And they both will be regardless of Tuesday’s outcome. Djokovic, the three-time defending champion, is looking too good for anyone at the moment–even for Federer–but do not be surprised if this is not the last time these two see each other on opposite sides of the net in London.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
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Well done Fed! In 2 sets!
Scruffy Fed in the camera.
This changes things in their group. I picked Novak to get through undefeated 3-0. That’s not going to happen now.
But didn’t you pick Fed to win this??
But didn’t you pick fed to win this one??
vamosrafa,
If you are talking to me, then the answer is yes, I did pick Fed to win in 3 sets. But I didn’t know for a fact that he would win. So at that time there was still the possibility that Novak would go 3-0 undefeated. After all, I could have been wrong! 🙂
I picked Novak to go undefeated earlier. But I just had a feeling that Fed might play well enough to beat him.
GSM Fed …i could not watch..will do so and then comment. I am not suprised at the outcome but yes the second set’s scoreline is. Fed’s brand of tennis is superior in these conditions…
Let’s hear the excuses for Djokovic. Congrats to Federer.
No excuses. But I became too complacent about Nole winning.
22 unforced errors for Nole, though? Is that right?
Yeah about that but Fed had almost the same. Fed had more winners though.
Nole’s UEs were bad ones though many just dumped into the net.
Fed had some shanks but more were strategic aggressive errors.
Nothing a loss to Fedal Fed loss won’t fix, right? I picked a Rafole final 😉
Yes, I am also going to see the replay of this match. I missed the first set and most of the second set. I want to see how Fed did it. But I guess it’s true that Fed really likes these courts.
I think it’s going to be much tighter now in their group. I thought Novak would come out on top.
It looks like I didn’t give Fed enough credit picking him to win in 3 sets. To win the second set with that score is impressive.
Fourth time in the last 13 months against Nole on a hard court.
Impressive but not a big surprise. Nole in straights would have been the anomaly.
It’s also best of three, not best of five. At least I picked Fed!
Congrats to me and anyone else that picked fed.
Commies to Ricky and those that picked Nole.
Next time think about it. 🙂 (Couldn’t resist.)
#NID
Egg on my face fair enough, lol. As long as Nole wins the Final, it will be okay.
Sorry for your guy. Hope he beats him in the final!!!
22 UEs for Nole, 19 for Fed.
Am not sure i want rafa to top the grp now? and fed stops another streak. My gosh the old man is good
WOW!
Way to go, Fed! Great win! Novak’s level dropping…he certainly is not invisible…I expected Novak to start losing but not this soon…Bravo Fed!
@ hawkeye,
great prediction!
I do hope you are wrong about Rafa tomorrow… 🙂
Me too nats. Me too.
Congrats to me, NNY, VR and ed who all picked Fed to win. You know, the Tennis Expert Club.
hawkeye,
Thanks, even though I got the number of sets wrong!
Hey, thanks for including me in the Tennis Experts Club! I am in good company! 🙂
Some call it a gang but I prefer club. 😉
But I was wrong Nole might fake bad. His foot slippped off the pedal completely. What’s more the good loser act also slipped – none of his jovial bonhomie and the handshake at the net net was what you might call perfuntory.
Actually Novak smiled and looked quite friendly but Fed didn’t return the smile and looked away quickly.
certainly wont be going out to dinner after the press conferences
Like I said…
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CUDILZhWwAIumwq.jpg
Fed terminates the terminator, well done!
hawkeye,
Yes! I much prefer club! 🙂
I think it’s disgusting that they seem to make excuses for the loser if they predicted him to win and he lost. Why can’t they just congratulate Federer instead of saying maybe Djokovic didn’t prepare well or something wasn’t right or he wasn’t fired up because he could still win the title even if he loses a match, blah, blah, blah!
It isn’t fair!
Djokovic is beatable! Congrats to Fed! I pick him to win, and he has to do it in straight sets, Novak would win when it goes three. So far, Fed won/wins against Novak in straight sets, those four wins from Shanghai last year to WTF this year.
I don’t think you committed to an actual pick.
I don’t comment, I just vote for it.
I don’t do actual pick usually, I just vote for it.
I don’t do actual pick usually; I vote for it.
Well then congrats to you too! 🙂
I know that Rafa should beat Murray if he plays well Lucky,
How do you think it will go? Do you think Rafa will play well enough to beat Murray?
There is no guarantee that Djoker will beat Berdych.
Did you watch Tomas today?
Nothing is impossible, that’s why they play the matches. Djoker will be tight against Berdych because a win is vital. We shall see.
In No1e we Trust 😉
Berdych has virtually zero chance.
Egg still on my face, I’m trying to get into the TG picking club. Rafa over Andy – winner! Have Stan beating Ferrer – that’s not going to help . Nole in 2- ajde!
So is Ricky. 🙂
lol…
This is serious. Nole needs to beat Berdych and Fed needs to beat Kei for Nole to make the semis. Is that right? What if Federer loses to Kei? #confused.
To Murray. I think. Can I say Fed is a trolling WTF? Is that against the rules?
Maybe Fed will tank to eliminate Nole.
Fed’s done something like that before, hasn’t he?
Probably.
My reply is out of order. I give up.
Hawkeyes, I always vote for Rafa to win, and in straights, except vs Novak.
It’s always vs Novak that Rafa has problems. I do feel after the last four tournaments, Rafa is ready to do well here. I think he’ll be 3-0 in his group. The SF will be intriguing for sure, vs Novak or vs Fed.
The loss to Federer snaps Djokovic’s 23-match win streak. It’s his first loss since 2012 indoors (38 straight).
Roger clinches a SF appearance.
Federer responsible for 3 of Djokovic’s 6 losses this season and has now handed Novak Djokovic four of his last six losses on hard courts, all in straight sets.
Federer gets a bit touchy when it’s suggested to him that he sat in the wrong seat tonight. “To me, a towel is for a shower…”
https://twitter.com/ProdigyRep/status/666720906128027648
Tennis’ sportsmanship player of the year!!!
#PlayoffBeard
I said Fed would win if he serves well. Sorry for you hawkeye #nolefam
Djoko defeated by 34 year old Fed in straight sets! Proves Rafa is the greatest. Only he could beat Fed in his prime. As luckystar rightly said, djoko is #3 . He is another king of the weak era who started looking invincible after Fed started aging and Rafa’s body started declining.
that!
Proves nothing except I know a lot about tennis.
I predicted Fed to win as did the rest of the club. It was NID IMO.
Rafa has a much worse record than Nole vs Fed indoors. Rafa’s sole win against Fed indoors was when Fed was getting over a bad back and getting used to a new racquet in one of Rafa’s very best year.
Rafa lost indoors to a 34 year old fed last month because of mental anxiety just like I predicted.
Same for Nole. He choked just like I predicted.
Hope this helps!
#YoureWelcome
“You have those days when you’re not feeling your best,” Djokovic said. “I made a lot of unforced errors.”
… as I predicted.
Getting Tiggy with it….
“How significant is this win? Unlike a normal victory, this one doesn’t knock the loser out of the tournament. Djokovic has some work to do when he faces Tomas Berdych two days from now, but would you really bet that he and Federer won’t be meeting again in the final on Sunday?”
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2015/11/express-delivery/56840/#.VkuwaoRqrZZ
Excuses!!! The real Goat contenders are Fed and Rafa.