Novak Djokovic clinched another year-end No. 1 ranking and a semifinals berth in the ATP Finals with a comfortable win over Tomas Berdych on Friday.
Berdych was dispatched 6-2, 6-2 in a group match, giving Djokovic an unassailable points lead over second-ranked Roger Federer.
Djokovic, the Wimbledon champion, will finish the season No. 1 for the third time in four years. He's the seventh man to accomplish the feat at least three times.
“It's an incredible achievement. Being No. 1 in the world is one of the biggest challenges a tennis player can have,” he said.
“I've been playing since I was four. I was very fortunate to have very knowledgeable people, people who believed in me, and believed in my talent.”
Djokovic and Federer have swept their groups, and are on course to meet in Sunday's final.
Djokovic will take on Kei Nishikori in the semifinals at the O2 Arena, wile Federer will face Stan Wawrinka or Marin Cilic, who meet late Friday.
Djokovic extended his two-year-old indoor winning streak to 30 matches. The two-time defending champion in london, he has lost only nine games this week.
Berdych dropped his first two service games as the Serb took control from the baseline. Djokovic again broke twice in the second set with a range of forehand winners, strong returns and net charges that left Berdych stranded frequently.
“There was not much doubt that the match could go the other way” Berdych said. “There was no way I can challenge him better than this.”
Federer dismantles Murray
For Andy Murray, the road leading back to the “Big Four” remains winding and tortuous.
Following an excellent autumn run that helped him qualify for the ATP Finals, he was brutally brought back to earth by Roger Federer, his season ended by an embarrassing 6-0, 6-1 loss in his final round-robin match at the O2 Arena on Thursday.
Murray bowed out of the elite tournament with just one win, over Milos Raonic, and two straight-set defeats to Federer and Kei Nishikori: a mediocre record for Murray, who was running with Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Federer until a year ago.
His back problems solved, Murray came back strongly during the second part of the season under new coach Amelie Mauresmo, grabbing three titles to qualify for the ATP Finals. But his improvement should not end there if Murray is to regain his status among the elite. “Well, after tonight that's quite clear,” he said. “Quite a long way from that level.”
Federer said Murray's preparations for next season will be crucial.
“You just tend to be up and down, especially against the top players,” said Federer. “There's just that little bit of doubt, maybe that you need to play unbelievably well, and the other guy you hope he doesn't play his best. Every point is complicated. Every day is complicated.”