There is one more match to play this season, and there is plenty riding on it for both Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Djokovic, who has had the best season of his career with three Grand Slam titles, is looking to cap his incredible year by becoming the first man to win four straight titles at the ATP finals. Federer, however, can add to his record six titles on Sunday while also proving he can still beat the top-ranked Serb in big matches.
“When he’s on, it’s hard to play him,” Djokovic said of Federer, who has reached his 10th final at the season-ending tournament for the top eight players in the world. “We always play matches with a lot of tension. There is a lot at stake. I know I have to be on top in order to win against him.”
Federer advanced to the final by defeating French Open champion Stan Wawrinka 7-5, 6-3.
Sunday’s match at the O2 Arena will be the eighth meeting this season between the two players who hold a combined 27 Grand Slam titles. Djokovic leads 4-3 in 2015, including wins in the Wimbledon and US Open finals, but Federer won in straight sets on Tuesday in the round robin stage.
“It’s the same conditions, same court, same place,” said Federer, who has handed Djokovic three of his six losses this year. “For me it’s an advantage because I guess it gives me a bit of confidence. For him it’s an advantage because he gets a second chance, and he’s in another final.”
Djokovic will have a chance to even the head-to-head series against Federer,. Federer currently leads 22-21.
But the 17-time Grand Slam champion from Switzerland is considered by many to be the best indoor player in history. He has played in the semifinals at the season-ending event in 13 of his 14 appearances, advancing to the final 10 times.
bopanna-mergea ends as runners up at atp finals
Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands and Horia Tecau of Romania won the doubles title at the ATP finals on Sunday, beating Rohan Bopanna and Florin Mergea 6-4, 6-3.
The second-seeded Rojer and Tecau, who have been playing together for two seasons, went 5-0 without losing a set at the season-ending tournament. They beat top-seeded Bob and Mike Bryan 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals.
Bopanna, who is from India, and Mergea, from Romania, were seeded eighth and were making their first appearance as a team at the ATP finals.