Roger Federer Irked By Claims He Was ‘Handed A Win’ By Djokovic

Nineteen forehand mistakes, plus a low first-serve percentage of 50, contributed to the 30-year-old’s defeat.

His form dipped dramatically after a tight first set, with the Serb winning just 25% of points on his first serve and searching for his usual metronomic accuracy. He will next face Federer on Thursday.

Berdych attributed the loss of the match to the loss of that point.

Berdych’s hopes of reaching the last four are miniscule.

Victory for Djokovic in the final group match against Berdych on Thursday would see the Serb through to the semis; it would also prevent Nishikori from progressing, regardless of whether the Japanese beats Federer. NIshikori won five consecutive games from late in the first set while Berdych did likewise from a set and a break down early in the second.

Djokovic was beginning to click into gear in the last game of the match as his errors started to creep down but unfortunately for him the damage had already been done.

That would change dramatically with the score at 6-5 to Federer, with the Swiss superstar managing to amazingly break the World No. 1 and move ahead in the contest.

There was plenty at stake for Federer in his 43rd meeting with Djokovic, not least supremacy in their head-to-head.

On a second deuce, Federer converted his second set point with a delicate backhand drop over the net that had the six-time champion’s numerous fans on their feet celebrating.

The key game came with Djokovic serving to stay in the first set.

A fail attempt to barge back into the game had Djokovic handing Federer the win.

Third seed Federer walked out on court first for Tuesday’s group stage clash with the world number one at London’s O2 Arena. “I have to win the next match to qualify (from) the group”.

In his autobiography, “Wimbledon: My Life and Career at the All England Club” released earlier this year, Boris Becker, Djokovic’s coach, said on the surface everything seems copacetic between the two, but that’s not necessarily the case.

Berdych was 0-2 down in the second set but managed to turn it around, converting both his break point chances.

“You have those days when you are not feeling your best, not even close to the best”, the top-ranked Djokovic said. Coming into the ATP World Tour Finals, the longtime foes had battled it out in no less than six finals on the year.

As tough a loss as this was for the Serbian, the chances of Djokovic having the last laugh this week should not be entirely discounted just yet. Djokovic could even scramble through with a three-set defeat, providing Nishikori does not win.

Djokovic has been the best player in tennis all year, winning three Grand Slam titles and losing the other in the final at the French Open.