Djokovic beats Federer to end his best season

Had Djokovic won the French Open, there would surely be no argument about it being the best season in tennis history. “Managing to reach this kind of season and achievement this year obviously gives me a lot of confidence for anything that is coming in the future”. I’m just trying to enjoy every moment on the court. However, he still finishes the year on top with a renewed focus on Rio Olympics and Roland Garros in 2016, the two titles missing from his illustrious trophy cabinet. “Hopefully better one for me”. Add on his bonus pool pay-out for playing – and winning – at the Masters events and his on-court earnings for the year are more than $20 million.

Djokovic had proved to be nearly untouchable all year in compiling an 81-6 run, but Federer was the one player to have managed three wins in seven matches against the world No1, the last one just days ago in their round-robin meeting here. With Federer serving from behind, the Swiss was under constant scoreboard pressure.

Fourteen-time grand slam champion has revealed that he doesn’t lose sleep thinking about how he can beat the other top-ranked tennis players like rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

So this victory produced the ideal end to a near-perfect year for the stand-out player of the season, as Djokovic was quick to admit: “Absolutely”.

“It would have been nice to serve a little bit better early on in the match, play better overall on his second serve, because he does allow you to play on his second serve”. I tried my best this week, . I think I am doing well.

The Serbian broke serve three times to win 6-3 6-4 in just 80 minutes at The O2 in Greenwich. Congratulations on a ridiculous year. But Djokovic wore down his opponent and the 17-time Grand Slam double faulted on his second break point. First of all I’ll say how happy I am that could play. It is also his fourth consecutive World Tour Finals title. This was a power struggle between World Tour Finalists commanders who had combined to win 10 of the last 12 season-ending championships between them.

Djokovic, so consistent on his groundstrokes, earned two set points when he put Federer in an awkward position with a searing backhand that the Swiss could only prod into the net. Pressed to 30-all in the next game, Djokovic banged an ace out wide to back up the break. But when the top-seeded was stressed he had the answer cranking crosscourt backhands into Federer’s weaker backhand wing.

“You don’t win a break point, he does, or vice versa – it changes the whole outcome of the match”. In the often overlooked area of second serves, Djokovic was dazzling.

The warning signs were there from the opening game when Federer was forced to save break point, roared on by a buoyant London crowd who made no apologies for clearly favouring the world No 3. The week was not easy for him: lost to Federer in the Groups, won to Berdych without playing very well. Full-flight Roger Federer. The one man, many felt, who had the tools, experience and brassy self-regard to challenge Djokovic.

Credit Federer for hanging tough.

This time the crisis brought out some of Federer’s best tennis and clawed his way back from the brink with a string of big serves and booming winners.

But Federer is showing the world a legendary longevity of a true champion.