Djokovic beats Federer in straight sets to win at ATP finals

I was glad I was able to keep my focus and concentration after a long week and season.

“I was going to take the three girls, I was going to go with my family”.

“I’m trying to enjoy every moment on the court, cherish every moment competing at such a level”.

That kind of profligacy had cost Federer dearly in the US Open final and it was the same story this time.

The win was made even sweeter for Djokovic after he lost to Federer during the group stages last week.

Nadal, who ended the group stages with three wins, could not extend his promising run against Djokovic as he departed the tournament with a straight sets defeat. I wish you a great next season.

· In 1984, John McEnroe didn’t have a main rival to deal with as Borg had been gone for three years, Connors, at the age of 31, was in slow decline, and Lendl hadn’t emerged as the great player he’d turn out to be.

“Maybe if I can just get that to work slightly better at times, that would be incredibly helpful”.

“Well done to Roger for making it such a difficult match – I’m sure we will have plenty of hard matches next season”.

“Roland Garros is always one of the biggest challenges I have every year, but it’s not the only one”, said the 10-time major victor, who is closing in on Federer (17) and Rafael Nadal (14) with the Olympics to also slot into a crowded 2016.

The serve set the tone. He won 16 of 19 second-serve points (84 percent), compared to nine of 21 second-serve points (42 percent) for his opponent.

By beating Nadal in Saturday’s semi-final Djokovic levelled his head-to-head record with the Spaniard at 23 wins apiece, while this victory finally brought him level with Federer at 22-22. This week was great again, fantastic year all round. I’ve been there. We both know how hard it is to back it up. “Hopefully better one for me”.

“If I played the match again, that is what I would try to do different”. He’s had a ridiculously good year. Even the final point of the match was a double-fault.

“I can’t predict the future”, Djokovic said.

This wasn’t just a World Tour Finals rematch.

Like in his semi-final against Stan Wawrinka, Federer was not afraid to rush the net.

On the court, both Djokovic and Federer had break chances in the opening two games, but both managed to save them. Pressed to 30-all in the next game, Djokovic banged an ace out wide to back up the break. The top seed hit a flurry of backhand winners towards the end of the match, and wasn’t intimidated by Federer’s constant approaches to the net. The Swiss sailed an overly-ambitious backhand down the line on his second break point; Djokovic held on for 4-2.

On Sunday, Federer didn’t look like the same player who had defeated Djokovic just days earlier.

Sunday’s final not only reinforced Djokovic’s master class, it also highlighted Federer’s tendency to stumble at the last hurdle. He did raise his game noticeably in the second to fend off an improved Federer.

Fortunately for his army of admirers there is no sign of him stopping, and only this week he announced plans to play in the Stuttgart tournament for the next two years. Djokovic dipped a drive at his feet forcing Federer to shovel a half-volley miss as Djokovic seized a one-set lead.

Credit Federer for hanging tough.

Looking through history, Federer’s incredible 2006 saw him drop only five from 97 games.

From there, the set followed serve until at 5-3, the Serbian earned two set points. It was top-ranked Djokovic’s fourth consecutive win in the year-end championships and his fifth overall (equalling one of his coaches, Boris Becker).