Djokovic beats Federer to win the World Tour Finals

Roger Federer did his best to hold back the tide of Serbian brilliance, but in the end there was no stopping Djokovic, who won 6-3, 6-4 in just 80 minutes to round off an extraordinary year for the 28-year-old from Belgrade.

He won three of the year’s four grand slams, beating the evergreen Federer in the Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals to take his career haul to 10, and would have celebrated the rarest of “calendar year slams” had it not been for an inspired Stanislas Wawrinka in the French Open final.

“He was better in the group stage so I had to change something”, he added.

With his second three-Slam year (the other in 2011), Djokovic joins Federer as the only men in the Open era to win that many Slams in a year on more than one occasion (remarkably Federer accomplished this feat three times, in 2004, 2006 and 2007).

The Spaniard, who has rediscovered some sparkle of old in recent weeks, still fell way short in his latest baseline duel with Djokovic, succumbing in straight sets in the semifinal of the World Tour Finals on Saturday. With the crowd rallying behind fan favorite Federer and Novak starting to look frustrated, it appeared this could be a turning point in the match. That’s what I’m going to try to keep doing. Djokovic wasn’t deterred by his missed break chances though as Federer faltered serving to stay in the match.

Novak Djokovic became first player in tennis history to earn $20 million in single season.

Djokovic is “almost unbeatable” at the moment, according to Nadal.

He had the first break point in the second game but fluffed a forehand into the net.

“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”.

To say Novak Djokovic got better and better as the 2015 season progressed will be an understatement.

But Federer gave Djokovic the nod because: “He’s played some great tennis since we’ve played”.

Last year’s victory was easy – Federer withdrew from the final with a bad back.

“Roland Garros is always one of the biggest challenges I have every year, but it’s not the only one. Now I have a week off, and that’s it”, said Nadal. Federer just about managed to raise a smile.

Stir into the mix that this was the match denied to the packed O2 arena previous year, that their head-to-head was poised at 22-21 in Federer’s favour, and that their tennis qualities seem to generate a synergy on court.

Winning a stunning 84% of points on his second serve as Federer failed to make a sustained assault, and after failing to convert from 0-40 in game eight, Djokovic clinched victory two games later.

“Well done on a insane good year”.

“For me personally, not really”, Federer said. He’s already one of the all-time greats but getting his hands on the Coupe des Mousquetaires and completing the career Grand Slam will propel him into echelons occupied by a very select few.

“Obviously very proud for the achievements this season”.

They have more grand slam titles than him -17 and 14 respectively to Djokovic’s 10 – but they are within his reach. If Andy Murray claimed that “marriage works” after he won the Madrid final in May, just wait until he sees what fatherhood can do for him.