Djokovic crushes Nadal to reach ATP final

Hopefully in a day or two, the realisation that Murray, 28, stands on the verge of an accomplishment fit to stand proudly alongside his two Grand Slam titles and Olympic gold will rekindle his competitive instinct. I am happy of how the week’s gone so far, so it’s a good feeling this time around’.

Federer and Djokovic will lock horns again on Sunday after the former emerged victorious during the round-robin phase.

Against Nadal on Saturday, Djokovic showed why he is the best player in the world. “He played just fantastic”. “When somebody’s doing like this, just the only thing I can do is congratulate him and just wish not the best of luck for the next year”.

In a rematch of last year’s controversial semifinal in London, the result produced a rematch of a final that never happened last year.

In the second set, Wawrinka collapsed in the face of Federer’s excellence – as he did against Nadal earlier in the week – clinging on rather than competing, as the Spaniard did against Djokovic. It was shaky early for Roger but Stan couldn’t capitalize on the lead and close out the set.

Serving to stay in the match Nadal could resist no longer and Djokovic clinched victory after an hour and 19 minutes, nailing a backhand victor down the line to bring up match point and then finding the opposite corner.

“He has the ideal game against my game”, said Wawrinka, the only man besides Djokovic to win a major this year. Reaching the finals of all four Grand Slam events (winning three of them) was a career first.

“But I still feel like I want to do more, and I can do more”.

Federer regained the initiative when he broke for a 3-1 lead in the final set, yet the indefatigable Nishikori clawed his way out of trouble with a break in the seventh game. He will be targeting a ideal ending to a season which he has had to suffer agony against the Serb in the final at Wimbledon and US Open. I feel like I’m on top of my opponent. “That’s something for the most part of this year I haven’t been doing”.

The pair have met many times in the past, but Federer edges their contests with 22 wins to Djokovic’s 21.

“He’s played a few great tennis since we’ve played”, he said.

“A great match, I really enjoyed it”, Federer said afterwards. Their return of serves, ground strokes, first serve points-everything was simply better and more effective than Dodig and Marcelo, putting the match completely in their favour.

“Same court, same place”, said Federer.

For Djokovic, Sunday’s final will be another opportunity to draw even with a rival. “So, yeah, I still believe his confidence is slightly higher than mine with the amount of success he’s had this year”.

Instead, the British tennis player departed hurriedly, leaving behind a violently smashed racket and memories of an error-strewn display that he must purge before leading the Britain team against Belgium in Ghent on Friday. He can’t win slugging out from the baseline.