Federer downs Wawrinka to set up Djokovic final

Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 Saturday to book his fourth consecutive appearance in the finals, his 85th tour-level final appearance.

Roger Federer made short work of Stanislas Wawrinka in the semi-final of the ATP World Tour Finals at London’s O2 Arena, setting up a final against Novak Djokovic.

There was the 6-0 devastation of 2011 (followed by that epic Australian Open final in January 2012) then the steady attritional dismantling of the rivalry since Beijing two years ago, during which time Djokovic has won seven of their eight matches, including the final of this tournament in 2013.

The French Open champion had been dispatched in straight sets by Federer in their last meeting at the US Open while the ignominy of having never beaten the former world number one on a hard court highlighted the scale of the task facing Wawrinka.

Federer defeated fellow countryman Wawrinka to set up a rematch with Djokovic after the pair clashed in their opening pool game of the tournament.

Federer held at love to seal the match in 71 minutes as a Wawrinka backhand sailed long, setting up a dream final between the two players who have ruled tennis in the second half of 2015.

“I think he also likes playing me because he has a variety in his game with the slice, he comes to the net, he takes away the time from me”. There is a lot at stake.

As well as closing his press conference wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and looking forward (!) to seeing us all again, he also found the humour in his loss, saying: “He played just fantastic”. Djokovic has a narrow 4-3 advantage, but Federer has won two of the past three, going back to their final this past summer in Cincinnati.

“I’ve lost against Roger three times this year”.

For Djokovic, Sunday’s final will be another opportunity to draw even with a rival. In best-of-three matches this year, Federer leads Djokovic 3-2.

There was a bit of needle after that contest – which edged Federer 22-21 in front in their head-to-head – with Djokovic saying he had “handed” Federer the win, before subsequently denying there was any “bad blood” between the two.

It looked as though Nadal might be in for an easy ride when he won 10 of the first 11 points, breaking Ferrer twice, but his 33-year-old opponent is renowned as one of the sport’s best battlers and he hit back to win a tiebreak.

Novak Djokovic came hurtling into the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on a terrific tear.

Nadal said after the match that the Serb is “almost unbeatable” when in this mood.

It’s going to be wonderful – I mean finals don’t get much better than this..

The Serbian, though, has been too good for just about everyone this year and Nadal was upbeat about his prospects for 2016. I know I have to be on top in order to win against him.

Speaking about the match against the Serb tomorrow, Federer said: “Novak should be knocked out by now!”