Novak Djokovic to face Roger Federer in final — ATP Finals

‘I’m feeling slightly better than past year, ‘ said Federer. “I think a very good match in terms of quality moments”.

“I played the full season with not many problems”. In total, he won 89 per cent of first serve points and launched 24 winners.

If the Serb lifts the trophy for a fifth time, he will become the first player to win the Tour Finals four years in a row. His mark against top-10 players is an astounding 30-5. “Disappointing”, the 28-year-old, who fell at the group stage for the second year running, told reporters.

Nadal held a 23-22 edge in his head-to-head record with Djokovic going into the match, but the Serb had won seven of the last eight meetings, including the quarter-final victory that ended the Spaniard’s long reign as French Open champion earlier this year. “I’ve lost the odd feelings on court that I had during the season”.

The Serbian, though, has been too good for just about everyone this year and Nadal was upbeat about his prospects for 2016.

“He was better than me and he deserved to do what he did during the whole season”, a magnanimous Nadal said.

“What Novak is doing is just fantastic”.

Federer, who had an unblemished record in group play, hit back from 4-2 down in the opening set to brush aside his compatriot in little more than an hour.

It was telling that at the start of the tournament, Federer’s focus was to ensure at least two wins against Tomas Berdych and Kei Nishikori, and was pushed by the speedy Japanese player.

“I didn’t find it hard not thinking about the Davis Cup final”, he insisted. Why did he play that way?

“My next step is just keep practising the way that I am doing”. The result went the same way with Federer triumphing 7-5, 6-3, but this 70-minute encounter was all rather comfortable in the end for the 17-time Grand Slam champion.

Twelve months on from the pair’s infamous semi-final clash, Federer and Wawrinka renewed their fractured rivalry in the hope of extending their season into one last major final.

“You certainly don’t want to lose to one of the guys that you’re competing against in the biggest events for the biggest titles in the sport quickly in the second set”. On the first point of the final game, his forehand volley was so pure it caused Wawrinka to fall down trying to change direction.

With Federer’s third round robin win, the Swiss has now reached his second straight final appearance at the season-ending championship.

“I don ‘t feel unbeatable, but it does definitely feel great when I’m playing the way I’ve played today, when I feel like I’m dictating the pace and the match itself and most of the rallies…” “I think he also likes playing me because he has variety in his game with the slice, he comes to the net, takes away the time from me, so forth”. It took a lot of time. Especially against Rafa, I won the last, what, three times we played against each other. There is a lot at stake. I know I have to be on top in order to win against him. I didn’t expect to play that well, to be here tonight, honestly, being number four, winning one Grand Slam, semi-final again. “For me, it’s an advantage because I guess it gives me a bit of confidence”.