Djokovic edges Federer in London Thriller
Novak Djokovic won the 2012 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals with an electrifying 7-6(6), 7-5 victory over two-time defending champion Roger Federer in London
In a magnificent battle, lasting two hours and 14 minutes, the world’s top two players thrilled the capacity crowd at the O2 arena with a display of spellbinding tennis.
Speaking after the match Djokovic said: "It's tremendous, you know, success. It's very satisfying for my team and myself to conclude this fantastic season with a World Tour Finals win. I never got to the finals of this tournament in London. The furthest I got is semi-finals a couple years ago where I lost straight sets to Roger."
Six-time winner Federer raced out of the blocks and into a 3-0 first set lead before Djokovic struck back to level the set.
In a marathon ninth game the top seeded Serb broke at the third attempt and reached set point serving at 5-4. However the World No.1 netted a forehand and Federer broke back after another forehand error from the Serbian.
As the set progressed to a tie-break mini breaks were shared early on before Djokovic reached set point at 6-5 and looked to have clinched the opener as his forehand passed Federer at the net.
But the Swiss Wimbledon Champion reached behind and whipped a jaw-dropping cross court forehand winner to stay alive.
Federer erred on the backhand at 6-6 to give Djokovic a third set point which the 25 year-old converted with an inside out forehand winner to take the set.
Federer fought back in the second set and broke on his fourth break point in the opening game. At 3-1 the 31 year-old reigning champion held a point for the double break but netted a running forehand as Djokovic stayed in touch.
The Australian Open champion created a break point in the eighth game but saw Federer respond with an ace as he moved ahead 5-3.
Serving for the set at 5-4 Federer reached two set points but was undone by four forehand errors as Djokovic got back on level terms.
The Serb held and reached match point in the twelfth game when Federer’s backhand went wide.
Federer's forehand approach was strong but Djokovic responded at full stretch with a screaming backhand down the line to fittingly win his second year-end title with a glorious winner.
"I was playing really great tennis throughout the whole week" said Djokovic. "The first match, you know, still feeling a little bit rusty on the court. But I won against Andy. That was a big confidence booster for me. You know, every match after that I felt like I played really very close to the top of my game. And tonight, you know, whenever I needed to, to come up with some really good shots, really focus myself and get every ball back in the court, I've done that. So I cannot be more thrilled than I'm feeling now."
Stat Attack – Djokovic
- The Serb is the ninth man to win multiple year-end titles since the inception of the event in 1970
- Since the Olympics Djokovic has compiled a 29-3 win/loss record
- During the off-season Djokovic will pass Jim Courier to become the 11th longest standing No.1 since the ATP world rankings began in 1973
Stat Attack – Federer
- Only Andre Agassi (14) and Ivan Lendl (12) have qualified for the year-end championships more times than Federer
- Federer’s 71 match wins in 2012 are his most in a season since 2006 and the fifth time he has exceeded 70 wins in a year
Granollers and Lopez lift Doubles Crown
Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez won the doubles title at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals with a 7-5, 3-6, 10-3 win over Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna.
The teams shared early break of serve before the Spaniards struck again in the eleventh game when Bhupathi’s forehand volley sailed long. The sixth seeds then saved two break points and clinched the opening with a backhand winner from Granollers at the net.
Games went with serve in the second set before the Indian fifth seeds broke in game eight when Lopez caught the tape with a forehand. On set point Bopanna’s serve was initially called out but overruled as an ace after a successful challenge and the teams were all square.
In the ninth match tie-break of the tournament, and first third set in the doubles final for seven years, it was Granollers and Lopez who dominated and took advantage of volleying errors from Bhupathi and Bopanna.
The Spaniards raced into a 9-3 lead to setup six match points and converted the first to seal their biggest career title when Bhupathi’s final forehand volley landed over the baseline.
Stat Attack – Granollers/Lopez
- Granollers and Lopez are the first Spanish team to qualify for the championships for 16 years and the first Spaniards to win since 1975
- The Spaniards have won 3 of 7 ATP World Tour Finals this year
Stat Attack – Bhupathi/Bopanna
- Bhupathi is the first man to lose five year-end finals without winning the title – this was the first final in which he has won a set
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