Roger Federer wins ATP World Tour finals
IT may have been Rafael Nadal’s season, but Roger Federer had the last laugh yesterday with victory over his great rival to win the year-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for a fifth time.
The 22nd meeting between the pair brought an eighth success for Federer, who came flying out of the traps at London’s O2 Arena and then recovered from some sloppy moments in the second set to race through the decider and triumph 6-3 3-6 6-1.
The title, his first since the tournament moved to London after previous victories in Houston and Shanghai, made Federer the joint holder of yet another record as he drew level with Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras.
The Swiss star will also head home more than £1million richer after going through the week undefeated, while 1,500 ranking points are a start in his bid to wrest back the number one spot from Nadal, who won three successive grand slams in 2010 but just failed to pick up the one major title still to elude him.
Federer said: “It’s fantastic. I’m really thrilled the way I played all week. To win a fifth time is obviously amazing, for the third time in a different place.
“I’m just really happy the way I was able to finish the season in style, playing some of my best tennis, really saving the best for last.