Thursday, December 12, 2024
spot_img

Djokovic grinds down Federer in 3-set contest

Date:

Share post:

spot_img
spot_img

LONDON: Novak Djokovic ground down Roger Federer 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-2 in his opening match at the ATP World Tour Finals on Tuesday.
Serbian Djokovic, who beat Federer in last year’s final, had to win at least two of his Group B matches to have any chance of toppling Rafael Nadal, who opened his Group A challenge with an easy victory over David Ferrer earlier in the day.
However, Nadal’s win over Stanislas Wawrinka on Wednesday means that the Spaniard will finish the year as the number one player in the world.
World number seven Federer, bidding for a seventh title at the year-ender, fired a forehand wide to give Djokovic the opening set after 37 minutes of an eagerly-awaited contest in front of a sell-out crowd at the 02 Arena.
The 17-times grand-slam champion produced some vintage play in the second set but squandered a set point at 5-4 as the crowd willed the 32-year-old to go the distance.
They got their wish as Federer dominated the tiebreak against an opponent looking weary under the lights.
Just when Federer appeared to have given himself a fighting chance of an increasingly rare victory over one of the big guns, however, Djokovic slammed the door in his face.
The Serbian broke the Federer serve to love at the start of the third set and then fought off a break point to open up a two-game lead he never looked like relinquishing.
Another break condemned Federer to his first opening-match defeat at the Tour Finals since 2008 when he failed to survive the group stage and defeat by Frenchman Richard Gasquet on Thursday would leave him staring at a similar fate.
Djokovic, whose winning now spans 18 matches since he lost to Nadal in the US Open final, joins Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, whom he plays on Thursday, at the top of the group. (Reuters)

spot_img
spot_img

Related articles

SC imposes Rs 5 lakh costs on employer for taking wage and termination dispute to arbitration

New Delhi, Dec 12: The Supreme Court has imposed Rs 5 lakh costs on an employer for dragging...

Financial Intelligence Unit detects undisclosed income worth Rs 11,000 crore in 2024: Centre

New Delhi, Dec 12: The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) detected undisclosed income worth nearly Rs 11,000 crore in...

Jyothirmayi says OTT is the catalyst behind wider reach of content

Mumbai, Dec 12: Actress Jyothirmayi, whose psychological thriller film ‘Bougainvillea’, is set to release on OTT, has shared...

Union Cabinet clears ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill to streamline electoral process

New Delhi, Dec 12:  The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, aimed at...