Sad Djokovic Wins Federer Final

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Novak Djokovic dedicated his ATP World Tour Finals title to his ill father after defeating Roger Federer to take the season-ending prize in London.

The No 1 finished the tournament undefeated and picked up a cheque for $1,760,000 with his 7-6 (8/6) 7-5 victory over the man who had made the O2 Arena his own.

Federer was looking for a third title in a row and to extend his record to seven overall but he could not capitalise on good starts in both sets.

Djokovic has not matched his phenomenal year in 2011, when he won three grand slam trophies and 10 titles in total, but he has come closer than many might have expected and has won more matches in 2012 than he did last year.

The 25-year-old's performances this week have been particularly impressive given the worries over the health of his father Srdjan, who remains seriously ill with a respiratory condition.

Djokovic said: "It's been a very long year, a very long two years, but a very successful two years.

"I didn't really know how I would follow up after an incredible 2011, but I believed that I have to use the time where I'm playing the best tennis of my life and I'm winning grand slams, finally realise what I need to do to win the major tournaments.

"This was my time, my moment, and I needed to step in and really believe in my ability. So throughout the whole season I've had lots of success and had some disappointing losses at big events, in a couple of major finals.

"But all in all it was a fantastic year where I've had to face a lot of difficulties off the court as well.

"Especially coming into this tournament, having my father fighting his own fight for health gave me extra strength that I wanted to play for him in a way. That's one of the reasons I really gave it all every match, especially tonight. This was a title for him."

Djokovic will leave London later today to visit his father, and he said: "At a certain stage, it was very critical. We didn't know what tomorrow brings.

"But now he's much better and he's recovering. He's still in intensive care. I'm going to visit him tomorrow and see how it goes and try to bring a trophy with me and at least make him smile."

Reflecting on the season, Djokovic concluded by saying: "It's very satisfying for my team and myself to conclude this fantastic season with a World Tour Finals win.

"I wanted really to fight and get as far as I can in this tournament. Winning all the matches I played makes it even more special.

"I was playing really great tennis throughout the whole week. Tonight whenever I needed to, I came up with some really good shots. I cannot be more thrilled than I'm feeling now."

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Federer Claims ATP Number Six

Roger Federer claimed a record sixth victory in year-ending ATP championships after defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3 6-7 6-3 at the World Tour Finals.

The 16-time grand slam champion, who was also playing in his 100th career final, held his nerve to fight off a spectacular comeback from his French opponent.

Tsonga looked to be heading for a quick defeat as Federer served for the match in the second set, but some free-hitting sparked him into life and he levelled the match in a tie-break.

But Federer hit his stride again in the third and the sixth seed finally buckled under the pressure, allowing the defending champion to complete the win and surpass Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl on the list of multiple Tour Finals winners.

Federer became the tournament's oldest winner with his 70th final victory and will take a winning streak of 17 matches into next season, said: "I couldn't be more happy and I couldn't be more exhausted."

The Frenchman had simply overpowered the 16-time grand slam champion in becoming the first player to beat him at a grand slam from two sets down at Wimbledon, and the same thing looked possible here as he piled the pressure on in the early stages.

But crucially the break did not come and in the eighth game Federer made his move, winding up his backhand to earn three break points and taking the second when his opponent netted an attempted drop volley.

That left the fourth seed serving for the set and, although Tsonga saved two set points in impressive fashion, there was nothing he could do on the third.

The frustrated Frenchman then had to dig himself out of a hole when he began the third game of the second with two double faults, but dig he did, two aces on break points neatly rescuing the situation.

The tables had well and truly turned, though, and Federer did clinch the break two games later with a thumping forehand return.

Tsonga was hanging on by his fingernails but he was determined not to make it easy and he fought off another break point in the seventh game with a brave drop shot.

And that became very significant as Tsonga made a last-ditch attempt with Federer serving for the match, using his power brilliantly to bring up his first three break points and taking the third.

The crowd acclaimed their new hero, who continued to live dangerously on his serve but hung on as into the tie-break they went.

Having worked so hard to earn his chance, Tsonga gave away a cheap couple of points and at 5-2 he was staring down the barrel once more.

Again he clawed back to level before an ace earned Federer his first match point, but Tsonga powered away a forehand winner.

Another service winner gave him a set point and he took it with a stunning forehand return.

It was no more than the world number six deserved and Federer, who has made a bit of habit this season of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, had to refocus quickly.

He did not panic, though, and in the eighth game of the decider his chance arrived. Twice Tsonga saved break points but a third arrived and this time he dumped a forehand wide.

And there were to be no more heroics, Federer sealing victory with an easy forehand volley to add to the titles he won in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2010, with his only defeat in a final coming against David Nalbandian in 2005.

Tsonga Knocks Nadal Out

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga qualified for the last four of the ATP World Tour Finals with a 7-6 4-6 6-3 victory over Rafael Nadal.

It was a winner-takes-all match at the 02 Arena which lived up to expectations as the Frenchman won in just under three hours.

He goes through to a semi-final clash against another Spaniard in David Ferrer, while Nadal heads home.

The first set went with serve all the way to a tiebreak, which Nadal dominated to take 7-2.

The second set looked to be heading in the same direction before Tsonga seized the first break of the match in the 10th game to take it 6-4 and level the match.

The sixth seed had all the momentum now and he broke again in the third game of the decider. That became a double break and a 5-2 lead when a tiring Nadal dumped a simple forehand into the middle of the net.

Tsonga wobbled briefly as two double faults helped Nadal break straight back, but he upped his levels again in the next game as he raced to 0-40 and secured victory on his first match point.

Nadal had taken a month off prior to the tournament with next weekend's Davis Cup final against Argentina in mind, and he certainly lacked his usual sharpness.

Tsonga played a superb match, though, to reach the semi-finals for the first time, and he said: 

"I just played amazing. It was not easy for me to come here against Rafa but I did it tonight and I'm very happy."

Ferrer Topples Djokovic in London

David Ferrer proved much too strong for an out-of-sorts Novak Djokovic at the ATP World Tour Finals, thrashing the world number one 6-3 6-1.

Having enjoyed something of an escape against Tomas Berdych in his opening match at the season-ending tournament in London, Djokovic was simply blown away by the Spaniard in just 75 minutes.

Ferrer's stunning triumph, which follows on from a straight-sets win over Andy Murray, means he is now certain of a place in the semi-finals.

Djokovic, in contrast, must now beat compatriot Janko Tipsarevic in his final outing in Group A on Friday to make it through to the knockout stages.

"I think Novak maybe was a little bit tired today, he made a few mistakes," said Ferrer after handing the world number one just his fifth loss in 2011.

"But I played really well. I didn't make mistakes and for me this tournament is very important. Last year I didn't win a match and this year I've won two, so I'm really, really happy."

History

A shock was perhaps on the cards considering Ferrer's only victory over the Serb on an indoor court came in the same event four years ago.

Back then Ferrer went on to reach the final, and on his current form history could well repeat itself.

The fifth seed staved off a break point in the fourth game before forcing himself ahead in the seventh, a series of heavy forehands putting him 4-3 up.

A second break then gave him the set, Djokovic's 18th unforced error meaning he fell 1-0 behind for the second successive outing.

However, unlike against Berdych, the top seed was unable to battle back, raising concerns over both his form and fitness - he had arrived in the English capital having missed the Paris Masters due to a shoulder injury.

He was broken again at the start of the second set, defying two break-point chances on his own serve before Ferrer unleashed a powerful winner.

Another break gave the man from Valencia a comfortable cushion and he served out for the match, the end coming for Djokovic when he blazed a forehand well wide, summing up his poor performance.

"I have no words to explain it," Djokovic said afterwards. "It was the worst match I have played all year but all credit to David. He played really well."

Federer Brilliance Stuns Nadal

A virtuoso performance from Roger Federer saw him progress to the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals after a 6-3 6-0 win over great rival Rafael Nadal.

The reigning champion controlled the first set before raising his game further in the second to breeze past Nadal in just over an hour at the O2 Arena in London.

The victory, which included an array of brilliant winners, means world number four Federer cannot fall out of the top two places in Group B.

Second seed Nadal, meanwhile, can still progress to the last four if he wins his final match of the round-robin stage against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

"It's a very surprising result, I guess we can't always live up to our expectations and I've definitely seen Rafa play better, but I've also definitely played worse," Federer told Sky Sports after the match.

"I'm happy it went so well and I wish Rafa all the best for the rest of the group. For me it (the tournament) continues which is fantastic. I'm very excited about the way I played tonight."

He added: "Every day is different, it's a challenge to come out and play your best every day but today was one of those days, so I'm very pleased."

Rivalry

Despite Nadal holding the overall edge in the pair's famous rivalry, Federer went into the match having won all three of their previous meetings on hard courts.

The duo traded comfortable holds early on but Federer pounced in the sixth game, earning three break points before wrapping the game up as Nadal cracked in a lengthy rally.

The crowd roared their appreciation, with the Swiss flags waving again shortly afterwards when another Federer forehand winner gave him the first set.

Nadal needed to up his game urgently but instead suffered another setback in the first game of the second set as Federer drilled another sublime forehand winner down the line to secure a second break of serve.

The Spaniard, whose fitness is being questioned by some, simply could not cope with the 30-year-old's aggression and Federer made it four games in a row with another break of serve.

Nadal has built his success against Federer on his ability to pin the Swiss on his backhand but the Spaniard's forehand does not have the same bite and kick on indoor courts and his shots were being swatted away.

The French Open champion was struggling simply to get on the board in the second set but in the end was not able to prevent being blanked and Federer wrapped up his first love set against the Spaniard for four and a half years - a fitting symbol of his dominance.

Tipsarevic Replaces Injured Murray

Andy Murray has withdrawn from the ATP World Tour Finals due to a groin injury.

The world number three picked up the problem in practice the week before the season-ending tournament and was told to take a seven-to-10 days off.

However the Scot opted to play in London, going down in straight sets to Spaniard David Ferrer in his opening match on Monday afternoon.

He required treatment on the injury during the 6-4 7-5 loss and has now decided not to risk any further damage, meaning his 2011 season has come to a disappointing end on British soil.

Disappointed

"I just didn't have enough time to recover," Murray said at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

"I was just disappointed because I knew in my head I wasn't ready to play and wasn't right to play.

"I never want to pull out of tournaments, especially one of this size. But it's a decision I kind of had to make because I was probably going to do myself more damage.

"It might seem like it's a long time away but the Australian Open is six, seven weeks away.

"I could mess up my preparation for that, for the beginning of the year. That off season is so important for me and has been for the last few years of getting myself in shape.

"It's one of the few times when you can have an actual training block."

Janko Tipsarevic will take the Scot's place in Group A - the Serbian's first outing will be against Tomas Berdych on Wednesday before he then faces compatriot Novak Djokovic two days later.

"I feel sorry for Andy for not being able to finish the tournament in his home city," Tipsarevic told Sky Sports.

"But it's an opportuntity which I've got and I'm really happy for it. I hope I can make the best of it.

"When I came, I had in my mind the idea that I would play. That's the only way that you're going to have the mental sharpness you need on the court if the chance is given to you."

Ferrer Stuns Home Favourite Murray

Spain's David Ferrer stunned home favourite Andy Murray in straight sets in their opening Group A match at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

The world No.5 capitalised on an error-strewn display from Murray, which included no less than 25 unforced mistakes on the backhand-side, to record a 6-4 7-5 victory.

With the win Ferrer, who lost all three of his round robin matches at the same venue in 2010, gained revenge for two recent defeats to Murray in Tokyo and Shanghai as well as recording his first ever hardcourt triumph over the Scot.

Murray will now have to beat world number one Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych to keep alive any hopes he has of progressing from Group A.

Predictable

Diminutive Ferrer has had an impressive season, establishing himself as the leading player outside the top four, but Murray had won their previous four meetings and never lost to his opening opponent away from the clay courts.

The match quickly adopted a predictable pattern, with Ferrer drilling shots from the baseline while Murray attempted to dictate the tempo.

Murray got his reward with a break in only the third game, finally taking his fourth chance, but he promptly gave the advantage straight back with a loose series of points.

Murray has been in great form this autumn, winning titles in Bangkok, Tokyo and Shanghai, but he was struggling to get going in front of his home fans.

There were glimpses of that form in the sixth game, not least a searing backhand pass that clinched a quite brilliant point - much to the delight of an O2 Arena that was, disappointingly, far from full.

The Scot, watched by good friend David Haye, was making life difficult for himself with a poor first-serve percentage and, when he did get a chance to break in the ninth game, he was made to pay for being too passive.

Murray appeared to be struggling with a leg problem and he was certainly not moving particularly well.

Suddenly Ferrer, who was playing a very solid match, was threatening the Murray serve to take the set. One chance disappeared with a wayward forehand but on the second it was the home hope who miscued.

Fascinating

The trainer arrived to see Murray before the start of the second set, massaging and stretching out the world number three's left leg and hip.

Ferrer, the most dogged of Spanish baseliners, is certainly not the player one would want to face when struggling physically but Murray received an immediate boost with a break in the opening game after his opponent netted the simplest of backhands.

Again the 24-year-old's break did not last long, with Ferrer winning four successive points on his opponent's serve to level at 2-2, and Murray looked in real trouble when a mis-hit and net cord helped the Spaniard to two more break points in the sixth game, but this time he held on.

In the next game, Murray raised the pace to move a break ahead once more, only to give it straight back with a double fault.

It was a fascinating contest, if far from a great match, but Murray's weakness on serve eventually proved the decisive factor as Ferrer brought up a first match point at 5-6 and took it with a backhand winner.

Fish Enjoys O2 Nadal Battle

Rafael Nadal made a winning start to his latest bid for a first ATP World Tour Finals title, but was pushed all the way by Mardy Fish in a pulsating late night encounter at the O2 Arena on Sunday.

The Spaniard was taken to three sets by his American opponent before finally prevailing 6-2 3-6 7-6 (7-3) in an encounter which lasted nearly three hours.

The victory means Nadal joins old rival Roger Federer at the top of Group B after the Swiss star's victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga earlier in the day.

Nadal appeared set for a rapid success as he took advantage of countless errors from Fish to race through the first set.

The tone was set for the American as he dropped serve in the very first game of the contest and he struggled to find any consistency or rhythm with his groundstrokes.

Nadal secured a double-break after produced two stunning cross-court winners to take a 5-2 lead and duly served out the clinch the first set.

But Fish cut a rejuvenated figure in the second and, having given himself the fillip of an early break, grew into the match with each passing game.

Serving at 2-5, Nadal staved off four set points but, having survived, was then unable to take a break-back point of his own in the next as Fish served out to level up proceedings.

A sublime forehand winner on the run from outside the tramlines gave Nadal a break in the second game of the decider at which point he rushed from the court for an unscheduled break.

Fish seemed initially irked by the Spaniard's disappearing act, but Nadal was quick to apologise on his return and the American did not seem distracted as he produced a perfect drop shot to break straight back.

Fish won another break with a backhand winner from the baseline, but the American was unable to cling on to his advantage and allowed Nadal to break once again in the next game.

Nadal squandered two match points at 4-5 as Fish served to stay alive and ultimately a tie-break was required to settle matters.

A clearly fatigued Nadal - who later revealed he was troubled by a stomach upset - showed his trademark fighting spirit and always held the upper hand in the breaker after an early mini-break.

Having brought up three more match points he then accepted the first as Fish dumped an overhead backhand into the net.