ATP World Tour Finals: Victorious Federer insists Djokovic still favourite

Swiss star ends world number one’s 23-match winning streak

LONDON: Novak Djokovic is still the favourite to claim a fourth consecutive ATP World Tour Finals title according to Roger Federer, despite him ending the Serb’s 23-match winning streak at the O2 Arena on Tuesday.

Serbian world number one Djokovic had won his last 15 matches at the venue, his last 38 under a roof and has been untouchable since losing to Federer in Cincinnati in August.

But with his timing well off, he was brushed aside 7-5, 6-2 by the 17-time Grand Slam champion, who is already through to the semi-finals, probably as winner of the Stan Smith Group, with another round-robin match still to come.

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Federer fully expects Djokovic to recover from the jolting defeat, however, and he may well have to beat him again at the weekend if he is to claim a seventh title at the ATP’s season-ending showpiece event.

“For me, Novak is still the favourite for the tournament,” Federer told reporters. “He’s the heavy favourite in the [Tomas] Berdych match [on Thursday], in my opinion. Then he should make his way to the semis somehow. I don’t know exactly what he needs. And he’ll be the favourite in that probably, too, with the year he’s had.”

Federer has now won 50 matches at the tournament, although he had said he was not expecting to beat Djokovic — an odd admission from a player who now leads their head-to-head 22-21.

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Federer even managed to strike a blow before a ball was struck, sitting on the court-side chair which already had Djokovic’s towel draped on it. Asked about it afterwards, he joked, “I’m not going to be pushed by a towel. I sat on that chair when I walked out against Tomas. I said, I’d like to sit here again.”

Djokovic also saw the funny side of it. “I don’t think it was a tactical approach,” he said. “Messing me around before even the first ball.”

Federer has two round-robin wins already with Djokovic and Kei Nishikori on one each.

Djokovic will need to beat winless Tomas Berdych on Thursday to guarantee a semi-final place.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2015.

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