Federer continues to defy age as he wins record sixth title at ATP World Tour Finals
ROGER FEDERER is the oldest man in the top 20 of the tennis rankings, yet he continues to set records. The 30-year-old Swiss beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, for a record sixth title at the season-ending Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour Finals at London’s O2 Arena on Sunday.
It was Federer’s 70th tournament victory in 100 career finals. He’s the oldest man to win the year-end title since Ilie Nastase in 1975 and, although he turned pro in 1998, he says he’s not done yet.
“It feels very special,” Federer said in a news conference after he won the match with a forehand volley. “This definitely is an amazing finish again to the season. I’ve never finished so strong. I thought I played well.”
Tsonga, 26, agreed.
“He’s the best player indoors for the moment, he’s maybe the best player ever, because he’s really quick,” Tsonga said. “He’s playing well. That’s it.”
The Frenchman produced 37 winners, seven more than Federer. The Swiss made 26 unforced errors, 15 less than his opponent.
Federer’s younger rivals in the top four failed to make it to the weekend in London. Top-ranked Novak Djokovic of Serbia, world No. 2 Rafael Nadal of Spain and third-ranked Andy Murray of Britain all left in the group stages of the tournament for the top eight singles players in the world.
Top three
Djokovic, 24, told reporters he was mentally and physically tired at the end of a long season during which he won three majors and took the No. 1 spot.
Nadal, 25, said he had lost some of his “passion” for the sport following a tough season during which he won one major, the French Open.
Murray, 24, withdrew after his opening round with a groin strain.
Federer said he’d benefited from a six-week break after the US Open in September to overcome some “doubts” in his mind after three close defeats.
The Swiss lost in the final of the French Open to Nadal, squandered a two-set lead in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon against Tsonga and failed to beat Djokovic in the semifinals of the US Open despite having two match points.
“Jo played better than me at Wimbledon,” Federer said. “Maybe not much, but enough just to come through. Same as Rafa at the French Open in the finals, Novak in the semis of the US Open. It’s fine to respect that. But I feel when it happens maybe that often, I do have to question myself that maybe I did something wrong. I’m mentally good right now.”
The fourth-ranked Federer will move back to No. 3 in the rankings today. His win over Tsonga extends his win streak since the US Open to 17 matches and includes tournament titles in Basel, Paris and now London.
The third win proved the hardest for Federer.
The Swiss star looked headed for a fairly routine victory after breaking for a 3-2 lead in the second set, hitting a forehand return winner on the line. But he faltered when serving at 5-4, going down 0-40 before Tsonga converted his third breakpoint with a volley winner.
In the tiebreaker, Federer led 5-2 and then held a match point at 6-5, but Tsonga saved it with a forehand winner before ripping a scorching forehand return on his first set point to level the match at 1-1.
Federer’s victory means he surpassed Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras, who both won five titles at the season-ending event, previously known as the Masters Cup.
“I still don’t feel like I’m better than Pete Sampras, or Lendl for that matter,” Federer said. “I still believe they are [two] of the all time greats to play the game. I’m just happy to be compared to them.”
source Business Mirror
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