Federer cruises through ATP semi

  • 16/11/2015
Roger Federer will face Novak Djokovic in the ATP final (Getty)
Roger Federer will face Novak Djokovic in the ATP final (Getty)

Six-time ATP winner Roger Federer strolled to a 6-4 6-2 win against Tomas Berdych on his way to the final, where he will face Novak Djokovic.

Federer and Djokovic have dominated the prestigious season-ending event for the last decade, lifting the trophy eight times between them in the last nine years.

Both believe they can take home the silverware this year and their performances on the opening day of the tournament suggested that belief isn't misplaced.

Djokovic arrived at London's O2 Arena hoping to win the title for a fifth time and in the process become the first player to lift the trophy four years in a row.

The world No.1 showed why he is the firm favourite to do just that, demolishing Nishikori in 65 minutes in the tournament's opening match to record his 23rd successive win and his 79th victory in 84 matches this year.

Federer, the oldest Tour Finals qualifier since Andre Agassi in 2005, is undeniably in the twilight of his career, yet the 34-year-old is still good enough to compete for the sport's top prizes and is in the hunt for a semi-final berth once again after easing past Berdych in 69 minutes.

Only Djokovic has won more Tour-level titles than Federer's six this year and it was the brilliant Serb who denied the world number three when they met in the Wimbledon and US Open finals.

Federer has made a habit of producing landmark achievements at the Tour Finals and, in a testament to his astonishing longevity at the highest level, this was his record 14th straight appearance at an event he has won a record six times in nine final appearances.

Berdych initially seemed capable of causing an upset when a pair of Federer double faults contributed to the Swiss being broken in the second game.

But the 17-time Grand Slam winner brushed off that sluggish opening with an immediate response as he hit back in the next game when Berdych slipped on break point.

A hard-fought set swung Federer's way when an error-strewn service game from Berdych gifted him a decisive second break at 4-4.

With the first set wrapped up, Federer tightened his grip with another break in the first game of the second set.

That effectively ended Berdych's hopes and Federer cruised to the finish line with one more break.

AFP