ATP World Tour Finals 2014 Results: Day 7 Scores, Highlights and Recap
Novak Djokovic became the first player to book his place in the climax of this year's ATP World Tour Finals after overcoming the challenge of in-form contender Kei Nishikori in Saturday's semi-final.
The reigning champions will play Roger Federer on Sunday, after the world No. 2 beat Stan Wawrinka in a phenomenal clash of Switzerland's top players. Wawrinka had four match points but failed to convert a single one, and he lost the ensuing tiebreak in heart-breaking fashion.
Nishikori ensured that Djokovic was at least made to work for his ticket to the grand stage, but on a platform he's succeeded so often in the past, his part in Sunday's crescendo was sealed in strong fashion.
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| Novak Djokovic defeats Kei Nishikori | 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 |
| Roger Feder defeats Stanislas Wawrinka | 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 |
| Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo defeat Lukasz Kubot and Robert Lindstedt | 4-6, 6-4, 10-6 |
| Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan defeat Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin | 6-0, 6-3 |
Federer Survives Epic Semi-Final Against Wawrinka
Swiss compatriots Federer and Wawrinka served up a match for the ages, with the world No. 2 eventually emerging victorious in three sets, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6.
FedExpress survived four match points and a bit of controversy early in the third set to book his spot in Sunday's final, where he'll meet Novak Djokovic. Sports Illustrated Tennis shared the final score, and they too were taken aback with what they had just watched:
Wawrinka came out on fire and immediately broke Federer's serve in the third game, becoming the first player to manage that feat in this tournament. Federer struggled with the 29-year-old's powerful first serves, as he managed to win every single point of the ones he put into play during the opening set.
In contrast, FedExpress struggled early, hitting a number of unforced errors and getting routinely outplayed from the baseline. Wawrinka secured a second break to win the opening set, but as shared by ESPNTennis, that is no recipe for success in this rivalry:
"First set to Wawrinka 6-4 over Federer. The loser of the first set has won 3 of the last 4 meetings between these two.
— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) November 15, 2014"
Federer changed things up in the second, placing his serve wider and advancing to the net more. The tactic appeared to pay off, and aided by Wawrinka's low percentage of first serves actually put into play, a break appeared inevitable.
It took until the final game of the set, but an unforced error from Wawrinka gave Federer the opening he needed, tying things up at 1-1.
Federer now appeared to have the upper hand before a controversial ruling nearly cost him the match. A line judge called a ball out only to be overruled by the umpire, and Federer, who had just turned his back, was not aware.
Two points later, he suddenly realised he was down 40-0 in the game and he consequently surrendered his serve, via Sports Illustrated Tennis:
His fury only grew when replays confirmed the line judge had made the right call all along and the fans turned on the umpire, but to no avail. Federer's concentration was broken, and he spent the next several games bickering with the umpire instead of focusing on a comeback.
Wawrinka appeared on his way to a sensational win before failing to convert three match points on Federer's serve, and a game later, he dropped his own serve to set up a decisive tiebreak.
Federer faced one more match point but took care f business with an excellent serve into Wawrinka's body, and two points later, the win was his.
Speaking to the cameras after the match, he realised full well he got lucky, as reported by BBC Sport:
"I think I got lucky tonight. Stan played better from the baseline and that usually does the job on this court. But I kept fighting. It's tough but I'm thrilled to be in another final in London.
Novak is playing great tennis. It usually brings the best out of me, it's going to be tough but I'll give it a shot.
"
Federer and Djokovic both needed three sets to reach the final in London, but the former exhausted a lot more energy doing so.
Both have been in phenomenal form throughout the tournament, and Sunday's final has all the ingredients in place to be one for the ages.
Djokovic Beats Nishikori to Final Berth
Having dropped an average of just three games per match during the round-robin stage, Djokovic conceded a set for the first time at these 2014 ATP World Tour Finals on Saturday.
It didn't look as though Nishikori would be able to cope with the test ahead of him after Djokovic downed him 6-1 in the first set, taking just 23 minutes to place one foot in Sunday's final.
The Japanese underdog was unsteady at the serve, helping the favourite claim his advantage despite having several chances to save break point at 3-1 down, a crucial juncture of the opening set.
Djokovic opened the gap further and took a boost in confidence, breaking his foe once more before claiming the first set 6-2, Bet 365 detailing the world No. 1's prolific record at the tournament:
It speaks highly of Nishikori that he was able to bounce back in the second set, though. Showing great mental resolve against arguably the most daunting figure in the game today, he would recover and give the London crowd more reason for applause.
Tennis writer Nick Metcalfe hinted that arrogance may have gotten the better of Djokovic at this stage of the contest, a trait we're not so accustomed to see coming from his demeanour:
Djokovic had gone through his ATP World Tour Finals almost unopposed up until this point, but for the first time at the O2, he looked shaken up by Nishikori's assault, almost shocked to see a defence was even mustered.
Nishikori capitalised upon that hole in the armour to grab the second set 6-3, Mike Dickson of the Daily Mail noting the 24-year-old's success rate in deciding sets:
Momentum wouldn't quite swing for the dark horse, though, and just as he did after surrendering a game against Wawrinka in the group, Djokovic came back with a vengeance to hammer the third set home 6-0.
It was a disappointing way for things to end given Nishikori's robust mid-match performance. After the climax, Djokovic was quoted by BBC Sport, telling where it fell down for his opponent:
"Kei was playing great and this has been the best season of his life but he made some crucial double faults in the third set. Of course I will watch the semi-final [between Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka]. I'll get some popcorn and enjoy it from my bed."
In this kind of form, the world's top player can of course expect to be tipped as favourite irrespective of whether it's Federer or Wawrinka he faces.
However, both will look upon certain flags in complacency shown by Djokovic as glimmers of opportunity, Nishikori showing that the champions is capable of fault himself.
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