ATP World Tour Finals 2014: Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer match preview

A look ahead to the final match at The O2

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer (GETTY IMAGES)

We’re running out of words to compliment the way Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have been playing at the ‘final showdown’ and so the fact that the top two players will meet in the final comes as no surprise.

That doesn’t change that they had to work hard to book their final berths, as semi-finals day brought us everything we were short of this week – from uncertainty, through excitement to outbursts of happiness.

Roger Federer needed three sets to leave his countryman Stan Wawrinka heartbroken and packing last night after a three-set (4-6,7-5,7-6, (8-6)) thriller, lasting two hours and 48 minutes.

Federer had to defend four match points en route, but when the Maestro got his one chance he made no mistakes.

Djokovic chasing his third consecutive title at the season-ending event also needed three sets to outplay Kei Nishikori (6-1, 3-6, 6-0), but he did it in almost half the time (one hour and 27 minutes).

Djokovic and Federer have crossed each other 36 times in the ATP tour with Federer having a slight edge 19-17.

It is also the Swiss maestro who leads in their head-to-head count this season 3-2. On the other hand, Djokovic has been dominating indoor competitions for the last couple of years, extending his indoor winning streak to 31 matches.

One thing is certain, we are hungry for another thriller after last night, and these two rarely fail to deliver.

START: Sunday, from 6pm

PAST MEETINGS:

2014 – Shanghai (Hard) Federer won 6-4, 6-4

2014- Wimbledon (Grass) Djokovic won 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4

2014 – Monte Carlo (Clay) Federer won 7-5, 6-2

STATS:

The two players met in the final of this year-ending event once before in 2012 where Djokovic won 7-6 (6) 7-5

Both players won all three of their round robin matches. Djokovic dropped just nine games and Federer 13 in the process.

Federer has won the ATP Tour Finals a record six times compared to Djokovic’s three.

ODDS:

Djokovic to win 1.25

Federer to win 4

TV: Sky Sports 3