NEWSPost India

Four-time former Barclays ATP World Tour Finals champion Roger Federer notched his 30th career win at the season finale Sunday at The O2 in London as he dismissed Spanish contender David Ferrer 6-1, 6-4 in Group B. The 29-year-old Federer is making his ninth straight appearance at the season finale and improved to a 30-7 event record. He won back-to-back titles in 2003-04 and 2006-07, and reached the semi-finals (l. to Davydenko) in the event’s first year in London last year.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Federer, speaking about the elite eight-man event. “The players love it. We’re all here. It’s really prestigious. That’s what it’s supposed to be and has been for 40 years. I’ve been a part of them nine times already. “Having the [Barclays ATP] World Tour Finals here in London makes great sense because it’s in a great time zone, in a country that loves sports, especially tennis. I think it’s great for the fans to see that. All the sessions are basically sold out, there’s such a run on tickets. So it’s hard to choose a better place than London, I feel.”

In a rematch of the 2007 final in Shanghai, Federer raced to a 4-0 lead and despite dropping his serve in the fifth game, comfortably wrapped up the first set in 34 minutes. Ferrer, famed for his resilience and fighting qualities, engineered five break point chances in the second set, including two in the final game, but could not convert and Federer sealed victory in 87 minutes courtesy of a service break in the fifth game. “I thought it was a tough match,” admitted Federer. “Looking at the score line, it doesn’t reflect how tough it was. There were many close games, especially in the second set. Possibly the first set could have gone faster, too. “All in all, I’m really happy the way I was able to get out of the first match here, starting off with a feisty Top 10 player is never easy. It’s sort of a first round, that’s why I’m really pleased with tonight’s performance.”

Since suffering a quarter-final exit at Wimbledon in July, Federer has been in rampant form, losing only four matches in a spell that saw him win three titles in Cincinnati (d. Fish), Stockholm (d. Mayer) and Basel (d. Djokovic), and reach the finals in Toronto and Shanghai, losing to Murray both times. He is chasing his fifth title of the year, having also won his 16th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January (d. Murray). Federer next will face home favourite Andy Murray, whom he defeated in three sets at The O2 last year also in the round robin stage. The 28-year-old Ferrer lamented his poor serving in his 11th defeat in 11 meetings with World No. 2 Federer. “I think I serve very bad through all the match, and this was the key,” said the Spaniard, who won only 41 per cent of points behind his second serve. “With Roger, [it] is impossible to take the chance if you [don’t] serve good. The first set, I play a little bit nervous. The second set I improve my game. But Roger, he serve really good when I have one or two chances.”

Ferrer is making his second appearance at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals after returning to the Top 8 in the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings this season with a 60-22 match record. The Valencia resident won two ATP World Tour 500 titles in Acapulco (d. Ferrero) and Valencia (d. Granollers) and reached the finals in Buenos Aires (l. to Ferrero), Rome (l. to Nadal) and Beijing (l. to Djokovic).