World number one Rafael Nadal will have a chance to win his very first ATP World Tour Finals title on Monday after the Mallorcan dispatched six-time champion Roger Federer 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals on Sunday. This is the first time that Nadal had beaten Federer in their five meetings at the season-ending event. Nadal came close to winning the season-ending event in 2010 but lost to Federer in the final.
“For me, it is more important be in the final in the last tournament of the year than [to] have a chance to win against Roger,” said Nadal.
“I hope to be ready for that for the last remaining match. I know it’s going to be a difficult one. But I will try my best. I need to play my best match to have a chance tomorrow.”
Nadal has since compiled a 75-6 match record this season since he came back from a seven-month long injury break in February. He won two Grand Slam titles (French Open, US Open) and five ATP Masters 1000 trophies. He has won a total of 10 titles this year and as a result, he was voted as the Comeback Player of the Year in the ATP World Tour Awards.
“I think Roger played really aggressive, that’s my feeling,” said Nadal. “[At] the beginning, his serve worked very well. My feeling is in the first set, he played very well. So in my opinion until 4-4, he was playing better than me.”
“I saved a few break points, very important ones, and then I played a good game when I had the break… The key of the match was probably at 5-5, after he had the break back in the first set, when I was serving for the set. I got the break another time to be 6-5 in my favour. That was very important.”
Federer gave his assessment of the match.
“I went for it when I had a chance for a break point in the first set,” said Federer. “Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I did. I just struggled to stay consistent enough throughout the match and that’s why he deserved to win. He was better today.”
“He was playing more consistent,” the Swiss star added. “He was playing more solid. I just couldn’t come up with the shots when I needed them, forehand or serve, moving forward.”
Federer will end his season with a 45-17 record and the Swiss Maestro is looking forward to improve his rankings by the 2014 season.
