By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 22, 2015
Novak Djokovic did not drop serve sweeping Roger Federer, 6-3, 6-4, to capture his record fourth consecutive World Tour Finals crown.
Ashley Western/CameraSport
A celebratory shower of blue-and-silver confetti rained down from above as a grinning Novak Djokovic raised the World Tour Finals championship trophy then gazed around the roaring crowd crammed into the O2 Arena.
Hoisting the title trophy high in the air was about the only time all day the world No. 1 took his eyes off the prize and soaked up his surroundings.
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Contesting his record-extending 15th consecutive final, a focused Djokovic did not drop serve defeating Roger Federer 6-3, 6-4, to capture his record fourth consecutive World Tour Finals championship and fifth overall.
Fittingly, the Year of the Djoker concluded with closing championship chapter. Playing at the peak of his powers, Djokovic struck cleanly delivering a commanding curtain call to an absurdly successful season.
It was a year of dominance in which Djokovic won 11 titles in 15 finals, including three of the four Grand Slam crowns, posted an 82-6 record, including 59-5 on hard courts, and put major distance between the rivals he's chasing in the record books.
"I'm obviously very proud, together with my team, for the achievements of the season," Djokovic told Annabel Croft afterward. "This could not have been a better finish. Obviously, it's a very long season, but the best of my life. Without the support of those closest to me I wouldn't be managing to get to where I am. I'm just trying to enjoy every moment on the court and cherish every moment."
A back injury prevented Federer from facing Djokovic in the 2014 World Tour Finals title match. Djokovic's precision from the back court denied Federer from making a significant impression in their rematch.
Days after the Swiss swept the top seed in Tuesday's round-robin meeting snapping Djokovic's 23-match winning streak in the process, Djokovic had all the answers in every phase of the game.
"I think overall I just played better quality tennis," Djokovic told ESPN's Brad Gilbert afterward. "I had to change something I didn't play well (on Tuesday). On the other side, Roger played tactically very well and was just a better player a few days ago. Today, I returned better. I always made him play another shot, I served better and all in all it was just a better performance."
The serve set the tone. Djokovic is the game's most dangerous hard-court returner and on this day he was a more damaging server. He won 16 of 19 second-serve points (84 percent), compared to nine of 21 second-serve points (42 percent) for his opponent.
The six-time tournament champion cruised through the week without dropping a match, and while Federer asserted his all-court game for stretches, he couldn't consistently produce the key stroke to unsettle Djokovic's lock-down baseline style.
"Even though its never fun being on the not winning side it's better than not playing at all like last year," Federer told the fans afterward. "First, I'd like to tell you how happy I am that I can play today... I tried my best this week,. I thought I played some great tennis. Novak deserved to win today like he has so many times this year. Congratulations on a ridiculous year. Well done."
The 10-time Grand Slam champion raised his record against Top 10 opponents to 31-5 over the past two years. Djokovic evened his head-to-head rivalry with Federer at 22 wins apiece the day after he leveled the most prolific ATP rivalry in Open Era history with Rafael Nadal at 23-23.
This wasn't just a World Tour Finals rematch. This was a power struggle between World Tour Finalists commanders who had combined to win 10 of the last 12 season-ending championships between them.
The serve-and-volley Federer used so effectively against Stan Wawrinka's chip return in the semifinals was not nearly as incisive against Djokovic's ripping returns. Earning break point with a tremendous running angled backhand pass, Djokovic broke for 2-1 when Federer flattened a forehand into net. Pressed to 30-all in the next game, Djokovic banged an ace out wide to back up the break.
Straddling the baseline to take the ball early, Federer created break-point chances in two of Djokovic's first three service games. But when the top-seeded was stressed he had the answer cranking crosscourt backhands into Federer's weaker backhand wing. The Swiss sailed an overly-ambitious backhand down the line on his second break point; Djokovic held on for 4-2.
When Federer isn't gaining traction in the ground game, he must win free points on serve to truly trouble Djokovic. The third seed's serve was not as sharp as it was in his straight-sets sweep of Djokovic on Tuesday. Federer served 56 percent and won just six of 13 points on his second serve in the first set. Federer did not hit an ace until the 10th game.
Playing the high-low combination creatively, Djokovic lofted a lob that Federer answered brilliantly snapping off a high backhand volley. Djokovic dipped a drive at his feet forcing Federer to shovel a half-volley miss as Djokovic seized a one-set lead.
Winning the first set is an essential element in this rivalry: Federer won the opening set in 21 of 22 career victories over Djokovic and the first-set winner had won the last eight clashes between the pair.
Credit Federer for hanging tough. The six-time champion roared back from 0-40 down in the eighth game with his most dynamic tennis of the day. Federer won five straight points holding for 4-all and rousing the pro-Federer crowd eager to see him force a deciding set.
Two games later, Federer netted a relatively routine backhand volley to face double championship point. When the Swiss scattered his second double fault beyond the box, Djokovic collected his fifth World Tour Finals title and the champion's check of $1.05 million all on coach Boris Becker's 48th birthday.