'Lucky' Federer hangs tough to set up Djokovic showdown
Six-times champion survives late-night Swiss semi-final thriller against Stanislas Wawrinka to set up ATP World Tour Finals showdown with world number one
Roger Federer saved four match points on Saturday to ensure the most successful player at the ATP Finals will take on the best player of the season in a mouthwatering final.
Federer, a six-time champion, fought for nearly three hours to reach a ninth final in a thrilling 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-6) win over his Davis Cup teammate, Stan Wawrinka. The 17-time grand slam champion will face the top-ranked Novak Djokovic on Sunday.
I got lucky. Stan played better from the baseline and that usually does the job on this court
Having swept his group imperiously, Federer was the favourite, but met strong resistance from the Australian Open champion, who failed to cope with nerves in the end.
Wawrinka had Federer under constant pressure from the baseline, and kept his composure until he served for the match at 5-4 in the deciding set. He dropped serve following three clumsy approaches to the net on match points.
“For sure that game at the end I was nervous,” said a devastated Wawrinka. “You make some choice, especially when you’re tired, when you’re nervous. Just wanted to go for it and not wait for mistake.”
Federer saved the fourth match point with a service winner in the tiebreak then converted his first chance to seal the semi-final with a drop shot volley that Wawrinka could not return.