Federer Faces Tsonga For ATP Finals Title, Who Wins?

by Sean Randall | November 27th, 2011, 12:20 am
  • 175 Comments

Things went according to form on Saturday and when the dust settled the two best indoor players this fall, Roger Federer and JW Tsonga, will meet for the third straight Sunday in November, this one for the prestigious title of the ATP Finals.

Federer wasn’t his sharpest today, but managed to roast David Ferrer for a 12th straight time beating the Spaniard 7-5, 6-3. And in doing so Federer moved into his 100th career final and back to the No. 3 ranking.

“I thought it was a tough match,” said Federer. “[I] could clearly see why David beat Murray and Djokovic here – he takes the ball really early, is able to generate great angles off his plays [and is] super consistent. Obviously, [it] was a key 5-4 game for me to hold and then break the next game. Then, actually, break again early on in the second set. That was a crucial sort of 15-20 minutes for me. I’m happy I was able to decide the match right there.”


Tsonga posted nearly the same scoreline as Federer, easing past Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5 to continue his hot run this fall.

“It’s a good victory for me because I was really tight,” said Tsonga. “I didn’t play a good tennis, but I won. This is the goal of this sport. I did it tonight. So I’m just really happy to reach this final.”

The final tomorrow with be the third meeting of the month between Federer and Tsonga, and remarkably their 8th of the season (5-2 Federer)!

Federer is once again mopping up when his rivals are tired, injured or just disinterested. And he rolls into the finals as the favorite spurred by a 16-match winning streak with titles in his last two tournaments, plus he holds a 7-3 lead over the Frenchman in their series.

“I’ve maybe had some easier matches against [Tsonga],” said Federer. “But lately, they’ve all been very tough, very physical. He’s improved a lot. He’s really cemented himself into the Top 10, now even into the Top 5. I expect him to have another very solid and good season if things fall in place for him. He’s one of the best returners we have in the game. He’s got great mental toughness. He’s extremely fit.”

Tsonga may be on the short end of his head-to-head against Federer, but he has beaten the Swiss twice this year in big matches at Wimbledon and Canada. The guy is fearless and shouldn’t get overwhelmed by the occasion.

“All the time [it’s] really exciting to play against Roger,” said Tsonga. “It’s going to be really special here, for my first final. It’s going to be an amazing atmosphere I think on the court, and I like that. I’m sure I will respect Roger a lot and play my best tennis.”

While Novak Djokovic hold up the Finals title would have been a storybook end to an incredible year, Federer or Tsonga walking away with the final prize isn’t so bad either.

With so many of the numbers favoring Federer tomorrow, I’m giving Tsonga a shot here. Can Roger really beat the same guy three straight Sundays and stay perfect against him indoors? Eventually it’s going to come to end and I think Tsonga’s going to put up a good fight.

This last half of 2011 Tsonga has been playing Top 3 tennis. And the conditions, the surface and the fact he’ll be the underdog should help Tsonga, but I’m sticking with Federer. The momentum is on his side and indoors he’s won 32 of his last 33. It’s two more sets and I think this close to the end Roger finishes the season once again on a high note.

“It’s obviously a special occasion for me tomorrow playing my hundredth final, possibly winning my 70th winning my sixth at the World Tour Finals,” said the 30-year-old Federer. “That would be a record.”

The Federer-Tsonga final will be carried live on ESPN2 TV at 12:30pm ET.


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175 Comments for Federer Faces Tsonga For ATP Finals Title, Who Wins?

andrea Says:

can hardly wait!


Michael Says:

It would be a close match with the edge to Federer considering his recent form. Federer in 3 tough sets is my prediction.


WTF Says:

Federer couldn’t have asked for a better draw. The top 3 players did not qualify for the semis and Federer gets Ferrer and then Tsonga. He manages to avoid the group with Djokovic also, not that Djoker is playing his best at the moment.

It’s practically gift wrapped for him.


Adam Says:

@WTF I wouldnt say that. Federer has simply been the best player this tournament. Its not even a question. Tsonga has been a clear second best and federer had him in his group. Fed is the only one who is still undefeated in the tourn. He played Nadal and stomped him, and lets be honest, if he played Djokovic he would have crushed him for sure. Its nice for him that none of the other top four players were able to step-up for this tournament, sure. But fed has not had a favorable draw or anything.


Rick Says:

Tsonga the winner!


Rick Says:

I agree with WTF!


Mr Larvey Says:

I cannont understand how anyone could ever get an easy draw in WTF? Only the eight best players in the world are present, so how could anyone’s draw be a walk in the park? In my opinion even Fed ain’t that good…


scineram Says:

I’m very worried. Roger was not clutch against David. If Jo plays like only he can he will win this. Roger has to play like he did against Rafa. If Jo serves well he will be hard to break, like Wimbledon.


Nims Says:

The biggest advantage Jo has against Fed compared to other opponents (excluding top 4) is his touch at the net. Roger cannot drag him to net to have an easy pass. Also he cannot use his BH flicks or slices to the volleyers leg, since Tsonga is capable of playing a perfect drop shot on all those balls. It’s going to start as an even match with a slight edge to Jo, as Roger’s form seems to be getting bad by each match (ofcourse he is winning) but his game is not as good as in Basel and Paris except Nadal’s match.


Nims Says:

WTF..I believe Group B was considered tougher group of the two with Nadal, Roger and Tsonga in them. Not sure how come it has become a easy draw now. This resembles the weak era concept. Once a guy dominates, it looks like others are weak. But in reality it’s not the case.


Kimberly Says:

hope its a nice match, im off to play some tennis myself so i will miss but if its good maybe watch the replay tonight!


opus Says:

I canĀ“t really see how Federer is playing any worse than three or even five years ago, which is what some people have kept insinuating lately, referring to the Federer “decline”.


Kimmi Says:

federer is playing the same BUT he is losing concentration more, that leads to playing badly, making UEs etc.

Anyways, hope he wins today, tsonga is tough if things are clicking. Fingers crossed!


grendel Says:

got it on a nutshell, Kimmi, imo. And b.t.w. – Tsonga an easy draw? The way Tsonga is playing now, he is tough for ANYONE, including Nadal and Djokovic at their best.


dari Says:

That quote about previous matches maybe being easier is about ferrer not Tsonga. ” top 5, great return, extremely fit” that’s daveed!

Tough match today.
Those saying the draw opened up, you are exactly wrong. Rafa or novak would have been a gift to Roger at this point, as they are not playing as well.
Jo, even though he is not as big a name/rank as rafa or novak , is simply better than them at this time and that is what counts. roger certainly got the tougher opponent and i hope he takes care of this one!

Kimberly, I must move south to warmer climate, had thanksgiving in such a place and the whole family played tennis on day after thxgiving OUTSIDE. Can’t do that in nyc!
That’s the life.


nguyenimproved Says:

TSONGA WILL WIN EASILY.

federer has a 16 match unbeaten streak but that is a false positive as he has beaten garbage players at the tail end of a season where nadal, murray and djok were injured.

tsonga will overpower him and not allow breaks in concentration like fed had in the ferrer match to go unpunished.

tsonga may be dumb brute but he has the power to hurt fed. fed with his old age only has his serve and variety. but variety can only get you so far.

lights out fed.


Skeezerweezer Says:

Rick, queen of the Fedhaters unite! “fed with his old age only has his serve and variety”. So he beat Rafa with just that I guess? LOL.

Easy draw…Haha…look…the old man is there, the top 3 couldn’t beat lesser ranked players. Nuff said.

Fed will have his hands full today. Tsonga has takin his game to the next level this year. It will be interesting to see if he can bring this type of controlled aggression into AO.

That said, Go Fed!


grendel Says:

But the question , it seems to me,nguyenimproved,is will Fed allow himself these breaks in concentration? If he does, then agreed – lights out. But if he maintains focus? We have a match!


autoFilter Says:

@nguyenimproved

So wait, what you’re saying is that the “dumb brute” of a “garbage player” will certainly defeat Federer since Federer has remained unbeaten by the “dumb brute” as well as all the other “garbage players” throughout the tail end of the season? Quite the compelling argument.

For reasons entirely independent of the above, I do feel this one could go either way.


Stella Says:

The new rivlary Fedtonga!!!


Brando Says:

Should tsonga win, then next year rather than a top 4, I think we shall look at a top 6 that is capable of beating any member of that group: nole, rafa, fed, andy, jo wilfred and the man who is close to getting there, JM DEL POTRO! That would be most amazing for tennis, so for today go jo and win. A big one to add credence to your GS claims!


leo Says:

Head says Tsonga, heart says Roger! Hopefully heart wins out :-)


alison hodge Says:

brando i agree it would bring added excitement into the mens side,competition is whats great for the sport not domination,jmdp hmm i dont know though i think he did fantastic to get back into the top 20 after his career threatening injury but its been over two years now since he won the uso,and tennis has now moved on,and things get harder each year not easier,dont get me wrong its still early days,but hes didnt really make much of an impression in the slams this year,the good thing is hes still young so at least he has time on his side,time will tell i suppose.


Brando Says:

@Alison: yes I agree that competition brings excitment. But I disagree re jmdp. He’s got everything needed to be number 1 except the fitness, and being positive for him, thankfully he’s done a whole season without any major issue. IF he looks after himself then I think going forward, he’ll be the one to TRULY rattle the nadal- djokovic GS train. Del potro was immensely impressive against nole when he was unbeaten in set 1 and 2, and then against rafa at wimby on his weakest surface. That too on his comeback trail. He’s got the mental strength and the big game, he’s climbed the mountain once already can do so again I feel. And to top it all off, he’s the youngest one out of that bunch!


skeezerweezer Says:

Stella.

FedTonga! Love it! ;)


Kimmi Says:

WOW! nestor/mirnyi are on fire. didnt lose a match this week. Congrats for winning WTF!!

Hope federer who also did not lose a match this week prevails next.


Leon Says:

It’s hard to suppose Roger “to allow himself these breaks in concentration” today. The last match of the season with all those records in context, and he is not Dolgopolov, after all. I incline to slightly shift the prospect, grendel, smth like: If he does, then we have a match. But if he maintains focus, then lights out – for Tsonga. Of course, age is a big disadvantage, but still – they belong to too different tiers.


jane Says:

Yes! Nestor (with Mirnyi of course) adds to his amazing accolades again.


alison hodge Says:

brando yeah i see what you mean,and i hope your right and im wrong,but like you say his fitness is the key,and he did seem to get quite breathless in the games that you mentioned,even in best of thee sets he was doubling over after some points,still if he works on his fitness he could still be a factor in grand slams,however ill reserve judgement for now,jmo thats all.


Gannu Says:

So Fed fans all set to go…last match of the season…let it end on a good note…Come on feddy bear…onto ur 6th wtf title


grendel Says:

Leon – the whole concentration business is fairly perplexing. You’d think, on important occasions, focus would always be maintained. Doesn’t seem to be the case.


Kimmi Says:

sloppy early on here..c’mooon!


Kimmi Says:

federer serving at 30% so far. hope he can bring it up!


grendel Says:

Fed going for the soft approach, to deny Tsonga pace? This going to be the pattern?


Kimmi Says:

wow! tsonga is so relaxed today. he has a better start imo.


Gannu Says:

tsonga has gone mad…


Gannu Says:

he is simply unreturnable on serves and fedex is just being thrashed on his serves…fed just has to hang on somehow and wait for some slight drop in tsonga’s serve….thats the only way i see him winning this match…some how keep holding and go for the kill when the time comes…Tsonga seems damn tough nut to crack and is attacking with brute power


Kimmi Says:

federer games are hard to hold while tsonga is holding in a flash..hmmm!


jane Says:

Seems like a good idea, i.e., to slow it down versus Tsonga.


Kimmi Says:

I also think gannu, federer might need to serve better..he is not accurate enough on those first serves imo. then maybe tsonga is returning too good and is just me feeling federer not serving well.


Kimmi Says:

another tough game to hold..c’mon fed! hang in there.


Daniel Says:

Agree Kimmi,

All Fed’s game went 30-30. But that’s is Tsonga all or nothing style, if 5 ball goes in in straight Fed will be in trouble.


Gannu Says:

Seriously i am wondering wats bitten tsonga..he is just unrelenting today…Kimmi dont think fed is serving that badly…may be firt serve pctage is not good but second serves are also pretty decent…but tsonga seems untouchable on his serve…fed has merely won one single point o tsonga’s serve… he has been that dominant…somehow fed hanging by a thread…tsonga’s attitude speaks a lot…he said even is he has to two lose his limbs legs etc he will give everything to wi this! Man he really meant it


Daniel Says:

Wow, how he got the first volley?!


Kimmi Says:

BREAK!! Go fed!


Gannu Says:

WAT A GAME BY FEDEX… STUNNING…JUST WHEN I THOUGHT FED IS IN DIRE STRAITS HE PLAYS A STUNNING GAME…


Mr. Larvey Says:

That return game from Fed was insane!


Gannu Says:

Come on Fed….hold on..maintain ur calm


Gannu Says:

Just 3 more good serves..come on feddy bear


Kimmi Says:

federer hold please. too many shanks!


Gannu Says:

Oh God…fed please dont play this sloppy game after that fantatsic break..do something


Gannu Says:

tsonga has again gone mad… all or nothing style


Gannu Says:

this is really getting tough and tricky,,,,Hold on fed please .. u need a good start


Kimmi Says:

tsonga with lot of BH down the line. but what is fed doing?


Gannu Says:

thats awesome feddy bear… pls pls pls convert this


Gannu Says:

he did it… ufff that was just nerve wrecking kimmi… the score 6-3 is very very deceptive… dont think anyone else could have tackled tsonga the way feddy bear did it..neways match is far from finished,…. hope fed finishes this off in two staright sets


Kimmi Says:

YES! but big PHEW! tsonga is playing well. fed needs to stop those bad approach shots..tsonga is passing him a lot.


Humble Rafa Says:

Now, expecting Federer to get a break early in the 2nd set, then expecting a Wimbledon repeat.

Brace up, Fans of the Arrogant One.


grendel Says:

I thought the 1st point of this last game was a lapse in concentration. Federer gave Tsonga a sort of nothing shot, meant to go to the line presumably, but very short, and Tsonga dispatched it down the line for easy bh winner. That could so easily have cost Fed – ‘nother similar shot in the game, round about deuce. Maybe tension rather than lack of focus, not sure. Fed a bit fortunate to get set, imo.


Leon Says:

Unbelievable. And very funny (sure, not for Tsonga).
To play crap except one great game – and to win a set.
Far from the end, though (I hope).


Kimmi Says:

hope federer can relax now he has a set. wow! what a rally, tsonga is playing well..


jane Says:

Still love Daniel’s description of Tsonga’s style as suicidal. He is an all or nothing kind of player.


Gannu Says:

Tsonga just isnt make any errors…?? thats surprising…Feddy bear just has to get all his best to play so well


Kimmi Says:

TSONGA!!! DFs


Kimmi Says:

gannu, the moment you praise stonga, he comes up with horrible shots.

Hope fed can break here..


Daniel Says:

Humm, This is the kind of game that Tsonga loves to pump himself up


Kimmi Says:

big serves to save those break points. it is good to have such a big weapon.

federer should try not to go away here…serve well


Daniel Says:

Jane,

That’s why is so exciting to watch him play. When he reaches that nirvana, he can make Nadal and Fed look like Sunday players in the neighbor club!:)


jane Says:

Lol, yes, he is definitely exciting. Like a roller coaster. I feel like Fed is just more steady, though, and I think he will prevail.


Gannu Says:

thats AWESOME fed…. just keep holding on….as simple as that ;-) and the championship is urs!!!!


Daniel Says:

Wow, That return was spot on, he moved earlier and it seems the ball was exactly where he wanted to.

Can’t see Tsonga stopping Fed now, after 2 straight service games where Fed had BP.


jane Says:

There is the break, indeed.


Kimmi Says:

i missed the break point..ah. Go fed!


Daniel Says:

Tsonga is bold, he made the same shot he missed earlier on a BP that could’ve cost him the match!


Kimmi Says:

OK, feds needs to hold 2 more times, just two more times pls


Gannu Says:

come on feddy bear… now serve for the match please and close it out…just dont want any heart attacks…! u havent won any gslam this year…so this is ur psuedo gslam of this year;-)


Kimmi Says:

serving for the match should be tough..as long as fed does not do what he did when serving for first set he should be OK. hope he left the best for last.


Gannu Says:

yuck this is not looking good at all kimmi ;-( Disgusted…WHY and WTF????


Kimmi Says:

oh lord! danger time here..fed! go go go


Kimmi Says:

0-40

OMG!


Gannu Says:

shi&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& wat the hell is going on…


Daniel Says:

Feerer can’t finish perfect, 3 BP tsonga now and first serve deserted Fed


Gannu Says:

come on fed just three more points pls


Kimmi Says:

WWOW! federer in huge trouble now. Hope he can still play well!


Daniel Says:

Damm, he crushed Fed’s second serve!


Gannu Says:

I AM MAJORLY PISSED OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF AND IF FED LOSES THIS SET I AM OFF….REALLY DISGUSTED AND IRRITATED …WANT TO SLAM MY KEYBORAD


Kimmi Says:

gannu, federer is probably pissed off too. what he needs is a major CALM down!


Daniel Says:

Drama, drama, drama…


Daniel Says:

S…t, Tsona should have stopped and challenged.


Gannu Says:

shi…federer is so defensive and tentative on this BP


Kimmi Says:

federer was not aggressive in that point..he must be mad


Gannu Says:

feel like thrashing that tsonga monkey… really this is all brute power….


Kimmi Says:

wrong foot..this is important game..no first serve though..c’mon fed

what a game to hold. federer oh dear, hope he can hold next.


Gannu Says:

i am mad kimmi… just hope somehow fed pulls this out maintains his calm and doesnt break down…


Kimmi Says:

gannu, that is not very nice to call tsonga that


Daniel Says:

Well, Fed better hold to force a tiebreak. Amazing how Fed serving for the match lost his first serve and Tsonga didn’t miss one attacking return in that game?! That’s why is so had to close out a match, we saw this several times this year, with other players as well.


jane Says:

I like Fed’s chances in the tiebreak.


Gannu Says:

wat a horrendous time to serve DF..relly cheap


Gannu Says:

sorry kimmi… shudnt have called tsonga that…just was in general very angry at federer having screwd his chances…


Gannu Says:

2 of last 13 first serves by fed that is very poor serving in crunch situations


Daniel Says:

Fed only managed 2 out of his last 13 first serves


Daniel Says:

3, with this one. That’s why Tsonga was able to return in the match.


Gannu Says:

oh god… this is really getting tensed now… come on fed finsih this off


Daniel Says:

Well, can he close it out this time, which 2 serves?!


Gannu Says:

enuff is enuff…. Federer if you want to give ur fans heart attack then i am sorry… i am leaving


Gannu Says:

why cant fed do that in two consec serves…. god pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls


Daniel Says:

Finally, an ACE!!!


Gannu Says:

I am damn frustrated now.. i just can no longer bear to c federer lose with match points now… this is getting now a bit too much the last 2 bloody years…too much


Daniel Says:

Oh no, USO 10′ and 11′ bad memories


Daniel Says:

Damm it!!! Fed should stop trying to ace and just put first serve on court, because the way he is serving, the match is Tsonga’s now!


jane Says:

Topsy-turvy tiebreak: thought for sure Fed had it in the bag at 5-2.


Gannu Says:

Bye guys its been one misrebale year for fed fans… I am off… i have no hopes and fed will now fade off his confidence now shattered… just real illuck these days ..cant get one first serve when he wants it and lands up serving the worst in the past 15-20mins…


Kimmi Says:

I went away when the tie break started. hoping for a fed win. ah, i am devastated.

Humble rafa could be right!


jane Says:

Fed serves first in the third, though, which puts a little more pressure on JWT.


Brando Says:

@gannu: that is despicable calling tsonga that! Completely out of order!


Daniel Says:

And Federer have several other games to break Tsonga and played too casual. He should go for broke the way his mind was versus Nadal. like the guy in the audience screamed to Federer when Nadal was serving 0-4 BD down: “Finish him off”.

Fed didn’t, now the first games will be crucial. ANd he never was able to get the sixth, he lost the sixth Wimby in a row, the sixth US open in a row, and now the shot at 6 WTF record.


Humble Rafa Says:

Fed could return to old form and lose serve early. Just saying.

It is not always a good idea to choke at the end, you have to mix it up.

Lipitor is offering a 20% discount to Fed fans (loyal customers).


Humble Rafa Says:

Also hoping that Fed gets less than 10% of Tsonga serves back this set.


Kimmi Says:

its best to watch this when it is over. i feel like the heart attack is coming.


grendel Says:

there I was, thinking Tsonga was suffering from a severe bout of Murray-itis when suddenly Federer implodes again. Could not get a first serve when he wanted. But I should have known better – Murrayitism is a severe disease for which there is no known cure – once the player is afflicted by it, he crumbles. Tsonga, on the other hand, has always had this capacity to turn death into life, defeat into victory. Remember that 5-1 Fed lead and Tsonga still won? People at the time didn’t take it seriously, called it just a sort of silly result, whatever that means. On the contrary, it was a Tsonga result. Tsonga can do these things. If you lose your concentration – or nerve – against Tsonga, unlike Murray, he WILL punish you.


jane Says:

Hyperbolist!


Kimmi Says:

federer was 5-1 in the tie break.. unbelievable.


grendel Says:

Gannu has apologised, when emotion gets the better of you, all kinds of crap can come out – Gannu made the error of not keeping it to himself. I’m sure he deeply regrets it, and he doesn’t need further punishment.


grendel Says:

last wordist!


jane Says:

Kimmi was it 5-1? I saw 5-2, but may’ve missed something as only half watching.


Kimmi Says:

i dont know jane..i didnt watch the breaker and i read grendel post it says 5-1. so miserable :( 5-2 is equally the same. horrible.


Kimmi Says:

federer needs to fight, i dont know how he can do that but he needs to.


Mr. Larvey Says:

It wasn’t 5-1, it was 5-2. Only one minibreak…


Daniel Says:

Love Fed scream. He was holding this one for a while!!!


jane Says:

Good match: congrats to Fed & fans. Very strong end to the season.


Kimmi Says:

federer won..ubelivable I have to watch it later.

Congats fed


Leon Says:

Great man, great champion. I’m speechless.


Daniel Says:

Uhuuuuuuu!
70 titles, 6 WTF and a little spice for the star of next year, 17 match winning streak.

Wow!!!


Kimmi Says:

Great for tosnga to give fed fans a heart attack. So happy federer came back to win. federer was strong mentally today, to lose match points is not good..hope you have a great 2012 season.

ah, so happy!


Humble Rafa Says:

Fed has to be the only player that his fans don’t hesistate to loathe.

How do you win and still piss off so many ppl?


racquet Says:

Congrats to Federer. Shame this win will have an asterisk attached – but he’ll take it just the same.


Humble Rafa Says:

Shame this win will have an asterisk attached

My every loss has an medical asterisk next to it. I can tell you from experience, you are overestimating the asterisk. People tend to forget. True story.


Krishna Says:

Congrats to Federer!! 6th YEC for him..unbelievable. 70 out of 100 Finals matches won :)


Contemperory Says:

Congrats Fed..

Kimmi, Gannu.. madmax, swiss maestro..all fed fans. time to celebrate..so happy for this 4 title, 17 match winning streak..

Tsonga really fought and congrats to him for his effort.


Kimmi Says:

Humble rafa :) :) so fanny.

asterisk!!


Gordo Says:

In a continual effort to punish those who believe that their arrogant posts will just get buried in time if they are wrong (which is true, but what the heck) I have selected (and there were a LOT of you who I could have picked) one of the earlier ones from this thread –

+++++++++++++++
nguyenimproved Says:
TSONGA WILL WIN EASILY.

federer has a 16 match unbeaten streak but that is a false positive as he has beaten garbage players at the tail end of a season where nadal, murray and djok were injured.

tsonga will overpower him and not allow breaks in concentration like fed had in the ferrer match to go unpunished.

tsonga may be dumb brute but he has the power to hurt fed. fed with his old age only has his serve and variety. but variety can only get you so far.

lights out fed.

+++++++++++++++

Time for another name change I guess, huh nguyenimproved?

But you were partially right – the younger Fed of 04-07 would have won this in straight sets. Only 3 of 9 on breaks – he should work on that in the off season. :D

Congratulations Fed and his followers. The “old” man ain’t set to retire yet.


El Flaco Says:

SEVENTY!!!!


Humble Rafa Says:

Only 3 of 9 on breaks – he should work on that in the off season. :D

3 of 9 is the result of working on break point conversion rates for 9 straight years (on season and off season). If he tries any harder, I am afraid it will get worse.


steve-o Says:

Congrats Roger! Six times year-end champion!

Tsonga fought so hard and played very smart tennis but Federer dug deep to finish the match. A great end to the season!


Gannu Says:

thanks contemperory and tsonga is suh a lovely guy..not because he lost..in general even when he defeated fed at wimby i didnt feel bad much becaue i thought fedez lost to a player who is good at heart…. neways has been great end..hope fed atleast takes one or two gslams next year….

Bye guys…will see u next year …merry chrustmas and have a great new year…cheers


Gannu Says:

really repent for having called tsonga by that name,.,, take back everything ill that i said abt him!
Cheers


dari Says:

TREMENDOUS!!!

I think winning after missing match points and serving for the set is a huge confidence boost, better than the straight sets!

Congratulations to Roger Federer, history maker!

Also did you hear what he said at the end- “YOU gu
ys are amazing” he loves tennis and tennis fans


dari Says:

TREMENDOUS!!!

I think winning after missing match points and serving for the set is a huge confidence boost, better than the straight sets!

Congratulations to Roger Federer, history maker!

Also did you hear what he said at the end- “YOU gu
ys are amazing” he loves tennis and tennis fans


dari Says:

Whoops! The excitement may have caused a double click

GO ROGER KEEP IT GOING!


bstevens Says:

Congrats to Fed for winning his 6th title here. For a while it seemed like he would find a way to lose after not serving it out in the 2nd and blowing the match point. Loved seeing the emotion from Federer in the last game. And congrats to Tsonga for pushing the match to the distance and playing with so much passion. Good stuff :)


grendel Says:

Kimmi – the 5-1 I brought up referred to that match on the American tour, sorry can’t remember name of tourney. Fed was leading 5-1 in final set – and somehow contrived to lose. This was put down to a bad case of Fedcolleywobbles, but actually it was Tsonga being Tsonga – he can do that, he’s that devastating a player once he gets the bit between the t.

Dunno about anyone else, but I was convinced Tsonga would win from start of 3rd set. In retrospect, Federer will emerge strengthened from having had to do it all again in the 3rd. After all, most of us were beginning to suspect he didn’t have that kind of recovery charge in him any more. That doesn’t matter, but maybe he himself had one or two doubts? And that does matter. Now he can carry this confidence into the new season.


Humble Rafa Says:

Have a good rest of the year everyone. I am off to the mountain with my friends (no, not medical trainers, folks..I mean real friends)


jane Says:

Have fun H.R.


jane Says:

Same to you Gannu. Have a nice holiday.


steve-o Says:

A random aside: Tsonga’s parents were a contrast in expressions. His dad (a former athlete himself) was relaxed and laughing during the third set. Clearly he was enjoying himself, maybe even reliving his own glory days a bit through his son.

His mom was unsmiling, she looked very nervous and anxious for her son, as you would expect from most moms in that situation.


El Flaco Says:

racquet Says:
Congrats to Federer. Shame this win will have an asterisk attached – but heā€™ll take it just the same.
___________________

The asterisk will be Fed breaks another record.


Skorocel Says:

Good win for Roger! Hope this successful end of 2011 does give him some much needed confidence for (possibly?) his last hurrah in 2012…


dari Says:

Congrats to Tsonga on a great year, too!

Grendel, I actually had no idea who would win, but I was hoping that roger just wouldn’t let jo take something away from him again after being up a set and break.

Once he was hanging in the set, though, with only a few firat serves in after 3 or 4 serve games, I thought “if he is hanging in with no first serve, imagine if he starts to get it in”

That’s pretty much what happened, along with getting some of tsonga’s HUGE 130’S serves back in and deep
Not to mention absolutely crushing some seconds.
That is what im most happy with, some things I’ve seen on roger’s return


chrisJ Says:

I don’t think there’s ever been a year so dominated by the top 4 when it comes to all the big titles:

Australian Open: Djokovic
Indian Wells: Djokovic
Miami: Djokovic
Monte Carlo: Nadal
Madrid: Djokovic
Rome: Djokovic
French Open: Nadal
Wimbledon: Djokovic
Montreal: Djokovic
Cincinnati: Murray
US Open: Djokovic
Shanghai: Murray
Paris: Federer
World Tour Finals: Federer

It’s been a great year for tennis!


andrea Says:

way to go roger.

i was a little concerned in the first set – tsonga having easier service games and looking unruffled. that point where roger got it to 40-0 before he broke was incredible. talk about a scramble.

anxiety again when he lost serve closing it out and losing the breaker, but it made it a better match.

congrats to tsonga as well. wouldn’t have minded if he won…he’s very likeable.


jane Says:

chrisJ, yeah, striking list for sure. All the masters and slams won by one of the top four.


Leon Says:

Of course, it’s important that it has taken 3 sets. Three times in a row. Case dismissed.
Today it went right along my plan (risky to my health, but still). Especially after astonishing 1st set I wanted the third – and received it in the best version.
Joe-Wilfried…if he were at least at Dolgopolov age, we could hope for something big. But he is 26 or so, and the pattern is graphic enough. During the 1st set he played so good and wisely that I started to doubt my estimates of him – but no, he has proved his “abilities” again.
I haven’t seen (thank God) both Roger’s losses to JWT this year – it was power loss in our block during his Wimbledon match, and I was out of internet access during the summer Masters, but the canadian 2009 loss 67 61 67 – grendel, I remember it more or less freshly. Recently I even cited it on another thread, and I think it was all Roger’s, but spoiled by a rather contradictory Tsonga’s behaviour – he looked heavily injured, at 1-5 took a prolonged MTO, then barely moved a couple of points, and then all of a sudden started to play with enormous power and precision. Federer can’t bear such situations, you know. He quickly shanked all the rest of the set. Not the best example of JWT’s credentials, imho, even if he didn’t cheat deliberately. Of course, that’s my subjective perception.


autoFilter Says:

Tsonga, y u no break ankles?


Skeezerweezer Says:

Merry Christmas back at ya Gannu :)

Thanks for the Holiday gift Fed! GOAT books another record;

More ATP World Finals Trophys(6) the ANYONE, EVER!

6 times he has bested the top 8 players in the World.

Fed. Simply……..the best.


grendel Says:

Dari, I agree as the set progressed, Federer was beginning to look a likely winner. Just.

Leon, yes, I read your earlier post. I watched that particular match, and hadn’t remembered Tsonga taking the MTO. You’re not, then, an advocate of the “all is fair in love and war” approach?

Oddly enough, what I do remember is Tsonga’s wry look at Federer at the handshake. He seemed to be saying, with that look:”yes, I know, it’s all extremely weird and, frankly, pretty hard to believe. But there it is. It’s happened. Sorry about that. I’m sure you’ll put it to rights when we next meet.”

Amazing what you can say with a look, isn’t it? Mind you, I daresay that was all my imagination..


El Flaco Says:

Fed is also the oldest player to ever win the World Tour Finals/Tennis Masters Cup.


Fot Says:

I’m happy that Roger won. He just keeps adding and/or breaking records at this point. Like BG said – Roger is the ‘youngest’ looking 30 year old he’s seen. He might be 30, but his body seem like it’s younger than Nadal’s, Murray’s, or Novak’s! lol! I just hope it continues to hold up because I am dreading the year that he does hang up tennis.

100th final
70th final victory
6th Year End Champ (against the best 8 of that year)

Roger goes back to #3 now – right?


Leon Says:

El Flaco, if it’s really so, then it’s a valuable comment. The first of those encouraging-in-wait at this stage of Roger’s career?

Grendel, now it seems to me that I remember that look, moreover, even that I interpreted it in the spirit of my previous post. Never mind, perhaps, my memory abberation. But strange you don’t remember that MTO.
Well, to cross our t’s, I rather tend considering Roger’s inability to face opponent’s MTOs as his strange drawback than blaming the opponent for cheating or gamesmanship. I recall one of AndyM’s match vs visibly injured Simon. It is known that playing vs an injured player is a loss-loss situation regardless the final result. So I was impressed how shamelessly AM started to use his bitter advantage to the last drop (sending drop shots to immovable Simon, etc) in order to end the match asap, what was the wisest and therefore best he could do. I wonder why Federer, being a matured warrior, is so “sensitive” in this regard.
Of course, I admit MTO as a tactical means, and many other similar things, starting from toilet breaks, etc. Yet, not crossing some borders. I doubt I will be able to respect Petzschner any longer, for example – but who knows? nobody is saint, after all. As any healthy-minded european male, I was fond/crazy of football for many, many years, but eventually shifted to tennis – considerably and irreversibly – perhaps, just because of much smaller room for cheating. Oh, that Diego’s “hand of God”…


skeezerweezer Says:

Fot

-Yes Fed goes back to year end #3!
-re; Youth, how many times you seen Fed sweat more than the other guy?

All.

I forget who set it but one of the commentators mentioned that the way Tsonga is using his BH was predicting the technique of the future BH. That is, a hybrid between one handed and 2 handed, being proficient at both. Tsonga seems to be just discovering it successfully at times. I know Agassi relegated to a one handed BH at times, but only has a defense. This is VERY interesting scenario, as if someone can make that happen, they would take the game up another notch. Imagine have a solid 2 hander like Novak but a single BH like Fed. Love it.


marrisv Says:

Congrats to fed and his fans for another awesome performance.

Can’t wait for 2012 season to start already…!!!


Contemperory Says:

Just looking at the BP conversion , it is not as bad as I thought. In the first, he secured the break at the first BP, and in second set as well.
So, two crucial breaks to be ahead in the match. It is after THEN that his BP conversion was not good.Had he not had the loose 5-4 game in second set, we wouldn’t have seen this BP stat.

Imo, Fed’s serve was not spot on, but he served well enough to win. He didn’t face even a single BP in his entire match except in the 5-4 game. Tsonga was also playing well much better than what the scoreboard suggests, and it was a close match.

So, to sum it up, Fed played a pretty good match, and proved again that he is unbeatable in this surface and towards the fag end of the year. He has won a 250, 500, 1000 and 1500 which in some way a slight consolation for not winning an grand slam this year. 3000 big points at the end of 2011. He is just ~1200 points away from Nadal.Had at least 1 grand slam been played indoors, just imagine his records:)


skeezerweezer Says:

@Comtempory,

Totally agree re Feds loose game at 5-4, it shoulda went in straights. However, credit Tsonga, he was paying the Kamikaze pilot at that point and decided to go down swinging, and it paid off, putting him back in the match.


madmax Says:

Hi to all federer fans.

Dari, I got tickets for the WTF on Saturday semi finals, as you know. The tube was a nightmare. (that was the way back). At the time I got to the O2, it was buzzing….went to look at the programme for the day, and there it was federer v ferrer..I couldn’t believe my eyes, I thought perhaps I would be watching Tsonga v Berdych. Was so happy. Happy, happy, happy.

It’s taken me a while to read all your posts and catch up, but I can tell you that Roger in the flesh is a skinny thing. Really skinny, lean and tall, very handsome and really, really charming. The crowd (with me in it), went completely wild, waving the swiss flag. It was an awesome match against Ferrer. Not the best; it took fed a while to get into the match, but there were some great shots. If you ever get the chance to see him play live, you will know what I mean.

Been lucky. Twice now. Stockholm last year, 02 this year. Amazing stroke of luck as the tickets were bought a year ago and of course, you just never know who is going to end up in the final week.

But, was well worth it. Federer in the final – well, what a match. And no one can say (though I see some have), that there is an asterisk next to his name? Why? He played so brilliantly, as did Tsonga and Tsonga is a heavy set guy, but really so very, very swift on his feet. Made Federer work for the trophy that is for sure. Played better than I have ever seen him play (Tsonga). At times, was unsure whether Federe could hold it together, but he did. Federer really is a true champion. He held it together at those tricky moments, where before he would go walkabout, he didn’t this time. There was a resolve to his shots more than I have ever seen them.

Federer is back. No doubt and what a champion he is too.

Dari, getting the tube back, got onto the jubilee line after a couple of stops the tube just stopped. Was going nowhere, had to get off and find another route. Didn’t get home until late. totally unreliable London Underground, but I didn’t let it spoil my great day and was so glad I got to see the Mighty, Mighty Fed becaus that is what he is.

Got to say, some of the shots he made were unbelievably fast. If you blinked, you would have missed them.

Federer truly is the greatest ever.

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