Roger Federer wins but admits he’s a poor third behind big rivals

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Roger Federer insisted he deserved to be considered only as an also-ran this year behind the world’s top two, despite knocking pre-tournament favourite Novak Djokovic out of the ATP Finals in straight sets last night.

The 6-4, 6-3 victory halted Djokovic’s hopes of ending the year as world No1, which will now be Rafael Nadal.

And Federer admitted that following a year in which ­Djokovic and Nadal shared the four Grand Slams between them, he had to accept that his two great rivals have been playing at a far higher level than him.

Federer said: “I knew there was a lot on the line for Novak. If he hadn’t have won Wimbledon, maybe he wouldn’t have even gotten to that [the chance to end the year as world No 1]. That’s what I was telling myself, too. Because he beat me at Wimbledon, actually Novak was as close as he was.

“And Rafa has had an unreal stretch as well. Both guys have had great years. I’m happy I was able to beat both this year but they deserve to be ranked higher than me this year.”

In Pictures | ATP Finals 2019

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Looking ahead to next year, the result was a major boost for Federer who had not beaten Djokovic for four years.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion’s former coach Paul Annacone described the display as near-perfect.

“He was spot on,” said Annacone. “I don’t believe in perfect but that was as close as you can get. I saw Roger one year play a match similar to that against Rafa Nadal in the same building and didn’t think you could play any better but after watching today, against someone that makes the court that small for you to hit, to be able to sustain that for two sets is amazing.”

The win booked Federer’s passage into the semi-finals, where he awaits today’s results from the Andre Agassi Group with all four players still in ­contention of a place in the last four.

The question is whether, at 38, Federer can maintain the same ­intensity for tomorrow’s semi-final.

The six-time champion at these finals says he will take his approach to the Djokovic match into the remaining games of the year — and into next year.He added: “I was able to produce under pressure and I was trying to remind myself to play with less pressure than what Novak had throughout the game. I’m very happy. I’m very pleased.”

Djokovic now turns his attention to next week’s Davis Cup in Madrid and insists the Federer defeat will act as greater motivation for when he trains during the winter.

“I’m not happy with the way I finished the season,” he said. “This is not the way I want to play. But you’ve got to accept that you have these kinds of days.”

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