Federer sees off gritty Zverev
CONTINUING to defy Father Time, Roger Federer has seen off the best of generation next to surge into a record 14th semi-final in 15 appearances at the ATP Finals.
The 36-year-old Swiss resisted a spirited challenge from German prodigy Alexander Zverev to close in on an unprecedented seventh season-ending championship crown with a hard-earned 7-6 (8-6) 5-7 6-1 victory yesterday.
“I’m very relieved. It was a good battle,” Federer said after subduing the world No.3 in two hours and 28 minutes.
“I was trying to put a lot of balls into play. There was a lot of defence from me tonight. But it paid off, I’m extremely happy.
“To be through in two matches is great. There is always a lot at stake when you play the top guys.
“I’ll be going out there to win, of course (but) I can now play freely in the last match (against Marin Cilic).”
With Federer safely through to the last four, Zverev and American Jack Sock will square off for the other semifinal berth from their four-man pool in the round-robin format.
Sock earlier kept his hopes alive after coming from 4-2 down in the final-set tiebreak to overhaul Cilic 5-7 6-2 7-6 (7-4) to claim his first-ever win at the elite eight-man event.
Sock needed almost two and a half hours to deny the big-hitting Croat.