GOFFIN SHOCKS FEDERER, FACES DIMITROV IN ATP FINALS DECIDER

LONDON: Roger Federer expects great things from the likes of Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray when they return from long injury layoffs at the start of next season.

Federer took the second half of 2016 off to recover from injuries and returned with a vengeance to win the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Yet he is already looking forward to when Djokovic,Wawrinka and Murray are expected to be back in action.

“You’ve always got to expect a slow process. Then if it goes fast, that’s great,” world number two Federer told reporters after losing to Goffin for only his fifth defeat of a year in which he won seven titles.

“You take time off, you come back, you’re good again. That’s not how it goes. Coming back is always a challenge for the body. It’s a challenge for the team because you’ve got to be extremely patient yet positive. Not so easy, you know, in some instances.”

“But I expect from the guys who have been extremely high up in the rankings, who have won slams, like Stan, Andy and Novak, of course I expect greatness from them.

“When they return at some stage, not maybe from the very beginning. But I wouldn’t be surprised if it worked out for them as well like it worked out for me and Rafa,” said Federer.

DIMITROV TO FACE GOFFIN IN DECIDER

LONDON: Grigor Dimitrov came from a set down to beat Jack Sock 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 and reach the decider of the ATP Finals.

The Bulgarian, ranked three places above world number nine Sock, gave up a 3-1 lead to lose the first set to the American, who surprisingly won the Paris Masters during a resurgent end to 2017. But, after edging in front during a tight third set, it is Dimitrov who will contest the final against David Goffin.

The Belgian shocked heavy favourite Roger Federer in Saturday’s first semi-final at the O2 Arena.