Federer next up for Djokovic

Already having the best season of his life and with only one more match to play this year, Novak Djokovic still has a chance to make some history.

The top-ranked Serb defeated Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals of the ATP finals at London. Another victory Sunday against Roger Federer would make Djokovic the first person to win four consecutive titles at the season-ending tournament for the top eight players in the world.

“Regardless of the outcome of tomorrow’s match, the season will still be the best that I had,” said Djokovic, who won three of the four Grand Slam titles in 2015 and reached the final in the other.

Federer, a six-time champion, reached his 10th final in 14 appearances by beating Stan Wawrinka 7-5, 6-3.

Against Nadal on Saturday at the O2 Arena, Djokovic showed why he is the best player in the world. The 10-time major champion lost only seven points on his serve in the first set and three in the second. On the receiving end, he converted three of his five break points, including in the final game of the match.

“Novak for the moment is almost unbeatable,” Nadal said. “What Novak is doing is just amazing.”

Nadal tried just about everything to stay in the match, even hitting a “tweener” in the last game. Djokovic lobbed the ball over Nadal’s head, but he chased it down and whipped a shot between his legs that made it back over the net. Fortunately for Djokovic, though, he was there to tap it back over and get the point.

The win evened the head-to-record between the two players to 23-23, the first time Djokovic has managed to get level since the rivalry started in 2006. Their 46 meetings are the most between two players in the Open era.

Djokovic will have a chance to even the headto-head series against Federer, too. Federer currently leads 22-21.