No Rafa, but Federer still about

A DAY after the ATP finals lost Rafael Nadal to injury, Roger Federer lifted spirits at the O2 Arena by extending his stay to the weekend.

The 19-time grand slam champion guaranteed his place in Saturday’s semifinals by defeating Alexander Zverev 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-1 yesterday.

With Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray also absent because of injuries, the topranked Nadal’s withdrawal on Monday left Federer as the only member of men’s tennis’s “big-four” in the tournament.

“It was nice to be able to show maybe that quality of mine, that I can dig out these matches, these points time and time again, stay mentally tough,” Federer said.

“In the third I started to play better. It was a tough match from the beginning till the end.”

Zverev, who won his opening match against Marin Cilic, will face Jack Sock tonight to decide who will join Federer in the final four. Sock defeated Cilic in the early match, with Federer’s victory eliminating the Croat.

“It was a very positive match,” Zverev said. “Obviously he won it. He’s in the semi-finals. But even for me, I played the better match of the two today. I think I still have great chances of qualifying, playing Jack Sock next. I think if I continue having this level, I don’t know, maybe you’ll see me on the weekend still.”

Sock’s 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory was the United States’ first at the event in 10 years.

The No. 8 seed lost his debut match to Federer, but he is now 1-1.

“I think if I do the right things and I play the right tennis, I can give myself a chance to play on the weekend of any tournament,” Sock said.