DJOKOVIC CLAIMS TITLE
Federer pulls out of ATP Final
Roger Federer pulled out of the ATP Finals less than one hour before his title match against Novak Djokovic on Sunday, handing a third straight title in this event to the top-ranked Serb and dealing a potential blow to Switzerland’s Davis Cup ambitions.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion said he hurt his back in the nearly three-hour semifinal win over Davis Cup teammate Stan Wawrinka on Saturday night in which Federer saved four match points.
“Unfortunately I’m not match fit,” the 33-year-old Swiss told the crowd at the O2 Arena. “I tried everything I could last night, also today: painkillers, treatment, rest, so forth, warm-up, until the very end. But I just can’t compete at this level with Novak. It would be too risky at my age to do this right now and I hope you understand.”
Fans appeared to be supportive with applause for Federer when he spoke.
And they weren’t left without top-drawer entertainment. Up stepped Andy Murray for an exhibition appearance.
Murray was sitting at his home playing the video game Mario Kart when the phone rang. Just over an hour and a half later he was walking into the O2 Arena as the replacement charged with saving the day.
Huge credit for Murray for taking up the invitation at a moment’s notice and jumping straight into his car. Especially as none of those who participated in the exhibition — which started with Murray losing 8-5 in a “Superset” against Novak Djokovic and continued with a creaky legends doubles match — took any payment for their efforts.
“People will say many things about athletes and on Andy in particular people can be very critical about things over the years,” Chris Kermode, the ATP’s executive chairman said. “But he has a fundamental responsibility for tennis and an acknowledgment that people are paying money to come to see something. He was straight in.”
Murray produced some entertaining tennis and might even have had a chance to try out a few tactical variations. He also came up with a nice line in dry humour when interviewed on court by Mark Petchey. “I have to apologize because clearly I pushed Roger too hard on Thursday,” said Murray, who is all too aware that he won only a single game in that 55-minute blowout.
In the doubles match, Murray was partnered by John McEnroe, who said earlier this year that he would be interested in the possibility of coaching a top player. At one point, the two of them could be seen discussing the appropriate technique for a backhand slice. If Murray’s current coach Amelie Mauresmo happened to be watching, she might have felt a touch insecure about her job prospects for next year.
Federer, meantime, is set to play for Switzerland in the Davis Cup final against France, starting Friday. If he recovers in time, Federer will be chasing the only major trophy still eluding him. France hosts the match in the northern city of Lille.