Djokovic ends epic year with another win
NOVAK DJOKOVIC put the finishing touch to a magnificent season by beating Roger Federer 6-3 6-4 to win the ATP World Tour Finals in London yesterday for the fifth time in his career.
The Serbian underlined his complete dominance of men’s tennis with another immaculate display to become the first player in the year-ending tournament’s 46-year history to triumph four times in a row.
Federer brought the tournament to a close in anti-climactic fashion with a double-fault, although not as much as a year ago when he pulled out of the final with back injury.
After a modest celebration, Djokovic walked back to his chair and wrote ‘‘And now for vacation’’ in Serbian on a camera lens. How he deserves one.
The 28-year-old has stomped through the season to leave his rivals trailing in his wake – securing the year-end world No 1 ranking weeks before the London finale.
He won three of the year’s four grand slams, beating the evergreen Federer in the Wimbledon and US Open finals to take his career haul to 10, and would have celebrated the rarest of ‘calendar year slams’ had it not been for an inspired Stanislas Wawrinka in the French Open final.
Not only that but he won a record six Masters Series crowns and reached 15 consecutive finals after losing to Ivo Karlovic in the Doha quarterfinals at the start of the year.
He ended the year with an 82-6 win loss record – half of those defeats coming against Federer, including last Wednesday’s 7-5 6-2 group stage defeat by the Swiss that snapped his 23-match winning streak and three-year unbeaten run indoors.
‘‘This season definitely out,’’ Djokovic said.
‘‘I can’t say I expected it, not at all. But I always gave my best, and I’m always asking from myself the most.’’
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of Federer’s record 17 grand slam titles and, if he avoids injuries, it is far from inconceivable that he could threaten that mark in the next few years.
However, world No 3 Federer warned that emulating 2015 will be a tall order for the Serb.
‘‘Margins are small at the very top,’’ Federer said.
‘‘That’s why this year of Novak’s is amazing. Rafa has been there. I’ve been there. We both know how hard it is to back it up. It takes a lot of effort.
‘‘You’ve got to be physically in shape, no injuries whatsoever. Mentally you have to be at your peak at all times.
‘‘It’s not as easy sometimes.’’
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