Federer makes strong start in ATP Tour Finals
London, UK - Roger Federer made a strong start to his bid to cap his golden year with a seventh ATP Tour Finals title as the Swiss star defeated Jack Sock 6-4, 7-6 on Sunday.
Four months after winning Wimbledon for a record eighth time just a few miles across London, Federer is back in the English capital aiming to cap a remarkably successful spell by lifting the silverware at the O2 Arena.
When Federer missed last year's Tour Finals through injury, it seemed possible he would never recapture his former glories. He came into 2017 having missed half of last season due to fitness problems and was without a Grand Slam title since 2012.
But the 36 year old has enjoyed a stunning renaissance, winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon among seven titles - more than other men player over the last 11 months.
Federer hasn't triumphed at the season-ending Tour Finals since 2011.
After seeing off Sock in his group opener, the world No 2 has now won his last 11 matches.
That dominant streak has already earned him titles in Shanghai and Basel, and he hopes to maintain that hot streak all the way to the Tour Finals crown next weekend.
With defending champion Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka all absent from the Tour Finals due to injury, Federer and Rafael Nadal are the unquestioned headline acts.
Nadal is already guaranteed to finish as the year-end world No 1 for the first time since 2013, making the 31 year old the oldest man to earn that honour.
But Nadal's hopes of finally winning the Tour Finals for the first time could be hampered by injury.
Nadal, twice a Tour Finals runner-up, is due to open his campaign against David Goffin on Monday, however the Spaniard admits he is still struggling with the knee problem that forced him to pull out of the recent Paris Masters.