Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, Roger Federer off to a flying start in London
World number two Roger Federer of Switzerland recorded his 30th career victory at the year finale on Sunday as he brushed aside his Spaniard opponent, David Ferrer, in two sets in his opening match at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London.
The score line was 6-1, 6-4.
The sixteen time Grand Slam winner Roger is playing in the elite eight man field in London on the ninth occasion in a row and improved to a tournament mark of 30-7 as a result of this victory. He captured back-to back crowns in 2003, 04 and 2006-07. The
Swiss last year could not go beyond the semi final stage as he was bundled out of the tournament at the hands of Nikolay Davydenko.
“I think it is wonderful. The players love it. It is really prestigious. That is what it is supposed to be and has been for forty years. I have been a part of them nine times already. Having the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals here in London makes great sense
because it is in a great time zone, in a country that loves sports, particularly tennis. I think it is great for the fans to see that. All the sessions are basically sold out, there is such a run on tickets. So it is hard to choose a better place than London,
I feel”, reflected Federer while talking about the season finale on Sunday.
In a rematch of the 2007 final at the Shanghai Rolex Masters in China, the 29-year-old Roger raced to a lead of 4-0 and despite losing his serve during the fifth game, he easily took the opening set in just thirty-four minutes.
The Spaniard showed strength as he was offered five break point chances in the second set. However, he could not convert either of them and thus Federer sealed a win in the end with a service break during the fifth game. The battle lasted for a time period
of eighty-seven minutes.
“I thought it was a tough match. Looking at the score line, it does not reflect how hard it was. There were many close games, particularly in the second set. Possibly the first set could have gone quicker, too. All in all, I am extremely glad the way I was
able to get out of the opening match here, starting off with a feisty Top ten player is never easy. It is sort of a first round, that is why I am really pleased with tonight's performance”, added the delighted Federer.
Since his quarter final exit at the grass court Grand Slam tournament in London back in July, the Swiss tennis maestro has been in rampant form, losing just four clashes in a spell that saw him capture three crowns in Cincinnati, Stockholm and Basel.
The right hander, by virtue of this victory, will next meet the local favourite Andy Murray, whom he crushed in three sets in London in the round robin stage back in 2009.
The 28-year old David, on the other hand, was playing in the elite eight man field on the second occasion in a row after returning to the top eight in the South African Airways ATP list earlier in 2010. He owns a season mark of 60-22 on the tour. The Valencia
resident captured two ATP World Tour 500 crowns in 2010 at Acapulco and Valencia, beating Ferrero and Granollers in the title battle respectively.
His other notable performances this season include three runners up efforts in Buenos Aires, Rome and Beijing.
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