Roger Federer secures semi-final spot against Robin Soderling
Roger Federer secured the top spot in Group B at the ATP World Tour Finals on Thursday 25 November, beating Sweden's Robin Soderling 7–6 (7–5) 6–3 in London.
The Swiss now has three victories in as many matches and will feature in the semi-finals on Saturday 27 November alongside Briton Andy Murray, who overcame David Ferrer of Spain in Thursday's evening match.
Soderling conceded the first set in the meeting's crucial moment, letting Federer's lob drift over him only for it to bounce just inside the baseline to end the tie-break.
"I think he mishit it a little bit, so at first I was pretty sure it was going go out, and then as soon as I let it go I thought it was going a lot closer to the line than I expected," the world number four told reporters after the game.
Soderling one game away from the first set
Soderling held his first service game to 15 before Federer was forced to a long rally before earning a 40–30 lead in the second and going on to hold.
The Swiss, who was beaten by the Swede at this year's French Open, then forced his opponent to a deuce in the third game before breaking after Soderling hit a volley just wide.
Federer then held to love to go up 3–1 and take control of the first set, but after both players held on service it was Soderling who broke in the eighth game, pouncing on the Swiss' unforced errors to level the standings at 4–4.
Soderling then impressed with steady service, holding to love to go up 6–5 and find himself only one game from the set.
The Swede had 30–30 on Federer but missed a forehand before the world number two hit an ace that brought the first set to a tie-break.
Federer then dropped a set point at 6–4 in the tie-break but came back to seal the opener with a deft, backhanded lob that Soderling regretted leaving be as soon as it passed over his head.
Clinical Federer needs only one break
The Swede could have broken in the first game of the second set, but Federer defended his challenge before coming close to breaking Soderling in the fourth game.
Neither player edged on top until Federer pulled out a diagonal forehand and an expert passing shot to break Soderling in the eighth game and take the lead 5–3. The steady Swiss then held in his last service game to seal the victory.
"To play against Robin is never easy. He's a big hitter and you have to work on your defence," said Federer, who is looking to clinch his fifth ATP Finals title. "He can be very frustrating to play against, but I took it to Robin and I'm
very pleased to have won."
The two players to make it out of Group A will be decided on Friday 26 November.
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