LONDON — Even when Roger Federer had the lead, Novak Djokovic had the answers.
The top-ranked Serb recovered from early breaks in both sets and beat Federer 7-6 (6), 7-5 Monday in the championship match at the ATP finals.
Federer broke Djokovic’s serve to take a quick 2-0 lead in the first set, and then again to open the second, but both times the world’s No. 1 player rebounded to get back into the match.
“Maybe a bit of regret because I had the lead twice first before him," Federer said. “At the end of the day, that doesn’t matter. You have to get over the finish line in the set and then obviously at the match. He was better at that today."
The crowd at the O2 Arena was decidedly in Federer’s favor, but they cheered loudly throughout the match as both made spectacular shots.
It was Djokovic’s second victory at the year-end tournament for the top eight players in the world. He also won in 2008, when the tournament was in Shanghai.
— The Associated Press
