Rivalry: Djokovic & Federer At The Nitto ATP Finals

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will meet for the 49th time in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series on Thursday at the Nitto ATP Finals. Whoever wins the match will advance out of the group stage at the 2019 season finale.

This will be the sixth time the pair has played at the Nitto ATP Finals, with Djokovic triumphing on three of the past five occasions. All five of their clashes at this event have come since it moved to The O2. Here is a look at Djokovic and Federer's previous battles at this tournament:

2015 Nitto ATP Finals final, hard, Djokovic d. Federer 63 64
Djokovic completed his argument for one of the greatest seasons of all time on the ATP Tour, capping a historic campaign in 2015 with a record fourth consecutive Nitto ATP Finals crown. It was déjà vu with their second meeting of the week at The O2 in London, coming on the heels of Federer's 7-5, 6-2 triumph in Group Stan Smith play.

Djokovic, who improved to 18-1 at the Final Showdown over the course of his four straight title runs, won his 11th title of 2015 and 59th overall at the tour-level.

In their previous meeting, Federer successfully controlled the baseline and found success on Djokovic's first serve - winning 49 per cent of points. But the Serb was too steady in the final and Federer's 31 unforced errors were too much to overcome. Djokovic secured a pair of breaks in the first set - in the third and ninth games - and claimed the lone break in the second set to seal the victory.

"I'm obviously very proud to have these achievements with my team," said Djokovic during the trophy ceremony. "It's been a long season, but the best of my life. Without their support and my family, I wouldn't be where I am. I'm just trying to cherish every moment at this level. As a kid growing up, you dream to be at tournaments like this and fighting for the biggest trophies in sport."

2015 Nitto ATP Finals round robin, hard, Federer d. Djokovic 75 62
After four losses in six previous match-ups with the World No. 1 in 2015, six-time champion Federer defeated Djokovic 7-5, 6-2 in round-robin action at the Nitto ATP Finals. Federer’s straight-sets victory, coupled with Kei Nishikori’s three-set 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 decision over Tomas Berdych, meant he qualified for the Group Stan Smith semi-finals.

The Swiss broke their FedEx ATP Head2Head deadlock and moved ahead 22-21 with the victory. Djokovic, who tied the series with a four-set win in the 2015 US Open final, has never had more victories than Federer in their rivalry, which dates back to the ATP Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo in 2006.

Both players looked sharp early on, especially on serve, but Federer seized the momentum, taking the opening set 7-5 in 44 minutes. He would keep rolling in the second set, totaling 19 winners and a like number of unforced errors in closing out the match in one hour and 17 minutes.

Federer won 75 per cent (27 of 36) of his first-serve points, and converted four of eight break-point opportunities. Djokovic had been riding a 23-match win streak since falling to Federer in the Cincinnati final.

2013 Nitto ATP Finals round robin, London, indoor hard, Djokovic d. Federer 64 67(2) 62
A repeat of the 2012 final in London, Djokovic and Federer squared off for the second time in just four days after not meeting in nearly a year. Playing in his fifth match in six days, all against Top 15 competition, the Serb extended his overall winning streak to 18 straight after a two hour and 22 minute struggle. Federer opened the match in strong form, winning free points on his serve and taking the ball early in rallies, disrupting Djokovic’s timing. The Swiss was unable to convert on a break point at 4-4 in the first set, however, and his focus drifted at a crucial juncture in the next game, handing the set to Djokovic when a forehand sailed long.

Djokovic struggled with his balance and footwork in the second set and a bevy of loose forehands opened the door for Federer. Four combined breaks of serve in six games towards the end of the set led to a tie-break, which Federer would dominate.

With neither player able to capitalise on momentum shifts, Djokovic opened the third set with a break at love and never looked back, breaking again for 4-1. Despite a few wayward games in the second set, Djokovic dominated on his serve throughout the match, particularly on his second serve. Additionally, when his offensive firepower was missing he drew on his defensive prowess to win points.

2012 Nitto ATP Finals final, London, indoor hard, Djokovic d. Federer 76(6) 75
It was a match that could just have easily seen Federer the victor in straight sets. The Swiss, who was hunting for a seventh title at the year-end championships, led by a service break in both sets and had two chances to level the match when he led 5-4, 40/15 in the second set. Djokovic would not be cowed.

The Serb screamed in celebration as he levelled at 5-5 after Federer struck a forehand long and went onto win the final two games of the match to claim a dramatic victory in two hours and 14 minutes. The 25-year-old fired a backhand pass down the line on match point and pumped his chest as a capacity 17,800 spectators erupted in applause.

2010 Nitto ATP Finals semi-final, London, indoor hard, Federer d. Djokovic 61 64
Federer dominated his rivalry with Djokovic in 2010 and secured his fourth win in five meetings with the Serb in emphatic style in the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals. The Swiss delivered a master class to dismiss Djokovic in just 80 minutes in their 19th career meeting. He hit 31 winners to only 14 from Djokovic, and broke serve four times from 11 opportunities.

Djokovic paid the price for a nervous start and after double faulting to lose his opening service game he never recovered. After claiming the opening set with two service breaks, Federer rallied from an early break down in the second set to break Djokovic in the fifth and ninth games.

"I was able to outplay him at times, play aggressive," said Federer. "I took it to him, exactly the way I was hoping to make it. I thought it was a great match."

from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2qd5y1h