Game, set, Federer

Swiss Master smashes world no. 1 Djokovic in straight sets

Even the best player in the world can have an off day, especially when he’s playing someone many believe is the best of all time.

Roger Federer brought his top game to the O2 Arena on Tuesday, stopping Novak Djokovic’s ATP Finals winning streak at 15 by beating the top-seeded Serb 7-5, 6-2.

“I wouldn’t have picked it maybe before the tournament, just because of his really good record on the indoors, the year he’s had,” said Federer, who lost to Djokovic in the Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals. “But then again, all day I felt good about my chances.”

The win put Federer in the semi-finals of the season-ending tournament for the 13th time in 14 appearances. Djokovic, who has already clinched the year-end no. 1 ranking, had not lost at the ATP Finals since 2011, winning the last three elite titles for the top eight players in the world.

The six-time champion broke Djokovic in the final game of the first set, and again early in the second. Although Djokovic broke right back, Federer regained the lead a short time later and won the final four games.

Earlier in the same group of four, Japan’s Kei Nishikori gave his hopes of reaching the semis a major boost with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic. Both players lost their Finals group opening matches