Who has had a better 2014 - Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic?

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic

Riveting battle

One has a smashing forehand. The other has an amazing backhand. One has beaten the other 19 times, but the other player is still on top of the ATP rankings. Both have beaten each other in all the four Grand Slams. Their matches are always edge of the seat entertainers. The crowds cheer madly, hearts pump loud and the courts buzz with excitement and energy. It is one the greatest rivalries that the world of tennis has ever witnessed. If you are still guessing the names of the players we are talking about, come out of the cave you have been hiding in all these years!

It is the Federer V/s Djokovic rivalry.

When we saw them play in the Wimbledon final earlier this year, it was a terrific display of world-class tennis. The Serb had not won a Grand Slam for 18 months and this win became even more special, as he beat Federer in this 3 hour 56 minute marathon that ended with a 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4 scoreline.

Despite winning the Wimbledon, Djokovic is just a few points ahead of Federer in the points tally. The end of 2014 could see an interesting battle as both would want to finish the year on a high. As the 2014 season draws to an end, we take a closer look at this rivalry and figure out who has had a better year!

Performance in Grand Slams

Whether it is Federer or Djokovic, the surface has never been a problem or a game-changer for both of them. This is how they have fared at the Grand Slams this year.

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer pose with their trophies at Wimbledon

At the Australian Open, Federer reached the semifinals, while Djokovic was knocked out in the quarterfinals. The French Open saw the World No.1 finish as runner-up even as Federer lost in the fourth round. The final of the Wimbledon Championships was an epic encounter as Djokovic beat Federer in a 5-set thriller to clinch his second title at SW19. Both guys made a semifinal exit at the year’s final major- the US Open.

Here are the titles won by Djokovic and Federer this year:

Djokovic: Indian Wells Masters, Miami Masters, Rome Masters, Wimbledon, China Open, Paris Masters.

Novak Djokovic with the Paris Masters trophy

Federer: Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships, Halle Open, Cincinnati Masters, Shanghai Masters, Swiss Indoors Basel.

Roger Federer with the Shanghai Masters trophy

Federer still has a chance at No. 1 ranking

After an intriguing year, Djokovic is on top of the World rankings and the chances of the Swiss ace finishing as the year-end No. 1 are bleak. But sometimes, a chance is all that is required. Federer could do something that has never been done since 1982. He could become the World number 1 without clinching a single Grand Slam title. The last time this happened was when John McEnroe did it 32 years ago. At the moment, Djokovic has 10010 points to Federer’s 8700.

As the stage is set for the ATP World Tour Finals that begin this Sunday in London, the Swiss maestro still has a chance at getting back to top of the world rankings. Here are the scenarios for Federer to finish the year as No. 1.

However, as a die-hard staunch Federer supporter, no matter how amazing the year has been for Djokovic, I would still keep my fingers crossed and pray to see the Swiss master regain the top spot and just see him where he belongs: at the top of the points tally! Because for me, (and I am sure for a lot of us) the existence of tennis is defined by Roger Federer.