ATP World Tour Finals Day 3 Preview: Djokovic looks to beat Federer

After two days of action, we arrive on the day of the much-anticipated clash between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer at the ATP World Tour Finals in London. The day’s other match will see Tomas Berdych locking horns with Kei Nishikori.

Here’s what we can expect on Day 3:

(6) Tomas Berdych v (8) Kei Nishikori

Nishikori and Berdych have met 4 times in the past, with their 5th meeting scheduled for tonight

Head-to-head: Nishikori leads 3-1

Even though these two men will play second fiddle to the blockbuster Djokovic v Federer clash at night, they have much at stake. Both Berdych and Nishikori did not begin their campaign at the World Tour Finals the way they would have liked to.

The Japanese put up a hapless performance versus the World No. 1 Djokovic and went down 1-6, 1-6 – a display that even Nishikori wasn’t proud of as he later confessed that he is ‘ashamed’ of it. Berdych too succumbed to Federer 4-6, 2-6 after a litany of unforced errors.

Both men will be eager to bounce back with the hope of still remaining in the hunt for the semi-finals.

They have not played each other since 2012 and Nishikori holds a 3-1 edge and won all the three hardcourt encounters. That should ideally put him in an advantageous position. However, the World No. 8’s fitness still remains questionable. And that might tilt the balance towards the Czech who is far more experienced in this tournament.

Berdych has been mustering some good wins prior to the season-ending championships, having won titles at Shenzhen and on the indoor hardcourts of Stockholm. He also played a brilliant match against Djokovic in Paris, stretching the Serb to two tie-breaks and even held set points.

Even though the slower surface at London might not be conducive to Berdych’s big-hitting flatter game, he certainly would like to make the most of his chances against a seemingly compromised Nishikori.

Prediction: Berdych in three sets

---

(1) Novak Djokovic v (3) Roger Federer

A battle of equals: the former and current World No. 1s are tied at 21 matches apiece

Head-to-head: They are tied at 21-21

Is there anyone to stop Novak Djokovic? The much-asked question probably has no answer right now for the Serb seems to get only better and better as he continues to stupefy everybody with his desire and will to win. This has been a supremely dominating season for the World No. 1 where he has firmly established himself much ahead of the rest of the pack.

Most importantly, there has even been no sign of any late-season fatigue after the US Open as he keeps on storming through the fall season.

That saw Djokovic notch up his 23rd consecutive victory as Nishikori became his latest victim in the first round robin match at the World Tour Finals on Sunday. He is on a 35-match winning streak on indoor hardcourts, quite justifying his epithet of the ‘indoor king’. The 10-time major champion, who is looking for his fourth consecutive title and fifth overall at the Year-ender, however, faces a man who comes with an equally staggering record indoors.

The six-time World Tour Finals winner – Roger Federer – holds 22 indoors titles and has met Djokovic 42 times. He is arriving into this match with a confidence-boosting win at the Swiss Indoors over his nemesis Rafael Nadal. At the 2015 World Tour Finals, the Swiss did not have the best start in his opening round robin match against Berdych, but he did turn it around magnificently to cruise through.

This is a clash to savour. However, what could potentially make the difference in this contest is the surface. It is a slow, high-bouncing surface that favours duels from the baseline with not much for the fast-paced, lightning-quick brand of tennis.

And that is perhaps ominous for anybody facing Djokovic. In the five meetings between the Serb and the Swiss this year, the World No. 1 has emerged victorious on the slower surfaces and that includes big wins at the US Open and Wimbledon.

The 17-time major champion has been able to get the better of him only on the quicker hardcourts of Dubai and Cincinnati where the Serb did not have much to answer Federer’s ruthless attack and approach at the net.

This is a surface that is tailor-made for the highly-confident Djokovic to show his indefatigable defensive skills and shift to his attacking gears while patrolling the baseline. And that is something Federer would not welcome.

Prediction: Djokovic in three sets