World Tour Finals Day 6 Preview: Djokovic, Federer favourites to reach final

With the round robin matches finally over, it is time for the knockout stages of the ATP World Tour Finals to begin. Four players – Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka – with a combined total of 43 Slams are in the semi-finals which makes it quite an exciting line-up. Who among them will get closer to the title?

We preview the two semis:

(5) Rafael Nadal v (1) Novak Djokovic

The pair faced off at the China Open finals last month, with Djokovic taking victory

Head-to-head: Nadal leads 23-22

Rafael Nadal – the 2010 and 2013 runner-up – has looked quite impressive so far at this World Tour Finals after going unbeaten in the group stages. After missing last year’s edition due to an appendectomy and having struggled for most of the season, the Spaniard seems to have shaken off his doubts and nerves.

He has said he is enjoying himself on the court once again, which is evident from the way he pulverized World No. 4 Stan Wawrinka and World No. 2 Andy Murray. Against his compatriot David Ferrer, Rafa came storming out of the blocks and broke twice. But since then, he was not able to keep up that supreme form as he laboured for a three-set victory.

The win was important from Nadal’s perspective as it helped him to gather momentum and have positive feelings heading into the vital clash with Djokovic. While the win was an added fillip, it did rob him of a very important factor – his energy before facing the World No. 1.

And that might not be favourable for Nadal who has already commented about the impending clash: “A really difficult match against a player who is playing just better, impossible I believe.”

Having said that, the three-time defending champion Djokovic has not looked as imperious as he was when he amassed the ten titles this season. The Serb did look like the player who won three Slams this year when he hammered Kei Nishkori 6-1, 6-1 in his opening match.

But since then, his level has dipped significantly. He slumped to only his sixth loss of the year against Federer, burdened under a pile of unforced errors. He did right the ship versus Tomas Berdych and posted a straight-set victory but his performance was definitely not of the standard he would have desired.

However, he has beaten Rafa three times in a row now and the last time Rafa beat him on hardcourts was back in 2013 at the US Open final. At the World Tour Finals, the 10-time major champion holds a 2-1 edge over the former World No. 1 and their last meeting turned out to be a 6-3 6-4 win for the Serb at the 2013 final.

No matter how resurgent Rafa has been, the 14-time Slam champion still has his work cut out but it can definitely help him to gauge how his improvements are going on.

Prediction: Djokovic in straight sets

(3) Roger Federer v (4) Stan Wawrinka

The countrymen and Davis Cup teammates faced off at the US Open semis, with Federer winning

Head-to-head: Federer leads 17-3

The elements are all in place for Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka to reprise the dramatic thriller that they played last year at the World Tour Finals semi-finals where the 17-time major champion saved four match points to edge past his compatriot.

Wawrinka, who now has three wins – all on clay – out of 20 meetings over his senior and more illustrious compatriot, could have posted his first win over the former World No. 1 on hardcourts. But the Swiss No. 2 failed to do so in that heated and dramatic encounter. One year later, he has another chance to do it, but can he?

Reigning French Open winner Wawrinka did not start his campaign at this year’s World Tour Finals the way he would have liked. It was an utterly listless display against Nadal in his opening match but he managed to turn it around magnificently.

With a straight-sets victory over David Ferrer, he arrived into the de facto quarter-final contest against Andy Murray, high on momentum. And it was an inspired performance from the 30-year-old whose raw power and blistering backhands did much of the talking in the match against the Scot. Wawrinka thus booked his place in the semi-finals for the third year in a row.

But he knows the challenge of playing the six-time World Tour Finals champion at this venue.

“[Federer’s] playing really well. It’s tough to play indoor, especially World Tour Final, he is always fit, always ready,” said the Swiss No. 2.

He is right. Federer indeed is always ready on this surface as he proved in his stunning display over the World No. 1. With a 7-5, 6-2 defeat of the Serb which also snapped his 23-match winning streak and another straight-set win over Tomas Berdych, Federer faced the young Japanese Kei Nishikori.

The World No. 8 made him work hard and the former World No. 1 did make some uncharacteristic errors but just like Wawrinka commented, Federer was always ready to unleash the final blow and secure the win.

And that is exactly what he did as he went 3-0 in the round robin stage.

The third seed arrives into this match high on confidence with his eyes firmly set on a record seventh title. His compatriot might once again make it a difficult job for him, but going by their past record, it is Federer who is expected to have the last laugh.

Prediction: Federer in three sets