Despite breaks to go up 2-0 in both the first and second sets, Roger Federer couldn’t outduel Novak Djokovic in the ATP World Tour Finals Monday night. Nole went on to win his second year-end championship 7-6(6), 7-5 with a spectacular backhand pass on match point. Head-to-head, Novak won the series in 2012 (3-2). Overall, 17-time Grand Slam Champion Roger Federer still has the edge 16-13.
Even after winning three Grand Slam titles in 2011, Nole says this past year was more gratifying: “I actually feel even more satisfied right now than last year, even though I had an incredible 2011. I feel this year, considering the circumstances that I had to face on and off the court, expectations, all these things, I believe that this year has been even more successful for me.”
Check out some of the most impressive shots of this year’s tournament:
With the final event of 2012 over and done, the 2012 ATP World Tour Men’s Singles ranking finish like this:
1. Novak Djokovic
2. Roger Federer
3. Andy Murray
4. Rafael Nadal (even with his absence in the second half of the year)
5. David Ferrer
6. Tomas Berdych
7. Juan Martin del Potro
8. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
9. Janko Tipsarevic
10. Richard Gasquet
The top-ranked Americans finish the year:
14. John Isner
22. Sam Querrey
27. Mardy Fish
39. Andy Rodduck (retired)
60. Brian Baker
67. Ryan Harrison
88. Michael Russell
As we get ready for the Davis Cup Final this weekend in Prague, featuring Czech Republic and Spain, it’s important to point out that Marcus Lopez and Marcel Granollers won the end-of-year Doubles Title in London 7-5, 3-6, 10-3 over the Indian pair Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna. With a nearly guaranteed win for Spain on “Doubles Saturday,” Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek will have to play spectacular tennis Friday and Sunday versus the consistent David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro.
We’re two months away from the 2013 Australian Open…most will get some rest for the next few weeks, then get back to it – as next year should feature the return of Rafael Nadal, who’s expected to participate in the Abu Dhabi exhibition come late December.
