Roger Federer's Reign at the O2 Arena

If Roger Federer does not win his seventh ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday, November 16th, 2014 will still be remembered as a resplendent one for the Swiss magician. Five titles, a Grand Slam final, the number two ranking and most match wins on tour with 71, illuminates a seasoned veteran in possession of renewed passion, intensity and physical prowess.

Roger Federer has won the season ending championships a record six times and in three different cities. This year marks a record-setting thirteenth consecutive appearance at the year-end championship, where Federer is 3-0 in round robin play at the O2 arena having dispatched all three opponents in straight sets without dropping serve!

During his match with Andy Murray, Roger played inspired, aggressive tennis, out hitting Murray from the baseline including winning a 35 shot rally played on the third point of the first set. Roger was hitting the ball crisply off both wings and moving superbly around the baseline, mid-court and net.

The backhand was sublime—both the slice and the topspin—affording Roger an endless array of options. He lobbed Murray, drew him in and passed him routinely. It was a cat and mouse game with Roger the hunter and Murray the prey. Roger’s superlative backhand slice was even more effective on the low-bouncing court of the O2 arena.

Though Roger’s first serve percentage was under forty for the match, he won 100% of those points. Roger took the first set from the overwhelmed Scott 6-0; the first time he had ever taken a set to love against Murray. Roger in full flight went on to win the second set 6-1 and the match in under an hour. Murray’s second serve deserted him from the start and Roger wasted no time, capitalizing on five of six break point opportunities.

These might be the best two sets Roger has strung together in years. I have never seen him perform with more confidence or calm. It appeared as if he had an infinite amount of time to set up his shots. He consistently took the ball early and produced crushing and penetrating groundstrokes creating improbable angles.

It is highly probable that Roger Federer will face Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final. In 2014, they have played five times, with Roger boasting three wins to Novak’s two. It should be noted, however, that both of Roger’s losses—at Wimbledon in five and Indian Wells in three—were extremely close and involved tie-breakers. Head to head, Roger leads 19-17 with his most recent victory in Shanghai last month defeating Novak in straights in the semi-finals.

London has been more than generous with Sir Roger Federer having secured his 7th Wimbledon title in 2012. An historic seventh ATP World Tour Finals championship awaits the Swiss maestro and I cannot wait to once again witness tennis history.