Ever since the World Tour Finals moved to London six years ago the tournament has been a huge success. From a record-breaking 263,560 fans attending last year’s event to the 1,548,245 fans in total attending the event since 2009 the event has unsurprisingly been extended to take place at the O2 Arena for an additional three years. A few days into this year’s event and the singles event has evidently been disappointing with every match thus far being completely one-sided. Although in the coming days we have the likes of Federer taking on Djokovic and Murray against Nadal, the tournament could well burst into life. But as for now lets look at what I consider the best three matches to be played at the O2 Arena just to remind ourselves of the great tennis this tournament can produce.
3) 2012 Final: Djokovic vs Federer
The Djokovic vs Federer rivalry has always created a lot of hype and to many is the pinnacle of rivalries in the sport right with their matches producing some amazing tennis. Their 2012 final was no different with both men desperately wanting to end the year in style. In a topsy turvy first set it was Federer who took the early advantage breaking early on but it wasn’t long before the Serb broke back. Hitting an amazing cross-court forehand Djokovic would find himself being a break up at 5-4 and despite having a set point on serve the Swiss man would break back. They would then go to a highly entertaining and competitive tie-break with the World #1 barely edging it 8-6.
The quality only got better and it wasn’t long before Federer got the first break in the second set to lead 5-3 and serve for a decided. Just like Djokovic in the first set, though, the World #2 faltered serving out the set despite leading 40-15. It wasn’t long before Federer found himself on the receiving end with Djokovic serving for the set and championship and this time the Serb served it out in style with a great backhand down the line to secure his second year end tournament.
2) 2009 RR: Del Potro vs Federer
The last match in Group A had a lot on the line for both players. If Del Potro was to make the semifinals he would need to at least win the match, whereas the Swiss superstar just needed a set to advance. In the first set the 2009 US Open champion came out all guns blazing breaking in the very first game and going on to overpower Federer in taking the set 6-2.
In the second set it looked like the Argentine would cruise away with the match but Federer being resilient as ever fought his way to take the second set in a tie-break 7-5 resulting in a huge cheer from the crowd and reaction from himself knowing he had qualified for the semi-finals.
The third set was a tense tight affair with Del Potro saving huge break points at the business end of the set and then going on to break right after taking the match 6-2 6-7 6-3. To add to all the drama after the match it was clear Federer made the semifinals but it was unclear if it would be Del Potro or Murray joining him. After a period of time after the match ended it was confirmed that Del Potro had made the semis by the smallest of margins.
1) 2010 SF: Murray vs Nadal
Both men looking for their first final in the event provided not only the best match at the World Tour Finals but also the best match of the year. Right from the beginning it was a tight affair with the British #1 not holding back and attacking the Spaniard with a great barrage of forehands and backhands. Ultimately it wouldn’t be enough with Nadal taking the first set in a tie-break 7-5 in a set which featured no break points.
Early in the second set it looked like Nadal was in control with several break points to go up a set and break and edge closer to his first ever World Tour Finals championship match but it wasn’t to be. Then at 3-3 the home favourite upped the ante getting the first break of the match for 4-3, holding and then breaking once again to take the second set 6-3.
After the last 20 minutes it seemed the match was in Murray’s hands early in the third but being the great champion Nadal he he only upped his game to match the Brit’s new level. In an incredibly high quality set there would be nothing to choose between the two and a tie-break was inevitable. Despite Murray giving it his all there was simply nothing he could do in the end with the Spaniard hitting one of his greatest inside-out forehands to clinch the match in an epic 3 hours and 11 minutes tussle. Nadal was therefore in the final giving himself the chance to make his 3-Slam season even better.
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