:00:34. > :00:39.London is no stranger to history. Everywhere there are monuments to
:00:39. > :00:42.the past. This scene of the coronation of kings and Queen's,
:00:43. > :00:47.the home of the mother of Parliaments. Today it will witness
:00:48. > :00:54.a little bit of sporting history. Behind this door is a man who is
:00:54. > :00:57.about to play his 100 Korea final. He is looking for his 70th career
:00:57. > :01:02.title and should he achieved that it would be an historic 6 win in
:01:02. > :01:07.this event. Behind this door is a young Frenchman who, if he triumphs,
:01:07. > :01:11.will become the first player from his nation to win this prestigious
:01:11. > :01:15.end-of-season tonight. If you have a feeling of deja-vu today, it is
:01:15. > :01:19.no surprise because this is the third meeting between Roger Federer
:01:19. > :01:25.and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in London this year. Tsonga came from two
:01:25. > :01:31.sets down to beat Federer in a dramatic Wimbledon quarter-final.
:01:31. > :01:36.The upset of the tournament! only last Sunday Roger defeated Jo-
:01:36. > :01:43.Wilfried here at the O2 Arena as he embarked on the quest for that six
:01:43. > :01:48.a Masters crown. Federer is off to a winning start at the O2! So, now,
:01:48. > :01:53.we end as we began, and on this great stage, will it be the ballet
:01:53. > :02:00.of Federer or the jive of Tsonga? Whatever the outcome, history will
:02:00. > :02:04.be made. Good afternoon. That is what we are
:02:04. > :02:08.looking forward to at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals but before we
:02:08. > :02:12.look ahead to that I would like to say how shocked and deeply saddened
:02:12. > :02:17.all of us here at BBC Sport and a question of sport were to here of
:02:17. > :02:22.the debt of the Welsh manager Gary Speed earlier today. Tim and Andrew
:02:22. > :02:26.are with me, I know that Andrew knew Gary very well, as I did, he
:02:26. > :02:30.was on a question of sport and many occasions, he was a terrific man to
:02:30. > :02:35.work with and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.
:02:35. > :02:39.Looking ahead to this match, Federer against Tsonga, it might
:02:39. > :02:44.not be the final everyone thought it would be, but they have been the
:02:44. > :02:48.two players in form since the US Open. Very much so and these are
:02:48. > :02:52.probably the favourite conditions for most players. Federer, his
:02:52. > :02:56.track record speaks for itself, and the way that Tsonga has played and
:02:56. > :03:01.the type of tennis he plays, I think he can make life
:03:01. > :03:05.uncomfortable for Federer. You go back one week to last Sunday, I
:03:05. > :03:11.think Federer was fortunate to come through in the third set. He
:03:11. > :03:15.dominated that dead set, Tsonga was able to reply in the second set --
:03:15. > :03:20.dominated the first set. Tsonga can take Federer out of his comfort
:03:20. > :03:24.zone. Andrew, we talked about Federer yesterday so let's talk
:03:24. > :03:30.about Jo-Wilfried today. He came through a good match yesterday,
:03:30. > :03:33.defeating Tomas Berdych. Yes, and it was comfortable. He had a couple
:03:33. > :03:37.of lapses, but he was not punished in the second set and always looked
:03:37. > :03:43.like he would win. He said in the press conference, we are going to
:03:43. > :03:47.get this done and then go on a massive party. He is looking
:03:47. > :03:51.forward to the end of the season. He has all of the firepower to make
:03:51. > :03:54.the guys ahead of him in the rankings have a nightmare, and that
:03:54. > :03:59.is why this is such an interesting final because he can take the match
:03:59. > :04:03.away from it. He is a great personality, that is what the crowd
:04:03. > :04:10.love, though celebrations. That's hear what he said after the match
:04:10. > :04:16.when he was asked about facing a familiar foe today.
:04:16. > :04:20.Three consecutive Sundays versus Federer. You lost in two sets the
:04:20. > :04:29.first set -- the first Sunday, three sets the second Sunday, what
:04:29. > :04:32.you expect in the third Sunday? expect to win, of course. It is all
:04:32. > :04:41.the time really exciting to play against Roger. It is going to be
:04:41. > :04:48.really special here for my first final here. And it's going to be an
:04:48. > :04:53.amazing atmosphere, I think, at the court, and I'm sure I will respect
:04:53. > :04:58.Roger, but play my best tennis. Will there be part of you, because
:04:58. > :05:05.it is your last match of the year, that will just want to seize the
:05:05. > :05:15.moment, just go for it and see what happens? Anyway, I will give
:05:15. > :05:20.everything. If I have to break my toe to win, I will do it, for sure!
:05:20. > :05:23.I note it's the last match, so I will give it everything and I know
:05:23. > :05:27.right after that it is the party, so it is good.
:05:27. > :05:32.It would be a much happier party if he won today, that is the shot. I
:05:32. > :05:42.say a familiar foe, they have met in the last three Sundays in a row,
:05:42. > :05:42.
:05:42. > :05:49.but have met on 10 occasions so far. This is their 8th meeting of the
:05:49. > :05:54.year. They must know each other's game so well. They obviously know
:05:54. > :05:58.each other's games, but I think the start will be important. When you
:05:58. > :06:02.watched Federer against Ferrer yesterday, Federer got off to a
:06:02. > :06:07.shaky start but you never felt Ferrer had the firepower to trouble
:06:07. > :06:13.him. If Federer gets off to a slow start and Sunday is firing, if he
:06:13. > :06:19.gets an early lead, he could make Federer uncomfortable -- and Tsonga
:06:19. > :06:23.is firing. I think the first half an hour is going to be critical in
:06:23. > :06:27.the outcome of the match. Let's take you back, you were there at
:06:27. > :06:32.Wimbledon and saw this great match, this great comeback from Tsonga at
:06:32. > :06:37.Wimbledon in the quarter-final against Federer. It was unheard of,
:06:37. > :06:41.it was so surprising to see. There was absolutely nothing that Federer
:06:41. > :06:46.could do, he did not look animated at times in the last three sets but
:06:46. > :06:51.stronger only lost one serve in the opening service game -- but Tsonga
:06:51. > :06:57.and only lost one serve. I will say song that has served more aces this
:06:57. > :07:01.year than anybody else, and that is a key shots today. If he keeps
:07:01. > :07:05.Federer off-balance like at Wimbledon we could be looking at
:07:06. > :07:09.tie-breaks all the way. He is an offensive force. It is like he
:07:09. > :07:15.believed in himself after that. We talk about him having great
:07:15. > :07:20.potential and it is still a bit up and down. He has got that French
:07:20. > :07:25.flair, and when he is on he is fantastic. There can be a few
:07:25. > :07:28.lapses in concentration where his form dips a bit, but given the
:07:28. > :07:34.circumstances and the environment of the match, the final match of
:07:34. > :07:38.the year, an unbelievable atmosphere, 17,500 people in here.
:07:38. > :07:44.You know he is going to be very intense on every point and go for
:07:44. > :07:48.it. It is the ideal conditions for him to cause a major upset.
:07:48. > :07:54.mentioned the serve, he has served 31 aces this week. Is that right
:07:54. > :07:58.going to get enough chances? That is up to Tsonga. As Federer said
:07:58. > :08:02.before their first match last Sunday, Tsonga is a man who can win
:08:02. > :08:08.a match by force and there is nothing you can do. His game plan
:08:08. > :08:13.is simple, he has to serve great, get a short ball and move into the
:08:13. > :08:17.net like he has been in the group stages and the semi-final. He has
:08:17. > :08:23.turned himself into this attacking monster on the court and his
:08:23. > :08:27.athletic ability, well, we have seen that. Said the match may not
:08:27. > :08:31.be in Federer's hands. Federer has to keep Tsonga back and it will be
:08:31. > :08:37.interesting to see how he defends on the backhand and read he gets
:08:37. > :08:41.enough depth to keep the Frenchman at the back of the courts. Tsonga
:08:41. > :08:47.has a world ranking of six, and you often can see a dip in form but he
:08:47. > :08:52.cannot afford that today. He cannot, but it is part of his appeal, part
:08:52. > :08:55.of his temperament. There has been talk about him not having a coach,
:08:55. > :09:00.and I think today is a classic example where he does not need a
:09:00. > :09:04.coach. The game plan is simple, he has to go out there, be aggressive,
:09:04. > :09:08.go for his shots, serve a high percentage of first serves and when
:09:08. > :09:13.he has the chance go for his forehand, as Andrew said. If he
:09:13. > :09:16.does that, no doubt he can make life difficult for Federer. Let's
:09:16. > :09:23.take you back to the best tennis this week, which came from the
:09:23. > :09:27.racket of Federer against Nadal. He totally destroyed him. There were a
:09:27. > :09:31.couple of elements to this. Federer was utterly brilliant, it was a
:09:31. > :09:39.celebration of his ability with the racket, his enjoyment and
:09:39. > :09:45.enthusiasm of the sport. Not for him this talk of being stale at the
:09:45. > :09:51.end of the season, he is enjoying himself. This is his surface, but
:09:51. > :09:56.Rafa has to rediscover a passion for the game. He practised on clay
:09:56. > :10:01.today, getting ready for Spain versus Argentina. Rafa was not
:10:01. > :10:05.great, Roger was on the day and the scoreline reflected its. Rafa's
:10:05. > :10:11.face, it is all about passion for him and it is missing from his day
:10:11. > :10:15.him. That is right, he relies on the movement -- it is missing from
:10:15. > :10:20.his game. He looked flat, and when your opponent is playing right that
:10:20. > :10:24.it will make things even worse. It was an incredible performance from
:10:25. > :10:28.Federer, one he has built on to get into the final draw stop from
:10:28. > :10:34.Rafa's point of view, he will be happy it is a red clay court under
:10:34. > :10:38.his feet right now. Federer almost knew he was through the group,
:10:38. > :10:42.because he has not been that dominant since then against Mardy
:10:43. > :10:48.Fish and yesterday against Ferrer. The Mardy Fish match was a good
:10:48. > :10:52.match, he was already going through as champion. The match against
:10:52. > :10:57.Ferrer, he did not played very well. If truth be told, for about three-
:10:57. > :11:00.quarters of the match, the first set particularly, the real
:11:00. > :11:05.difficulty on the backhand. He worked his way through the gearbox
:11:05. > :11:10.and was probably in third or 4th gear towards the end of it. People
:11:10. > :11:15.have to play better than that today, and that is a challenge for him.
:11:15. > :11:18.This is not a foregone conclusion. It is not. We heard from Jo-
:11:18. > :11:23.Wilfried, let's hear now from Roger. This is what he had to say
:11:23. > :11:26.yesterday after his win. On Sunday it will be your 100
:11:26. > :11:36.career final. What an amazing achievement that is.
:11:36. > :11:39.SUE BARKER: But the crowd did not have enough, they went on and on,
:11:39. > :11:49.they wanted to tell Roger what they thought of him.
:11:49. > :12:06.
:12:06. > :12:09.I am not sure I want to say the next bit, but you are going for
:12:09. > :12:15.your six Evert title which would put you out on your own as well.
:12:15. > :12:19.What does that mean to you? I did not think I would reach 100 finals
:12:19. > :12:26.in my career, to be honest. You cannot really plan that. But one
:12:26. > :12:32.thing I can tell his I will not retire after my 100th final.
:12:32. > :12:38.could be here a while! I knew going into this match I could reach my
:12:38. > :12:42.100th final, I could win my 70th final at the same time tomorrow. It
:12:43. > :12:47.is an amazing career I have had, so lucky, I am still standing and
:12:47. > :12:53.still running. I don't know how I do it, 100 finals and still walking
:12:53. > :12:57.normally, but I feel healthy, fit and motivated and to be playing at
:12:58. > :13:03.the highest of levels for so many years and play my 100th final in
:13:03. > :13:08.London means so much Jimmy. One record after another for this
:13:08. > :13:12.great champion -- means so much to me. If he wins today he will go top
:13:13. > :13:16.of this illustrious list. It is an illustrious list. This is an
:13:16. > :13:22.important event at the end of the year. It used to be called the
:13:22. > :13:29.Masters, the players sometimes call it that now, now it is the Barclays
:13:29. > :13:35.ATP World Tour Finals. This is for Champions area. There is one thing
:13:35. > :13:39.I would say, if anybody is looking for any omens or anything, there
:13:39. > :13:45.have been 14 times when someone has lost to someone in a group and then
:13:45. > :13:50.beaten someone in the finals. The person who lost as won eight times
:13:50. > :13:58.compared to six. The last time it happens was when Federer played in
:13:58. > :14:02.2005, he lost to David Nalbandian in the final. A minor factor, but
:14:02. > :14:07.Federer will remember it. But there are a number of players saying, is
:14:07. > :14:11.the format the right one? It is difficult to play someone early in
:14:11. > :14:16.the week and then face them in the fine will. It is, but that is what
:14:16. > :14:21.makes it unique. -- in the final. There are a lot of permutations and
:14:21. > :14:24.if you lose in the round robin you can still go through. You could win
:14:24. > :14:29.two matches and still go out. I think they enjoyed the added
:14:29. > :14:32.opportunity. Tsonga has obviously recovered well from his first lot
:14:32. > :14:36.and has everything to play for today. The atmosphere is building
:14:36. > :14:40.here and it was incredible yesterday when Roger walked on to
:14:40. > :14:44.the court, a standing ovation because he is loved by the crowd.
:14:44. > :14:49.His enjoyment of hitting a tennis ball is what keeps him out there
:14:49. > :14:53.despite everything he has achieved. He just still enjoys actually
:14:53. > :14:58.hitting the tennis ball. How nice is that to see? We have had a lot
:14:58. > :15:04.of whining and moaning, people are injured so it is coming into focus,
:15:04. > :15:07.but these two guys have been the best by far this week. A real shame
:15:07. > :15:14.Murray had to pull out because he could have been involved in this,
:15:14. > :15:18.but we have got the right find will. We have. As far as Roger is
:15:18. > :15:24.concerned -- to write final. As far as Roger is concerned, I think
:15:24. > :15:29.there is a time later in life when he will be looking and be proud.
:15:29. > :15:33.will be proud. Right now, he has to concentrate on his game plan, his
:15:33. > :15:36.strategy, the way he wants to serve and where, and dictate from the
:15:36. > :15:43.baseline. If he does that, everything else will take care of
:15:43. > :15:47.itself. Let's hear from the two players.
:15:47. > :15:55.New admitted yesterday you were nervous, how do you feel today? --
:15:55. > :16:00.You admitted yesterday. I feel good. What do you need to did today to
:16:00. > :16:05.get the win? Be aggressive and play my best tennis because Roger is a
:16:05. > :16:13.very good player, may be the best in the world ever, so I have to
:16:13. > :16:19.play my best tennis. Good luck. SUE BARKER: I was told it was
:16:19. > :16:24.Annabel Croft doing that into the! Her voice has got a bit deeper
:16:24. > :16:28.lately -- that interview. Roger is talking now.
:16:28. > :16:33.You have had a Parade of -- an incredible career, does it get
:16:33. > :16:39.easier? It is still nerve-racking, but a nice feeling because you are
:16:39. > :16:45.playing a good tournament and this is the last push, so I hope I can
:16:45. > :16:50.play a good match. Where will the match be won or lost? It is indoors,
:16:50. > :16:56.so we all have to be aggressive. Good luck.
:16:56. > :17:01.So, the players are on their way, and this is a prestigious event,
:17:01. > :17:07.Tim. We talk about the Grand Slams but this is the next best thing, a
:17:07. > :17:12.major milestone for Jo-Wilfried. Very much so, those of the top 20,
:17:12. > :17:16.25 guys. When you start the year, the world or finals are at the back
:17:16. > :17:21.of your mind. If you can have the results and the big finals, there
:17:21. > :17:24.is a opportunity to qualify. When you talk about the top eight, it
:17:24. > :17:28.really is a select and exclusive groups that make this tournament.
:17:28. > :17:32.Said this is a culmination of a fantastic year and Tsonga will be
:17:32. > :17:37.looking to try to win it for the first time. We said earlier with
:17:37. > :17:44.the Tsonga, he is probably the next two could break this top four day
:17:44. > :17:48.block. You do feel he has the tools in his game -- this top four
:17:48. > :17:56.deadlock. The first half an hour watching him physically is going to
:17:56. > :18:06.be amazing today. MC: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga!
:18:06. > :18:30.
:18:30. > :18:34.MUSIC: "London Calling" by The MC: Ladies and gentlemen, the
:18:34. > :18:41.holder of six in Grand Slam titles, the five-time year end ATP World
:18:41. > :18:46.Tour No. 1, playing today in his 100th World Tour final, the
:18:46. > :18:56.Barclays ATP World Tour Finals defending champion, from
:18:56. > :19:27.
:19:27. > :19:31.MUSIC: "London Calling" by The Another standing ovation for Roger.
:19:31. > :19:35.It is interesting looking around the auditorium, so many hundreds of
:19:35. > :19:44.people went right down to the front to get a picture of him coming on.
:19:44. > :19:50.This is not just an event, it is their chance in London to come and
:19:50. > :19:54.see this. It is 250,000 people watching tennis in Great Britain in
:19:54. > :20:02.November. In the old days we had the National's at Telford. Let me
:20:02. > :20:12.tell you, we did not get 250,000 people up there. 250 x match and
:20:12. > :20:13.
:20:13. > :20:16.that was a good day! -- 250! And we have two more years and after that,
:20:16. > :20:21.I guess an announcement will be made soon, but fingers crossed for
:20:21. > :20:28.London because it is brilliant. This is a fantastic arena for
:20:28. > :20:34.tennis, isn't it? It is amazing. Andrew was talking about how much
:20:34. > :20:37.better -- how much Federer likes to hit tennis balls, I guess he likes
:20:37. > :20:43.to get a reception like that when he comes on the court, pretty
:20:43. > :20:49.impressive! UMPIRE: two weeks ago in Paris, Jo-
:20:49. > :20:55.Wilfried when the coin toss. Last Sunday, Roger won the trying was.
:20:55. > :21:05.This is the decider. Roger, heads or tails -- the Roger won the
:21:05. > :21:11.
:21:11. > :21:21.SUE BARKER: They may have split the coin toss, but Roger won both
:21:21. > :21:21.
:21:21. > :21:27.matches. There have been busy in recent weeks, Jo-Wilfried winning
:21:27. > :21:30.in Paris, Roger has been on a winning streak. They have been able
:21:30. > :21:35.to him built their momentum and have been in great shape physically,
:21:35. > :21:38.so credit to their fitness trainers. Roger obviously have the big break
:21:38. > :21:43.after the US Open which I think was key for him so he had a chance to
:21:43. > :21:48.get away from the game, rest up, and I'm sure that is the reason he
:21:48. > :21:52.has finished so strong. Tsonga has played a lot more after the US Open,
:21:52. > :21:56.he has had great results but I think he has been able to ride the
:21:57. > :22:01.wave of momentum coming in here, and what a great way it would be to
:22:01. > :22:05.finish this year, with the World Tour finals. And as far as this man
:22:05. > :22:09.is concerned, Jo-Wilfried, you talked about how strong he is but
:22:09. > :22:13.he is an incredibly good athlete and it shows if you get a great
:22:13. > :22:18.athlete playing tennis, they have it all. And with the Tour's that he
:22:18. > :22:23.has got, it takes quite a long time to mature and to know how to use
:22:23. > :22:28.your game to best effect. He has been out there few years, he is 26
:22:28. > :22:32.years old, at least two or three of his professional years have been
:22:32. > :22:36.racked with injury and remained his momentum but now his body has
:22:36. > :22:40.strengthened him to his athleticism and he knows how to get a back even
:22:40. > :22:46.if he is not playing great. He is in the middle of the best part of
:22:46. > :22:53.his career, up from 13 to six this year, that match is a career-high
:22:53. > :22:58.ranking -- ranking. He is enjoying himself. What Andrew is saying
:22:58. > :23:03.about the fact he has knuckled down, he is training hard, you almost
:23:03. > :23:07.have to now in tennis. Roger started it, Rafa, the physical
:23:07. > :23:11.attributes, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray moving on as well. We do is
:23:11. > :23:17.focus, and rightly so, on their defensive skills. Tsonga has got a
:23:17. > :23:21.good game. But what is not focused on is their defensive skills,
:23:21. > :23:25.dictated by athletic ability. The best defender in the game is
:23:25. > :23:30.Djokovic, who manages to be offensive when he is in a defensive
:23:30. > :23:37.position. You look at the weights on the moves, he is so athletic and
:23:37. > :23:43.Danby so dangerous -- the way song that moves, he is so athletic and
:23:43. > :23:51.so dangerous. He has a single handed backhand which has added to
:23:51. > :23:59.his game. Watch out for that today. It may be a big shot, a big point
:24:00. > :24:08.winning shot today. And this man makes it look too easy. He is
:24:08. > :24:14.that?! His timing, his movement, he has a great eye for tennis -- who
:24:14. > :24:18.is that?! You look at his technique and the way he moves, it is
:24:18. > :24:22.textbook. I think that is one of the reasons why he will be able to
:24:22. > :24:27.move on -- play on for a long time because his game does not take that
:24:27. > :24:32.much out of him. Add to that how he trains and the quality of
:24:32. > :24:38.preparation, there is no reason he cannot go on for two, 3, four years.
:24:38. > :24:42.He has not been out of the top two at year end for donkey's years, I
:24:42. > :24:50.think a tears until this year. He feels, joy fully, that he has
:24:50. > :24:55.something to prove still. I still think he can get in the mix into
:24:55. > :24:59.next year and fight his way back up into the top two. Who knows,
:24:59. > :25:03.possibly world No. 1 again. You never know with this match. It is
:25:03. > :25:07.difficult to say what will happen next it, Djokovic has so much to
:25:07. > :25:12.defend next year, will Rafa reignite the passion in his game,
:25:12. > :25:16.will Murray makes the breakthrough? There are so many questions.
:25:16. > :25:19.those top four, they have got nothing to prove but to themselves
:25:19. > :25:25.because they have achieved so much, but they all have different things
:25:25. > :25:29.to work towards. Djokovic, after the year he has had, can he repeat
:25:29. > :25:37.that? It will be incredibly hard because he was so consistent for so
:25:37. > :25:41.long. Nadal has sort of had a Djokovic jinx this year, losing in
:25:41. > :25:46.six major finals to Djokovic, and then you have Federer, who wants to
:25:46. > :25:50.add to 16 Slams. Throw Andy Murray into the occasion, wanting to win
:25:50. > :26:00.his first Slam, it will be fascinating to what. And Roger, at
:26:00. > :26:05.the age of 30, still as keen now, as keen as a ever. -- as keen as
:26:05. > :26:09.ever. And these numbers can be misleading, a lot of people want to
:26:09. > :26:14.write Federer off, saying he is too old, but only a few years ago
:26:14. > :26:20.Agassi was in the final of the US Open at 35, Sampras won the US Open
:26:20. > :26:27.at 30, so I think there are many more titles left in the him.
:26:27. > :26:31.were talking yesterday about Paul who coached you and Federer, we
:26:31. > :26:36.would say it is an easy job but in some ways it is very difficult
:26:36. > :26:40.because Federer expects the best? That is right, we laughed and we
:26:40. > :26:50.say, in all sports, what do the best coaches have? They have the
:26:50. > :26:52.
:26:52. > :26:57.best players. Barmy, he has picked them pretty well! -- except for me.
:26:57. > :27:02.It is getting his game-plan right, you know he has won so many
:27:02. > :27:11.tournaments, so it is very small adjustments, but at think Paul has
:27:11. > :27:18.had a very positive impact to the way that Federer strategy rises his
:27:18. > :27:24.game. He is getting to the net when he has the opportunity more. Paul
:27:24. > :27:30.will know, Roger will Mayer, he cannot afford a slow start like
:27:30. > :27:34.yesterday -- Roger will know. think it was the 10th game Federer
:27:34. > :27:38.was serving for about nine minutes and Ferrer was two points away on a
:27:38. > :27:42.number of occasions and he felt at that moment if Ferrer could have
:27:42. > :27:46.got the first set it would have made life even more difficult for
:27:46. > :27:52.Federer, but as is often the case he found a way to get through that
:27:52. > :27:56.game, broke set and never looked back and that was when his game got
:27:56. > :28:01.better -- broke serve. If he starts in a similar vein, Federer, he
:28:01. > :28:06.could struggle because Tsonga will come out all guns blazing. Everyone
:28:06. > :28:11.is saying Federer is the favourite, is he for you? He is the favoured,
:28:11. > :28:14.definitely, but I wouldn't be surprised if Tsonga causes an upset.
:28:14. > :28:24.Andrew is already in the commentary box, so it is all yours.
:28:24. > :28:27.
:28:27. > :28:37.ANDREW CASTLE: tents, Sue. Send Tim around. -- thank you, since. This
:28:37. > :28:37.
:28:37. > :29:42.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:29:42. > :29:48.is the big one, the World Tour You got one right, Andrew!
:29:48. > :29:58.single handed backhand! A key moment, I told you. You said it
:29:58. > :30:12.
:30:12. > :30:22.would be at a key moment. OK, perhaps that backhand was a key
:30:22. > :30:22.
:30:22. > :31:07.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:31:08. > :31:14.moment. From 30-0 up, Federer now It is a little bit wild and out of
:31:14. > :31:24.control, isn't it? When he is on the run with that backhand, he is
:31:24. > :31:46.
:31:46. > :31:52.UMPIRE: Game, Federer. When you had Paul in the camp, did
:31:52. > :31:58.you sit down and make two or three points for thought as much yes.
:31:58. > :32:03.Paul used to write down a couple of key points to try and emphasise
:32:03. > :32:13.during the match - hitting the spots on the serves, maybe
:32:13. > :32:23.strengths and weaknesses about your opponent's game. If you get off of
:32:23. > :32:33.
:32:33. > :32:43.the right track, you always have That is 815 aces this season - top
:32:43. > :32:43.
:32:43. > :33:44.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:33:44. > :33:50.There is his dad with some He is not going to hang around at
:33:50. > :33:54.the back of the court too often, is he? He is one of these players who
:33:54. > :34:04.can impose himself and dictate play. He has the firepower. Not many can
:34:04. > :34:04.
:34:04. > :34:51.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:34:51. > :34:58.His dad comes from central Africa, where he was the best handball
:34:58. > :35:03.player. He came over to play professional handball in Paris. And
:35:03. > :35:13.his mum and dad met there. You see where he got in as let -- his
:35:13. > :35:18.
:35:18. > :35:28.There is Robert, Roger's that. He is very proud when his son gets the
:35:28. > :35:51.
:35:51. > :36:01.receptions that he gets all over He says he gets was the man
:36:01. > :36:05.
:36:05. > :36:15.kindness from his mother, criticism -- was dumb and kindness. I do not
:36:15. > :36:26.
:36:26. > :36:34.know where he gets his shoes from, Interesting defence there. Tim
:36:34. > :36:44.Henman was talking about it before the match. The athleticism gives
:36:44. > :36:57.
:36:57. > :37:04.you the ability to defend UMPIRE: Federer is challenging the
:37:04. > :37:14.call. This is a big one, first serve at
:37:14. > :37:29.
:37:30. > :37:34.15-30. Has he had his rhythm Talk about this game being about a
:37:34. > :37:41.matter of inches. Federer did not really need to make this shot quite
:37:41. > :37:51.so good. Anywhere in the service box would have won him the point.
:37:51. > :38:04.
:38:04. > :38:11.The Federer camp would have been a little bit nervous about this one.
:38:11. > :38:21.He took a bit of a swing at it. They say you pay for a whole
:38:21. > :38:30.
:38:30. > :38:40.It is certainly an expert's racquet that he is using. Very unforgiving
:38:40. > :39:15.
:39:15. > :39:23.on a misfit. -- mishit. Minor danger averted. Can you buy
:39:23. > :39:27.these racquets online or in the High Street? Yes, pretty much. I
:39:27. > :39:35.think the racquets that the professionals are using will be
:39:35. > :39:45.doctored slightly, they will be adapted to the balance point and
:39:45. > :39:58.
:39:58. > :40:05.their grip size that they want. much do their way? -- they weigh?
:40:05. > :40:10.About 300 grams. Ivan Lendl used to use rackets that were about 400
:40:10. > :40:15.grams. Andy Murray used to use one that was very heavy. I think he
:40:15. > :40:20.uses a lighter one now. And it is the strains that have
:40:20. > :40:30.made such a difference of the years. Do they use a blend of synthetic
:40:30. > :40:34.
:40:34. > :40:40.and gut? Yes, it is normally a blend. That is that the main
:40:40. > :40:46.strings and across strings are different. Why is that? Normally,
:40:46. > :40:50.when you use the synthetic string that has come in recently, you have
:40:50. > :41:00.that as the mainstream because that is where you're getting your power
:41:00. > :41:10.
:41:10. > :41:14.We have not really talked about the serve-and-volley tactics too much.
:41:14. > :41:24.I think both players will be using it just for that element of
:41:24. > :41:50.
:41:50. > :42:00.surprise and to keep the opponent Well, well, well! I guess they do
:42:00. > :42:00.
:42:00. > :43:00.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:43:00. > :43:09.UMPIRE: Game, Tsonga. This is the largest indoor tennis
:43:10. > :43:19.arena that they will play in all year. 2,500 more people than on
:43:20. > :43:40.
:43:40. > :43:45.Tsonga's power here, he is able to change the complexion of that rally.
:43:45. > :43:48.You felt like Federer was trying to get on top with the backhand. He
:43:48. > :43:58.ripped the turn -- the return and was able to dominate with the
:43:58. > :43:59.
:43:59. > :45:06.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:45:06. > :45:10.This has two effect, doesn't it? First, it keeps him in the game,
:45:10. > :45:20.but the real effect is that Federer is thinking, when he is serving a
:45:20. > :45:39.
:45:39. > :45:47.second serve, what is Tsonga going It was a last shot of the rally. It
:45:47. > :45:57.was a pretty instantaneous challenge. It was a bit forehand
:45:57. > :46:10.
:46:10. > :46:15.from Federer, but was it dipped too Looking over at his camp and
:46:15. > :46:21.pointing straight up again. That has become the universal
:46:21. > :46:31.signal. Federer, I think, is getting the balls ready for the
:46:31. > :46:48.
:46:48. > :46:52.It has been a tremendous run, hasn't it, from Federer, after the
:46:52. > :46:58.disappointment of losing to Novak Djokovic in the semi-final of the
:46:58. > :47:05.US Open, where he had two match points. On one of them, Djokovic
:47:05. > :47:12.just teed off, I feel like it has been one of those years where he
:47:12. > :47:17.has left a couple of matches about there. We have been so used to him
:47:17. > :47:21.winning those matches in the latter stages of grounds lambs where it is
:47:21. > :47:26.tight and it is decided by a point here or there. Given his present
:47:26. > :47:32.form, and going into the off-season, I think that is what motivates them
:47:32. > :47:39.to come out firing early in 2012 and add to his Grand Slam tally.
:47:39. > :47:43.Could you see him going up to the top of the rankings again? Why not?
:47:43. > :47:48.I think his performance in the Grand Slams so has been incredibly
:47:48. > :47:53.consistent. He has been in the quarter-finals of 30 consecutive
:47:53. > :47:59.Grand Slams. It still takes an incredible performance to beat him.
:47:59. > :48:05.He is still very much at the top of the game. Again, it will be a
:48:05. > :48:09.question of whether, in those critical moments, he can find a way
:48:09. > :48:13.to win those important points that he has won so many times in the
:48:13. > :48:18.past. Not exactly great news for Andy Murray as he tries to break
:48:18. > :48:28.through the same three that have been a roadblock for him in the
:48:28. > :48:54.
:48:54. > :49:04.past. They will finish the top That is the major of London, Boris
:49:04. > :49:21.
:49:21. > :49:25.Johnson. He looks like he has not Against most other players, when
:49:25. > :49:31.Federer is rallying, he is not so concerned about the debt. He keeps
:49:31. > :49:41.the ball in certain places where he feels OK, but against Tsonga he can
:49:41. > :49:41.
:49:41. > :50:41.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:50:41. > :50:50.turn from defence into attack in a Tsonga's only lost one point on
:50:50. > :51:00.serve so far. Just an indication that some of the momentum is with
:51:00. > :51:17.
:51:17. > :51:22.When you're trying to have an impact to break serve their two
:51:22. > :51:27.ways of doing it. Will one is that you get -- that you get really on
:51:27. > :51:37.to your Rome -- your opponent's serve, the other is that you are
:51:37. > :51:49.
:51:49. > :51:59.There are not really many guys who can bully Federer from the back of
:51:59. > :52:02.
:52:02. > :52:12.the court. Tsonga gripped those two backhands. -- ripped.
:52:12. > :52:33.
:52:33. > :52:43.UMPIRE: Federer challenge is the I think Tsonga is saying that the
:52:43. > :53:02.
:53:02. > :53:11.market left on the court is just The confidence to show his
:53:11. > :53:21.versatility. That is what is marking out Tsonga in this match.
:53:21. > :53:21.
:53:21. > :54:20.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:54:20. > :54:28.He looks very confident, very sure Greatness in tennis is measured by
:54:28. > :54:38.how well you do in the Grand Slam tournaments. A quick look at
:54:38. > :54:46.
:54:46. > :54:48.Federer up's record. -- Federer's records. In 2009 he won the French
:54:48. > :54:53.Open when Rafael Nadal lost to Robin Soderling. That is the one
:54:53. > :54:58.that completed the set. All we seven people have done that. Just a
:54:58. > :55:05.fantastic record over such a long time. It has been a real barren
:55:05. > :55:08.spell for him. When he goes back it Melbourne it will be two years
:55:08. > :55:13.since he won and Grand Slam. I think he would love to put that
:55:13. > :55:19.right. It is always interesting when you turn up at the Grand Slams
:55:19. > :55:24.at just to get a feel for the surface and speed of the court.
:55:24. > :55:29.Certainly, Federer will be looking for a smoother court, slightly
:55:29. > :55:35.faster. I think, given the right conditions, he will definitely be
:55:35. > :55:43.one of the favourites in January down in Melbourne. They can prepare
:55:43. > :55:49.these courts in very great detail. They can dictate the height of the
:55:49. > :55:59.bounce and away the ball back moves off of the surface. This court is
:55:59. > :56:33.
:56:33. > :56:43.pretty slow, though you would not That is a change up from a Tsonga.
:56:43. > :57:16.
:57:16. > :57:19.I think one of the first rules you are taught in tennis is always to
:57:19. > :57:23.watch the ball, but as you get better you also have to be able to
:57:23. > :57:28.see what your opponent is doing. On that first point, Federer was able
:57:28. > :57:38.to see Tsonga coming in behind the second serve, chipped the return
:57:38. > :57:53.
:57:53. > :57:57.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE I thought he was meant to be too old!
:57:57. > :58:01.It was a lovely surprise for him after this forehand passing shot
:58:01. > :58:08.that he got another bite of the cherry. Tsonga should have done
:58:08. > :58:13.more, he didn't and paid the price. That was fabulous defence. He
:58:13. > :58:23.should not really have had a chance to play that one. Three break
:58:23. > :58:45.
:58:45. > :58:51.UMPIRE: Dame, Federer. -- game. That was a below-par game from
:58:51. > :58:55.Tsonga in lots of ways. Some strong tennis from Federer. A couple of
:58:55. > :59:05.good points from Federer at the start of the game. But that casual
:59:05. > :59:16.
:59:16. > :59:26.He stayed with his ball so well. Look at his weight - Sat, Sat --
:59:26. > :59:26.
:59:26. > :00:42.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:00:42. > :00:48.It is 15-30 again on the Federer He did that earlier on, it is the
:00:48. > :00:52.right play. Federer news that second serve could not just go in
:00:52. > :01:02.the middle of the box, he had to make sure he got the angle, got the
:01:02. > :01:15.
:01:15. > :01:25.kick to make sure that Tsonga had Precision from the Swiss. And it is
:01:25. > :01:25.
:01:25. > :02:27.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:02:27. > :02:37.a set point at 5-3 for the Good shot by Tsonga but Federer not
:02:37. > :02:37.
:02:37. > :04:11.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:04:11. > :04:16.Well, that was a fascinating first set of tennis. 35 minutes of it.
:04:16. > :04:20.You feel, probably, that Tsonga needed to win that one. It is
:04:20. > :04:26.certainly going to be a tough road back, but you look at the finer
:04:26. > :04:30.details of the set, Federer won 28 points, Tsonga when 25, only three
:04:30. > :04:33.points in it. But look at the important points, that is when
:04:33. > :04:38.Federer wins and he was able to create those break point
:04:38. > :04:43.opportunities, get his nose in front and finish it off. He is
:04:43. > :04:49.pretty handy at finishing tournaments off, he has won 69 of
:04:49. > :04:52.them over the years. If he wins this match, it will take him to 39
:04:52. > :04:58.wins at this, the ATP World Tour Finals, the season-ending
:04:58. > :05:02.championships. It would tie him with Ivan Lendl. If he wins this it
:05:02. > :05:07.-- he would go ahead of Sampras and Ivan Lendl who both have five
:05:07. > :05:12.victories in the championship total, so it is record books galore. He
:05:13. > :05:20.has a tendency to win back to back, twice at Euston, twice in Shanghai,
:05:20. > :05:27.and now the events in London where he won last year. The only person
:05:27. > :05:34.who has ever beaten him in a world tour finals final was David
:05:34. > :05:40.Nalbandian back in 2000 and buy it. This was such a key point here.
:05:40. > :05:47.was a great rally, but disappointing from Sonia. He had
:05:47. > :05:52.the whole court, but he gave it too much air -- from Tsonga. Federer
:05:52. > :05:55.was able to get back and that gave him three break points. If he were
:05:55. > :05:59.coaching Tsonga now, and on the women's tour the coaches are
:05:59. > :06:04.allowed to go and have a word with their players, what would you say?
:06:04. > :06:07.I would not say he has done too much wrong, he is getting that
:06:07. > :06:11.balance right between aggression and consistency, but he has just
:06:11. > :06:16.got to make sure he is disciplined, when he has opportunities to finish
:06:16. > :06:26.the point he takes them. It is important to get off to a good
:06:26. > :06:26.
:06:26. > :08:31.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:08:31. > :08:37.start here, serving first in the A lovely game to re-establish
:08:37. > :08:47.himself in the match. The last set seemed to go quickly from 3-3-6-3-
:08:47. > :08:47.
:08:47. > :10:12.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:10:12. > :10:20.3 it is just brilliant tennis on Tsonga, he is aggressive,
:10:20. > :10:30.maintaining aggression in those Rileys with Federer. -- in those
:10:30. > :10:40.
:10:40. > :10:49.That is the widest of Wight serves, it must have crossed the baseline
:10:49. > :10:59.and it got there good 10 metres outside of the tramline -- the
:10:59. > :10:59.
:10:59. > :11:49.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:11:49. > :11:53.Easy game. Through, not down, on We spend all this time eulogising
:11:53. > :12:03.about Federer, he is your absolute pigeons on the indoor courts. What
:12:03. > :12:05.
:12:05. > :12:12.was your record, tell them. Five, I lost a set to him once. Indoors.
:12:12. > :12:22.Did you have an off des? He was 11 when I beat him. Years of age, that
:12:22. > :12:42.
:12:42. > :12:45.The powers of concentration you have to have when you are playing
:12:45. > :12:49.against one of the best in the world is one of the things that is
:12:49. > :12:59.not talked about. But you cannot start a game like that, this is now
:12:59. > :13:35.
:13:35. > :13:39.That was a brilliant return of serve from Federer, who managed to
:13:39. > :13:49.control it and get it deep on the backhand side from the first serve,
:13:49. > :14:13.
:14:13. > :14:17.and he will be disappointed he It is fine lines, trying to serve a
:14:17. > :14:23.volley behind the second serve. I think he has to be more accurate
:14:23. > :14:33.with the second serve. Federer is able to keep the return low.
:14:33. > :14:42.
:14:42. > :14:52.Volleying to Federer's forehand, it His first first serve of this game
:14:52. > :15:09.
:15:09. > :15:19.A real bonus it he gets out of this game now, two double faults,
:15:19. > :15:19.
:15:19. > :16:08.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:16:08. > :16:11.So imposing when Tsonga finds the mark with a first serve and Federer
:16:11. > :16:21.gets a look at the second serve, you feel he is the one with the
:16:21. > :16:51.
:16:51. > :17:01.Federer did this on a big point in Paris, and he got a winner. This
:17:01. > :17:23.
:17:23. > :17:29.He had to win that game. Two double faults to open up and he still
:17:29. > :17:34.holds. To put the game at eight years old and grew up in an area of
:17:34. > :17:37.France famous for its racetrack. Immediately after he went to the
:17:37. > :17:42.local club to play, he fell in love with the game, and people fall in
:17:42. > :17:46.love with him whenever he plays because he plays an exciting game
:17:46. > :17:52.of tennis. A number of football stars here today, all I'm sure
:17:52. > :17:56.equally as shocked as we are, actually, about the news of the
:17:56. > :18:00.death of Gary Speed earlier on, which rather overshadows this
:18:00. > :18:08.sporting occasion. He had so many friends among the BBC team, so we
:18:08. > :18:14.think of him and his family. Tributes all around various
:18:14. > :18:20.football grounds, including Swansea, today, for Gary Speed. But we will
:18:20. > :18:25.concentrate on this tennis final, with a sense of perspective. You
:18:25. > :18:30.cannot beat the staging, you would have loved the us. It is fantastic,
:18:30. > :18:36.I was lucky enough to play in this event twice and it is a select
:18:36. > :18:40.group, you feel very honoured to qualify, but it would have been
:18:40. > :18:46.fantastic to play in London. You look at the attendance, this is the
:18:46. > :18:54.highest attended single week tennis event in history, all three years,
:18:54. > :19:04.with over 250,000 attending on each occasion. You would like to think
:19:04. > :19:04.
:19:04. > :20:51.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:20:51. > :20:55.it would have to be a hell of a bid He has beaten Tsonga already, last
:20:56. > :21:00.Sunday, in the group stages of this event. He has beaten Nadal, Mardy
:21:00. > :21:08.Fish from the United States, and David Farren in the semi-finals.
:21:08. > :21:11.UMPIRE: Game, Federer. -- and David Ferrer in the semi-finals. His
:21:11. > :21:17.opponent came through the round robin stages from the same group
:21:17. > :21:23.and then defeated Tomas Berdych, who won the other group in his
:21:23. > :21:27.semi-final. No particular damage done for Tsonga or that he played
:21:27. > :21:37.the second, evening semi-final yesterday, just a two set match, so
:21:37. > :22:04.
:22:05. > :22:09.no problems with fatigue or injury Left hand, full extension. This is
:22:09. > :22:19.the kick, power coming off the floor through the right leg coming
:22:19. > :22:19.
:22:19. > :22:59.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:22:59. > :23:03.A similar scenario with players running round the second serve to
:23:03. > :23:13.try to hit the big forehand, it sends a message. Federer probably
:23:13. > :23:23.
:23:24. > :23:33.looking to do that a little bit There were not many better than
:23:34. > :24:03.
:24:03. > :24:13.Federer's coach at that. He loved Three straight points for Federer,
:24:13. > :24:46.
:24:46. > :24:49.and it's a break point at this Once again, the break comes quickly
:24:49. > :24:59.and somewhat unexpectedly. The Janko and charge kept him in the
:24:59. > :25:01.
:25:01. > :25:09.game. He knows how to construct a return charge. It is a question of
:25:09. > :25:14.him picking a spot and executing it, and how well he did it there. The
:25:14. > :25:19.man in your picture there, Paul, was probably one of the most
:25:19. > :25:23.prolific charges. He played a match in Cincinnati whence and when he
:25:23. > :25:28.came off court, the question was, you stayed on the baseline six
:25:28. > :25:35.times today, what do you think? And he said, I think I stayed back too
:25:35. > :25:39.much. Do you remember that very large headed racket, he had the
:25:39. > :25:44.graphite one as well and he used to take to the court, it was like a
:25:44. > :25:51.hammock, the strings, you could sleep on them on the evening, and
:25:51. > :25:55.he would take it so early and just run in, but he had very good hands.
:25:55. > :26:01.His highest ranking was 12 in singles and three in doubles.
:26:01. > :26:07.think he won the Aussie Open doubles. That's right. Federer
:26:07. > :26:15.rally hit.. What is he dealing hitting forehands over their? --
:26:15. > :26:19.hit point. That furthest red ball to the left might have been a break
:26:19. > :26:29.point return. He is not running around his forehand to hit
:26:29. > :26:29.
:26:29. > :27:16.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:27:16. > :27:20.backhands, what else can we see Tsonga has got to find some
:27:20. > :27:30.inspiration from somewhere here, and quickly. You get the feeling he
:27:30. > :27:37.
:27:37. > :27:43.has thrown most of his artillery Tsonga was up 30-0 in his last
:27:43. > :27:53.service game, Federer was able to win four straight points. You just
:27:53. > :27:53.
:27:53. > :28:40.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:28:40. > :28:50.don't feel that he is going to let UMPIRE: Game, Federer. Federer
:28:50. > :28:58.
:28:58. > :29:02.Federer never likes to serve with new balls. Both players have gone
:29:02. > :29:11.over to their racket bags, stuffed full of new G-strings and are
:29:11. > :29:19.perhaps a double of new frames, and they are getting their rackets out
:29:19. > :29:29.now. There is not a lot the umpire can do if both players are not
:29:29. > :29:47.
:29:47. > :29:55.Why, with one game to go, we Jo- Wilfried take a new racket now? --
:29:55. > :30:05.would Jo-Wilfried. Are you asking me? Yes! Any series? He obviously
:30:05. > :30:07.
:30:07. > :30:11.does not like to return with a new When a new racket comes out of the
:30:11. > :30:14.back, the strings are almost oily, they slide over the top of each
:30:14. > :30:24.other, whereas when you have played a game and they have this bout
:30:24. > :30:49.
:30:49. > :30:56.between the strings, they bite a As a result of that casual drop,
:30:56. > :31:06.neither a half volley not a drop shot, he is just six points from
:31:06. > :31:09.
:31:09. > :31:19.And that error means it is break point. This is a virtual match
:31:19. > :31:20.
:31:20. > :31:30.point. He is compared to Muhammad Ali sometimes. I wonder whether
:31:30. > :31:32.
:31:32. > :31:42.Tsonga has thrown his last punchier. -- punch here.
:31:42. > :31:44.
:31:44. > :31:47.Cheeky! Nice! It is a high-risk strategy on break point might have
:31:47. > :31:57.done. Then a drop shot here. It is brave if you make it and stupid if
:31:57. > :32:10.
:32:10. > :32:20.He may as well. The players have three challenges per set. And it is
:32:20. > :32:50.
:32:50. > :32:55.A little bit casual at times, but that drop shot just kept him in. So
:32:55. > :33:00.he hangs in there. He is up to number six in the world. He has had
:33:00. > :33:06.that ranking before, back in 2008, when he enjoyed his career
:33:06. > :33:12.highlight of the Australian Open final. That was the year that
:33:12. > :33:15.Murray took a fair amount of criticism for having lost to Tsonga
:33:15. > :33:19.in the first round. Little did we know that Tsonga would go through
:33:19. > :33:25.the hall to order that, beat Nadal in the semi-final and lose to
:33:25. > :33:30.Djokovic. He is an experienced man. It is sort of now or never. That is
:33:30. > :33:40.right. It was imperative to hold serve there. If he had gone two
:33:40. > :33:40.
:33:40. > :33:45.break down, it would have been different. Federer is in a great
:33:45. > :33:50.rhythm. He still has to a halt serve potentially twice. Tsonga has
:33:50. > :34:00.really got to focus his attention on these first couple of points of
:34:00. > :34:10.Federer's service game. If he can get physio to 15 or are 0-30 then
:34:10. > :34:18.
:34:18. > :34:28.you feel he could ask some Federer has over 800 at Windsor on
:34:28. > :35:01.
:35:01. > :35:05.the tour under his belt. -- 800 Impressive return there on the
:35:05. > :35:13.second serve. Tsonga Coppinger at Federer misses this first serve to
:35:13. > :35:18.get another look at the second. -- Tsonga hoping that Federer.
:35:18. > :35:28.likely. Still, by winning their first point he is still in this
:35:28. > :35:35.
:35:35. > :35:45.game. He has to try and play a UMPIRE: Tsonga is challenging the
:35:45. > :36:12.
:36:12. > :36:17.I think he weighed up his options. That is a shame. He really is the
:36:17. > :36:21.one player who can turn that type of defence into an attack with an
:36:21. > :36:31.incredible running forehand. You felt that he had as like the easier
:36:31. > :36:35.
:36:35. > :36:38.Let's be honest, it is easier sitting here, but if he is going to
:36:38. > :36:48.make an impact and get back into this match he has to make those
:36:48. > :37:03.
:37:03. > :37:07.You kind of feel that Tsonga played a good game there. He won the first
:37:07. > :37:17.point, played some aggressive tennis, but Federer still held
:37:17. > :37:17.
:37:17. > :38:06.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:38:06. > :38:16.A bit of an afterthought, wasn't it? Tsonga pushed back behind the
:38:16. > :38:16.
:38:16. > :39:12.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:39:12. > :39:21.UMPIRE: Game, Tsonga. Tsonga needs more than aces, he
:39:21. > :39:29.needs a break of serve. Too many records to even talk about
:39:29. > :39:32.for Roger Federer. He is trying to get the job done here. It always
:39:33. > :39:39.seemed likely that he would be the man to beat. That is what everybody
:39:39. > :39:46.has been talking about. People have been talking about how tired they
:39:46. > :39:55.are. Andy Murray has pulled out with a groin strain. The next Grand
:39:55. > :40:01.Slam is in Melbourne in January, the Australian Open. Tsonga, does
:40:01. > :40:05.he have anything left? Were certainly hope so, but, from
:40:05. > :40:09.Federer's point of view, it is a classic case of process rather than
:40:09. > :40:14.outcome. He has to focus his action on this first point. He is not
:40:14. > :40:19.thinking about the score, not treating the game any differently.
:40:19. > :40:22.He wants to come out and pick his spot, execute the serve and then,
:40:22. > :40:29.as he has done so well throughout the match, dictate with his
:40:29. > :40:38.forehand. He has had a great week. To make it to this final is a very
:40:38. > :40:48.high achievement indeed. He needs some inspiration and he has to
:40:48. > :40:49.
:40:49. > :40:59.break the Federer serve. This Federer serving for a sixth
:40:59. > :41:19.
:41:19. > :41:29.Was that the start you were talking about? Three more of these and he
:41:29. > :41:44.
:41:44. > :41:54.Another second serve. Does he move That was an unusual tactic from
:41:54. > :41:54.
:41:54. > :43:54.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:43:54. > :44:04.Tsonga says, not just quite ready APPLAUSE Tsonga seals the deal,
:44:04. > :44:08.
:44:09. > :44:18.gets the break of serve. That's my boy! Just charging in. He
:44:19. > :44:21.
:44:21. > :44:31.drilled this one so hard into the court it came out with oil! That is
:44:31. > :44:34.
:44:34. > :44:44.a bit of a turn-up. Federer was He missed the three first serves he
:44:44. > :44:51.
:44:51. > :45:01.had been the game. -- had in the It is not quite so Serena now, is
:45:01. > :45:01.
:45:01. > :46:44.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:46:44. > :46:54.it? Federer is going to be tested Tsonga has that exhalation of
:46:54. > :46:54.
:46:54. > :47:49.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:47:49. > :47:56.effort, hasn't he? Federer is A little bit wild. Talk about not
:47:56. > :48:02.the time! Gets 40-15 up and then Mrs the backhand down the line.
:48:03. > :48:12.Goes for the big second serve. Suddenly he is back to deuce and
:48:13. > :48:43.
:48:43. > :48:52.the pressure us right back on It look like Federer found the
:48:52. > :48:58.outside edge. Where was the challenge? That is on the umpire's
:48:58. > :49:08.side of the court. You thought he might have got involved in that. Or
:49:08. > :49:27.
:49:27. > :49:37.I think, going back to that call, that is the line judge's colt, and
:49:37. > :50:10.
:50:10. > :50:20.not the hardest one to call. -- the When they played at Wimbledon in
:50:20. > :50:29.
:50:29. > :50:39.the quarter-final, the match that Tsonga won from two sets down, he
:50:39. > :50:44.
:50:44. > :50:54.won three points 4 River Ewe he lost. -- for every two. UMPIRE:
:50:54. > :51:08.
:51:08. > :51:17.That is a massive cheer. He was down to do for. -- two to four.
:51:17. > :51:20.Federer is aiming for up as sixth title at these finals. Now, in a
:51:20. > :51:30.matchplay situation, Federer knows that he has to win this game and
:51:30. > :51:35.
:51:35. > :51:45.then a tie-break. It is a big thing when you're coming end at 5-6. - -
:51:45. > :51:46.
:51:46. > :51:50.coming in. To fail to finish of the tournament
:51:50. > :51:55.with one last strong service game is tough. You talk about the
:51:55. > :51:59.psychology. It is so important to stay in the present tense. You do
:51:59. > :52:04.not bother worrying about the last game or a potential tie-break. You
:52:04. > :52:07.focus on the first point. Federer would not want to cast his mind too
:52:07. > :52:15.far back on some of the missed opportunities he has had this year.
:52:15. > :52:23.Djokovic, Mats point, semi-final of the US Open. Two sets up against
:52:23. > :52:33.Tsonga at Wimbledon and lost. And the final of the French with Nadal,
:52:33. > :52:33.
:52:33. > :53:43.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:53:43. > :53:53.but it was not to be. Is this to be It is a great tactic. He is really
:53:53. > :53:54.
:53:54. > :55:06.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:55:06. > :55:11.imposing his style and his size on They have not played a lot of tie-
:55:11. > :55:21.breaks against each other over the years. Two Sunday Max Mirnyi ago in
:55:21. > :55:52.
:55:52. > :55:57.the Paris Masters final -- two Federer asked the question on a
:55:57. > :56:04.passing shot, didn't try to do too much with it, knew that he had to
:56:04. > :56:14.make Tsonga volley. He has come out with some good Valdes, that was not
:56:14. > :56:14.
:56:14. > :57:57.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:57:57. > :58:07.UMPIRE: Federer is challenging the Just enough back spin on the ball
:58:07. > :58:15.
:58:15. > :58:25.on the Federer return to keep it low. That is Tsonga's bread and
:58:25. > :58:31.
:58:31. > :58:36.butter. At this stage in the match He would not be human if he did not
:58:36. > :58:41.get nervous. Absolut that. You saw Federer, just before this tie-break
:58:41. > :58:44.started he was running on the spot, flexing his knees, just a bit of
:58:44. > :58:54.nervous tension in his legs. I think that has affected him on a
:58:54. > :59:23.
:59:23. > :59:27.APPLAUSE You can talk about the volley to win that but Federer
:59:27. > :59:30.knows that he is going to get the forehand, rips it into the open
:59:30. > :59:40.court. Tsonga gets across to make him
:59:40. > :59:51.
:59:51. > :00:01.volley, but. Once again, Federer is closing in
:00:01. > :00:19.
:00:19. > :00:24.UMPIRE: Tsonga is challenging the call.
:00:24. > :00:34.In hope rather than expectation. It was not the cleanest drive volley
:00:34. > :00:34.
:00:35. > :00:44.He was practising that before the doubles final this afternoon. He
:00:45. > :00:45.
:00:45. > :01:32.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:01:32. > :01:42.A strange lack of footwork from the If Federer wins the next two points,
:01:42. > :01:42.
:01:42. > :02:30.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:02:30. > :02:40.Sunday will not go away here! -- Tsonga will not go away. Great
:02:40. > :02:40.
:02:40. > :03:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:03:58. > :04:08.He had the courage of his convictions again, didn't he? A
:04:08. > :04:13.
:04:13. > :04:23.And a forehand that had 200 pounds of Frenchman behind it. Not yet for
:04:23. > :04:23.
:04:23. > :05:07.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:05:07. > :05:17.A challenge from Federer. UMPIRE: The ball was called in.
:05:17. > :05:22.
:05:22. > :05:27.ANDREW CASTLE: Was it deep or back Federer has had a match point taken
:05:27. > :05:37.away from him by Tsonga's hitting and now it is Tsonga with the set
:05:37. > :05:50.
:05:50. > :06:00.And we have got a decider! Jo- Wilfried Tsonga will not be denied,
:06:00. > :06:04.it seems! It is a mini French celebration here at the O2.
:06:04. > :06:10.Courageous stuff, really very courageous. Was it Federer's fault,
:06:10. > :06:17.some of that? Will he blame us up? How does he respond? A combination
:06:17. > :06:21.of the two -- will the blame himself? He had only lost oar
:06:22. > :06:26.points on his serve, he missed his first three first serves and then
:06:26. > :06:36.Tsonga was able to take the initiative. Once Tsonga was able to
:06:36. > :06:39.break back, you felt there was a swing in momentum. Federer was one
:06:40. > :06:44.point away from finishing his year in style, now he has to show his
:06:44. > :06:50.mental fortitude. They are playing exactly the right music for a
:06:50. > :06:55.Tsonga match, Peter Gabriel, Sledgehammer. That is what he saved
:06:55. > :07:00.the match point with. Most of the crowd, even though they adore
:07:00. > :07:04.Federer, the player, are very happy to see a decided yet. And it is
:07:04. > :07:07.right that this event has a decent match to finish the week. There
:07:07. > :07:14.have been some good ones this week but this could turn out to be the
:07:14. > :07:24.real highlight. Nastier, Nadal beat Andy Murray in a semi-final that
:07:24. > :07:30.when the final distance to a tie- break. But this one, I think Sunday
:07:30. > :07:33.is flying high. Who do you favour in the first -- in the third?
:07:33. > :07:43.have a sneaking suspicion that Tsonga will ride this way it of
:07:43. > :07:43.
:07:44. > :07:48.momentum and form. -- ride this way is it. Federer will not be dwelling
:07:48. > :07:55.on this, but I feel the momentum is with Tsonga now and he is looking
:07:55. > :08:02.more aggressive, serving a little bit more consistently. It was way
:08:02. > :08:12.back in September that Federer lost his last match. That was Djokovic
:08:12. > :08:12.
:08:12. > :08:21.at the US Open. 16 match winning streak since then. And he did not
:08:21. > :08:25.see that Tsonga had gone off for a comfort break there. He got up, sat
:08:25. > :08:35.down again, and the crowd will be treated to the spectacle of the
:08:35. > :08:47.
:08:47. > :08:55.I suspect sundeck taking his shirt off would have even more impact --
:08:55. > :08:59.Tsonga taking his shirt off. He has got a couple of moments whilst
:08:59. > :09:06.Tsonga comes back to the court just to compose himself, get back to his
:09:06. > :09:11.strategy. How is it decided to serves first in the third set?
:09:11. > :09:19.person he didn't serve the first point of the tie-break. -- the
:09:19. > :09:22.person who didn't serve. Really, that person first -- the person
:09:22. > :09:32.serving first in the second set will serve first in the third set.
:09:32. > :09:38.
:09:39. > :09:43.Federer is showing some frustration with all of this, I don't think he
:09:43. > :09:47.likes the comfort great thing too much. Andy certainly doesn't like
:09:47. > :09:57.having had a match point and having served for the match -- and he
:09:57. > :09:59.
:09:59. > :10:09.This is interesting, defending champion here, clearly a great
:10:09. > :10:09.
:10:09. > :12:11.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:12:11. > :12:17.tennis player. How will he respond He says to himself, why didn't I do
:12:17. > :12:27.that at 5-4? It is the same end I am serving from, what is the
:12:27. > :12:28.
:12:28. > :12:34.I think that pretty much illustrates that he picks signs and
:12:34. > :12:41.then hits it hard, 77 miles an hour average ground stroke speed, that
:12:41. > :12:51.is high. I think Ferrer was 55 the other day, so he hits it hard and
:12:51. > :13:21.
:13:21. > :13:31.This is why Tsonga is difficult to play, he gets a backhand like that
:13:31. > :13:46.
:13:46. > :13:56.and hits it as hard as he can, Some very sweet timing on the
:13:56. > :14:02.
:14:02. > :14:05.UMPIRE: Federer challenging the call on his side of the net at the
:14:06. > :14:11.service line. This challenge is more for peace of
:14:11. > :14:17.mind, I think, than the expectation that the ball was out. It certainly
:14:17. > :14:27.was not instantaneous. And it was out, and that is going to do it Jo-
:14:27. > :14:45.
:14:45. > :14:48.Wilfried Tsonga because that was Getting a second bite of the cherry
:14:48. > :14:53.on that point, he will be disappointed at Federer missing
:14:53. > :15:03.that from the back of the court. Doing his best to get his feet
:15:03. > :15:35.
:15:35. > :15:42.going, jumping up and down waiting Matches where you have match point
:15:42. > :15:45.and Louis always stay with you, you remember them. -- and news. You
:15:45. > :15:50.sometimes forget matches where you came back from match point down,
:15:50. > :15:57.but it is a bitter pill to swallow, isn't it? We have had a couple of
:15:57. > :16:04.them this week, with Tomas Berdych against Janko Tipsarevic. He came
:16:04. > :16:14.back from match point down and also had match point against Djokovic.
:16:14. > :16:14.
:16:14. > :18:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:18:23. > :18:27.At this event, in its various guises over the years, we have had
:18:27. > :18:32.a lot of interest in five-set matches. Now it is just three.
:18:32. > :18:37.Would you prefer five per is I had this conversation with Federer at
:18:37. > :18:40.the other day and he said for the final match of the Tour
:18:40. > :18:46.Championship Sea would prefer a five-set final, you things it is a
:18:46. > :18:49.fitting way to finish this year. didn't like it in regular
:18:49. > :18:56.tournaments when you played three sets all week and suddenly they
:18:56. > :19:04.threw in a five-set final, but for an event of this stature a five-set
:19:04. > :19:09.final would be good. Why was it changed? I think players were not
:19:09. > :19:14.getting paid any extra for playing five sets, probably. No, I think
:19:14. > :19:21.for continuity and there were some tournaments that did have five-set
:19:21. > :19:26.finals. Paris? Queen's would be a two set final. Paris indoors would
:19:26. > :19:32.be a five-set final. All Grand Slams are five sets, of course, and
:19:32. > :19:37.again see that changing, on the men's side anyway. -- and I don't
:19:37. > :19:42.see that changing. There was a great final here in 1988 in the
:19:42. > :19:51.York City at Madison -- Madison Square Garden, Boris Becker against
:19:51. > :20:01.Ivan Lendl. At 6-5-better, he got a dead net call against Ivan Lendl
:20:01. > :20:03.
:20:03. > :20:10.and won it. I'm sure Ivan was Becker three-time champion of this
:20:10. > :20:17.event, Ivan Lendl five. Federer trying to make a total of six.
:20:17. > :20:27.UMPIRE: Please take any risk seed, players are waiting, thank you. --
:20:27. > :20:27.
:20:27. > :20:37.ANDREW CASTLE: People just wandering back in are getting told
:20:37. > :20:48.
:20:48. > :20:58.off by the crowd. The trouble if it Not a political gaffe, but a gaffe
:20:58. > :20:58.
:20:58. > :22:32.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:22:32. > :22:39.Double figures on aces for the The first four games have been
:22:39. > :22:49.split evenly between these two players. The beginning of this
:22:49. > :22:49.
:22:49. > :24:10.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:24:10. > :24:20.third set, very much building the Is this the moment that a
:24:20. > :24:46.
:24:46. > :24:52.significant move is made by one of Federer's first serve deserted him
:24:52. > :24:56.at the beginning of this set, he has only made four of their team,
:24:56. > :25:06.giving the -- giving Tsonga the opportunity to look in at these
:25:06. > :25:06.
:25:06. > :25:11.UMPIRE: Tsonga is challenging the call his side of the net, ball was
:25:11. > :25:19.called out. Good umpiring, it is easy for them
:25:19. > :25:29.to just rely on Hawk-Eye. I think this was a clear mistake. It was a
:25:29. > :25:36.
:25:36. > :25:46.The man on the line called straight back into action.
:25:46. > :25:54.
:25:54. > :25:59.Federer, of the two players, looks like the one hanging by a thread at
:25:59. > :26:03.the moment. He is hanging on, though. He knows what to do to get
:26:03. > :26:06.the job done, he has won these three service games but he has
:26:06. > :26:11.looked a bit flat, a bit shell- shocked after that second set where
:26:11. > :26:15.he failed to set out and then missed a match point. I think as we
:26:15. > :26:19.touched on it is definitely an advantage for Federer to be serving
:26:19. > :26:26.first. He is able to put the disappointment of the second set
:26:26. > :26:30.behind him and keep his nose in front. If Tsonga was always up, 2-1,
:26:30. > :26:37.3-2, 4-3, the pressure would mount even more and Federer is obviously
:26:37. > :26:40.going to try to do that to Tsonga. A penny for Tsonga's thoughts. This
:26:40. > :26:47.is their last match of the year, they have played an awful lot of
:26:47. > :26:52.tennis. It starts, sometimes before new year, they will be travelling,
:26:52. > :26:56.moving out on Boxing Day to go and play tournaments. It knocks the
:26:56. > :26:59.stuffing out of you, being on airplanes, in hotels, even if you
:26:59. > :27:09.are in the right bit of the airplane and in very nice hotels,
:27:09. > :27:12.
:27:12. > :27:17.it is a long season. This is it, those. -- though. These players
:27:17. > :27:27.will know that. They have got the Davis Cup final, mind you, next
:27:27. > :27:27.
:27:27. > :29:32.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:29:32. > :29:36.Tsonga lost his serve in the second set when he was up 30-0. Well done
:29:36. > :29:46.to Chris commode in the foreground there, the managing director of the
:29:46. > :30:05.
:30:05. > :30:15.There was more urgency to Federer's foot work there. He has not got a
:30:15. > :30:19.
:30:19. > :30:29.He will take that as a very significant ever. He was just
:30:29. > :30:29.
:30:29. > :31:35.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:31:35. > :31:42.What ball striking! There are very few players who can really Billy
:31:42. > :31:48.Federer in the rallies. Federer's ball was just landing two central
:31:48. > :31:58.in the court. Tsonga just throws himself at that. Federer did ask
:31:58. > :31:58.
:31:58. > :34:07.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:34:07. > :34:17.Tsonga found himself under threat UMPIRE: Game, Federer.
:34:17. > :34:19.
:34:19. > :34:25.What a comfortable game that was - four St points. -- straight points.
:34:25. > :34:35.I do not know when blast then was that you saw Roger COWE but I can
:34:35. > :34:38.
:34:38. > :34:44.remember at -- the first time you ever saw Roger, but I'd remember --
:34:44. > :34:54.I remember seeing him playing in Milan in 2001. He was a teenager,
:34:54. > :34:58.might have been 17. I had never seen shots hit like that before.
:34:58. > :35:03.saw him in Switzerland when he had a wildcard and played Andre Agassi
:35:03. > :35:06.in the first round. He went out against the top-ranked player and
:35:06. > :35:15.looked very at home. He lost the match but he looked very
:35:15. > :35:20.comfortable than those surroundings. -- in those surroundings.
:35:20. > :35:30.Was it 2002 when he beat Pete Sampras at Wimbledon? 2001. There
:35:30. > :35:31.
:35:31. > :35:41.was a real feeling of a changing of the Guard. Then he lost to some
:35:41. > :35:44.
:35:44. > :35:54.hacker in the next round. You! That was in his pony-tailed days. He has
:35:54. > :35:58.
:35:58. > :36:08.had a much point, suffered that this appointment. -- a match point.
:36:08. > :36:37.
:36:37. > :36:47.A very short second serve from Tsonga gave Federer time to move
:36:47. > :36:47.
:36:47. > :38:05.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:38:05. > :38:09.into decision and unload the The crowd enjoyed the talented
:38:09. > :38:18.catch from song that as the ball went up into the massive score
:38:18. > :38:28.board and sound system, but Federer backhand was there to be made. --
:38:28. > :38:28.
:38:28. > :39:38.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:39:38. > :39:48.That is the one. Up instead of That was even bigger - 138 mph.
:39:48. > :39:48.
:39:48. > :40:55.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:40:55. > :41:05.Tsonga is really pumped at this Their conversion rates are
:41:05. > :41:05.
:41:05. > :41:59.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:41:59. > :42:05.Tough point. Relentless serving. The backhand down the line set it
:42:05. > :42:15.up, sweet drop shot, not high enough. Here comes another moment
:42:15. > :42:37.
:42:37. > :42:47.UMPIRE: Tsonga is challenging the call.
:42:47. > :43:16.
:43:16. > :43:20.After that little break, a second It was a bit of a pushy return from
:43:20. > :43:30.Federer, but he did not mind the pass, the pass was good. The volley
:43:30. > :44:02.
:44:02. > :44:12.It was too long. He will be to belittle -- a little
:44:12. > :44:22.softer with his hands on that forehand volley. -- he will need to
:44:22. > :44:54.
:44:54. > :44:59.You know, the moment Tsonga went to his left to chase that Back and
:44:59. > :45:08.Return, Federer was only going to hit a forehand down that line. That
:45:08. > :45:18.is sharp match play. A big reaction, to, pent-up frustration. He is
:45:18. > :45:29.
:45:30. > :45:39.He didn't make any of his first serves on the first three points on
:45:40. > :45:51.
:45:51. > :45:58.that occasion. Gets a cheap point, Very nice. Nothing Tsonga and du
:45:58. > :46:08.there. He is still so angry, Tsonga, that he lost at previous service in.
:46:08. > :46:08.
:46:08. > :46:18.He has got to get out of that quickly. -- he lost that previous.
:46:18. > :46:18.
:46:18. > :47:13.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:47:13. > :47:18.More history, more records for Roger Federer! Six Tour finals to
:47:18. > :47:28.go with his six Wimbledons in the City of London. What a fine
:47:28. > :47:38.
:47:38. > :47:42.response. Undefeated again. That is ten
:47:42. > :47:47.matches in a row at these championships. Undefeated once
:47:47. > :47:56.again through the round - robins. He will remember this one, this was
:47:56. > :47:59.tough. You see his reaction to break serve and to finish it off.
:47:59. > :48:03.Sometimes you watch him and he seems so Cam, it seems so
:48:03. > :48:13.effortless. But he wanted this badly and we was able to get it in
:48:13. > :48:19.the end. -- he was able. Tsonga has contributed hugely to this event,
:48:19. > :48:29.but this is Roger's moment. He has a tendency to get here fall at
:48:29. > :48:33.these moments. Maybe it is because he is that bad. -- he is a father.
:48:33. > :48:43.What a second half of the year he has had, at him. He has played
:48:43. > :48:44.
:48:44. > :48:53.fantastically. It is the ideal way for him to finish this season. It
:48:53. > :48:56.is a big title. SUE BARKER: Just to confirm what we
:48:56. > :49:05.heard, Roger Federer takes his place in the history books, once
:49:05. > :49:12.again becoming the first player ever to win this title six times.
:49:12. > :49:16.Yet another record for the great Roger Federer. That is it for us
:49:16. > :49:19.here on BBC Two, but do join us on the red button because we will be
:49:19. > :49:24.staying here for the presentation of and we will hear from the
:49:24. > :49:34.champion, and indeed the runner-up. What a week it has been. Jo-
:49:34. > :49:37.Wilfried Tsonga has played his part. We are hoping that Rafael Nadal,
:49:37. > :49:43.Djokovic and Andy Murray will get themselves fit enough for 2012. For