Day 8: Final: Djokovic v Nadal Tennis: World Tour Finals

Hello and welcome to the O2 in London. It seems fitting that

walking along this corridor to enter the court for the ATP World Tour

Final will be the two players who have dominated the tennis calendar

this year. Can world number one Rafael Nadal complete one of the

greatest comebacks from injury that sport has ever seen to see his first

season entitled? Or can the world number two, Novak Djokovic, who is

on a 21 match unbeaten run, power his way to victory? Two incredible

rivals, two awe-inspiring athletes. Just one winner. Let battle

commence! It is a very special event I've never had the chance to Win

here. Whenever we play each other, there is a lot of fighting. Every

match, we push each other to the limit. It is very physical and also

very emotional. What a forehand Deadly accurate! That is the way.

All the deadly muscles coming into play. How does he do that?! You are

kidding! Forehand winner from Djokovic! A thing of beauty! Oh my

word! Djokovic on the full stretch! He had no right to make that shot!

What a strike! How about that?! What defence from Nadal! I want to crown

this season in the best possible way and end it with the title. I want to

do my best. SUE BARKER: What a match to end the

tournament year. Nadal and Djokovic have met each other more than any

other rivalry in tennis and it have met each other more than any

their 39th meeting here. We know it is going to be brutal and intense

their 39th meeting here. We know it and it should be very entertaining?

Absolutely. It is the ultimate showdown as the final match of the

year and they have been the dominant players. Do find it amazing. It is

their 39th match. You consider Nadal is 27 and Djokovic is only 26! How

many more times are they going to play each other? Because it is going

to be an amazing match. Nadal has been on a 22 match winning streak.

Djokovic's winning streak has happened since he lost a pretty

brutal encounter at the U.S. Open to the very opponent he is playing here

tonight. Since then, he has lost the number one ranking to him. He just

lost the grand slam but he just hangs about the whole time,

Djokovic. Every time he takes a body blow, you comes back. Nadal has

taken some of the most painful beatings as well and he keeps coming

back for more. One day we will love Djokovic and the crowd well as much

as they love Nadal. There is age of the piece of him that says, why

don't you love me so much? And he really takes the crowd on here. --

there is a little piece. Hugely respected by crowds, but, as Andrew

says, not the love. I think he does but it is very difficult when you

compare anybody with Federer or Nadal in terms of their records

performances and popularity. They are two of the greats of all time

and Djokovic is certainly moving in the right direction. Item things --

I do not think he likes it when he feels that on court and I do think

Nadal will have the majority of support, but Djokovic has a great

chance of coming out on top. Since the US Open, he has been so

resilient, oz and won tournament the US Open, he has been so

after tournament. -- bounced back. It would be a great way to finish

the year for him but going on this winning run, it will be a nice way

for Djokovic to finish as well. As soon see lost the number one spot,

the first thing that happened was, he beat Nadal! It is absolutely

classic! He will not be knocked out, Djokovic. He just will not be!

If anybody can do it, though, it is Nadal. The force you feel even when

he is just practising, Nadal, it is quite something to be around. But

when Djokovic was practising earlier today... That was something. Nadal

was on court yesterday and so was Djokovic. But Nadal against Federer,

just too many errors from Roger He has been fighting his form but

against Rafa, the way he was playing, just to many unforced

errors. He did start the match better and went with serve but Rafa

found a way to get the first set under his belt and then once he had

done that, Federer couldn't quite respond and it was a great win for

Rafa. Certainly not the best match for Roger to play. Super, intense

match at the beginning. This is what Roger had to say after the match.

For me, it is simple. This is what used to do as the little boy. So

that is always there in your DNA. -- so something. It is like one of

those moments where you are just happy out on the court, happy

improving, happy trying to change things, adjust things. Clearly today

is different from when I was 12 years old. I was trying to... I

don't want to say fun. Why was trying to make a breakthrough to

some certain level back then as well but it is just something ie enjoy

doing. -- I was trying. But when it is something you love, why stop so

early? Why walk away from it? I have other things to do in my life other

than play tennis but because I can choose, I'd still picked to play and

as long as they have that choice, I will keep on playing. You are a long

time retired and you don't want to stop too early. I've lost count of

how money times he has been asked about retiring. But if you are a

journalist, you have to ask that question - how long can you go on? I

have adored watching Roger Federer play and I will continue to adore

watching him just striking the ball and moving around the court. It is

fantastic. My only wish I could have played and beaten him! How nice that

would have been! Because I still think the purity of the ball strike,

the manner in which she plays the game, I don't think we will ever see

anything is beautiful again. But if you are a journo, you have to ask

the question, how are -- how long are you going to go on? But he had

the sort of year where he was never going to be able to produce his best

at the end because he struggled with his training and injury and mentally

that gets to you a bit. It is about time he had a bit of adversity in

that department. He has had a blemish free run in that way, injury

wise. Let him play for ever and ever if he wants to, though! The

journalists are quite right to ask the question but the reality is

Roger doesn't know when he will the question but the reality is

when you are starting at the beginning of your career, it is all

when you are starting at the he will finish. When it comes to

stopping, when is the right time to stop? How do you stop? I think this

2014 year is going to be a big one for lots of reasons for Federer

because it has been a difficult season, 2013. He has lost matches he

never even dreamt of losing before. And his pride is a bit dented, I

think. He still believes he can compete at the highest level and I

think it will be a great challenge for him. And this is where this

off-season will be vital for him. He really needs to go away and hit that

platform, hit the ground running. Get off to a good start to the year

to get some momentum. I think 2 14 will be key and if you can stay

injury free and get to the latter stages of tournaments, you know you

want to be out there in the grand slam finals, the big finals. He

won't be happy being ranked no. At there are only Djokovic, Nadal and

Murray who are better than him. -- at there are. He still consider him

a better player than Juan Martin Del Potro. This is something he wouldn't

have expected four, five weeks ago, so he has played himself into some

pretty decent form. I hope he doesn't make the mistake Stefan

Edberg made when he retired. He announced it and he said, at the end

of this year, I am going to retire, and everywhere he went, there were

garlands and flowers. It will probably drawn on him when he

can't... When he feels like he can't win matches, it will do well on him

and he will go, hang. SUE BARKER: I played one match. I

didn't even know why was going to retire. Injury. The decision was

made for me, which was much, much easier. Mine was a

made for me, which was much, much was in America at the US Open. I was

playing against John Isner. And I thought, I am not enjoying this I

don't think, any more. And he said, if you're not enjoying it, don't

play any more. If I knew it was going to be this good, I would have

stopped ten years ago! My dear wife Sophia was expecting and I lost in

the first round of a challenger and then Sky of me a job to come and

work alongside you. I would have bitten their arm off! You played for

another two years! Where is my entry form for the next tournament! Roger

is not going to retire any time soon and he will give it his all in

2014, but now the battle at the top is very much about Novak and Rafa.

They have been the year-end world number ones for the last four years.

This is why it sticks in the memory. There was a real sense that

something had changed when Djokovic overtook Nadal. But then to regain

it, having not even played in Australia, Nadal, this year, that is

why he reacted the way he did at the end of the second group match win. I

mean, to get to world number 1. . You've got to love the game.

Hopefully he has another five, six years. He certainly got through the

indoor season that often causes him a bit of trouble. Yes. These courts

are pretty similar to a hard court and before he was always playing

with the taping on his knee, sometimes on both, and we hadn't

seen that, so fingers crossed it is a good sign. Because it was 12

months ago we were sitting here and there was so much speculation about

whether he would return to the game and if he

whether he would return to the game could reach the heights

whether he would return to the game first round at Wimbledon and still

finish number one. When you think Djokovic made finals in both of

those slams, it is almost as though he had a head start but Rafa has

reeled him in! Fingers crossed they both stay healthy because it is such

a great rivalry. Murray needs to get back in the mix after his back

operation. And again need them. Because Federer isn't going to be

around forever. We hope he plays as long as possible, but with those

3... When you have something taken away from you, you realise how much

you love it. We thought he was gone completely so it will be interesting

to see how Murray comes back as well off this back operation. Because it

does your head in when you have an operation. I mean, operations, they

are always the last resort, aren't they? Gasquet. It seems like the

surgery went very well and his rehab has been meticulous. -- yeah. He

started hitting very gently and he is off to Miami to get back up

again. With the time frame, he's got a good amount of time. I would have

been much more concerned if it had been early December and he was just

getting back on the court because the tendency could have been to rush

things forward and see if he could be ready for Australia, because that

is definitely the predicament for him. He wants to make sure he has

played plenty of matches before the Open in Australia. You don't want to

be coming back injury playing five set matches. And that is what

Djokovic did so well this year. He decided he wouldn't quite be ready

Australia this year. Then the rest is history. The doubles has overrun

a little bit, which means the singles final will be a bit later

than anticipated but we will keep singles final will be a bit later

finalists. And if you want to get in touch, you can. You can send us a

tweet or comment on our Facebook page. Tim and Andy will be happy to

answer any of your questions. I m happy to put them to him! Well, we

have seen how Rafa got through beating Federer. Last night, Novak

Djokovic was on court and equally impressive up against Amber Brinker.

This is just one of the very special points, not match point. An ordinary

point! This was break point! No hold point for the -- for Wawrinka

to hold the break. It is going to be a big move he will have to make

tonight against Nadal. Most people, when they've hit a shot like that to

an opponent, you think that they might get to it but they will put up

a defensive lob. Djokovic still has the flexibility, the strength and

the control to get across there And to flick the forehand crosscourt

winner. He was doing such a lot of practice defending the forehand side

impropriety and for the Madonna should tonight. Taking it early

taking it early, taking it early and then trenching that forehand. Even

in that match, he won it 6-3, 6 3, but his winner didn't come until the

last set. But it is more than that. If somebody was just getting the

ball back, they would not be doing much with their shots, but he was

actually down a break to-1 in the first set against Wawrinka but then

he just goes through the gears. -- 2-1. He has had a fantastic year and

prayed brilliantly, Wawrinka, to get through to the semifinals, but

prayed brilliantly, Wawrinka, to get keep coming back, you hit harder and

harder and go lower over the net and then you start missing them. It is

so hard to play against. And that is where rising Rafa does have a chance

because he can still play massively aggressively plays with so much

spin. I'm still going to take Djokovic. And Djokovic moves so well

and seems to bend in races that other human beings don't bend! It

shouldn't be allowed! Much of it is just sheer hard work. I asked a

while back, how do you get these levels of performance out of

Djokovic? What is the secret? And the coach said, work. And it is

quite a talent, actually, to be able to work at the level he does and

others do as well. It doesn't come to everybody easily. You have to

train it over years and since the age of 13, 14, when he went to the

Academy in Munich, he left home and sacrificed right from the word go.

And it has paid off. It is that work ethic and practice on the match

court. It's so consistent. When you talk about the winning streak he has

been on since the US Open. No injuries, no bad days mentally or

technically. And he has been playing the best players in the world. A

couple of masters and now he has won his first four matches here. It is

sometimes why I'd prefer the big tournaments to go and watch them

practice, because it is showing you what they do. People think they

somehow stroll out there and do it. In all of the top sports. Whoever

makes it look easy is the one who has spent an extra few hours on the

practice court. And it is also as different watching them practice

from the other guys in their results as watching them on a match court. I

urge anybody to get down to Wimbledon and spectate some

practice. That is Wimbledon and spectate some

know Djokovic will last physically Wimbledon and spectate some

as long as the match will be. It is the end of a very, very long season.

But it is like a piece of cake to him! When they played the Australian

Open final a few years ago. It is incredible, their levels of

endurance and how quick they are, but they will both be looking

forward to the end of the season, I think. Djokovic has the Davis Cup to

come but this is Rafa's last match of the year and he will enjoy a well

earned break. Even the squash players, even the top of that game,

how is squash not in the Olympics?! Lost the vote! Even those guys look

at the tennis players and go, wow. And that is something because the

tennis players used to look at the squash guys and go, have you got

three longs in there? And Novak seems to have batteries wear, one

night sleep, and he is back. And even if you break it up, you know he

will come back at you. They just don't know when they are beaten

both of them. They play with that incredible intensity and relentless

optimism that they can turn things around if they are in a bad

position. And to beat them off, you have to play a tactically perfect

match. Wimbledon. We don't need to have an excuse to look at the last

point that! Let's enjoy this again. This is when Andy made history

against Djokovic this summer. Andy Murray is the Wimbledon

champion! SUE BARKER: He did not know where he

was or what he had done. He was even shouting at the wrong box at the end

of that! He was! I think he was looking up above our commentary box

and I have a very good picture on my phone because I was taking

pictures, that moment, and he didn't have any idea! You can see his

reaction and we have never really seen that before. It is clearly a

piece of sporting history. We probably got it utterly wrong! We

should sit down and watch the match! You wouldn't want to get the match

point wrong, would you? I looked to my left and he had his camera out.

He had lost it completely! I have got a great picture of you in the

changing room afterwards with the trophy.

But you are for people, Tim, no of the pressure put on the likes of

yourself and Andy in the build-up. It is great, let's not get away from

that. For both of us it has been our home tournament and we have grown up

watching it for so many years. I loved it. I loved the whole grass

court season. Hearing some of the things from what Andy said in his

book, you know, the mouth ulcers, the stress that went with it. I d

probably enjoyed it a bit more than he did but what he achieved this

year was just incredible and what he had achieved in the 18 months prior

to that, going back to the Olympic Games, the US Open, which was such a

good foundation platform. And what a great match. We reflected how

incredibly hot it was that date playing three hours and 15 minutes.

And 12 minutes of hell in that last game! If Djokovic had won that

game. Mac I still think Andy would have come out with that. There was a

sense that it was his time. But you felt, you know what, he deserved

that. He deserved to win Wimbledon. And right from the word go at

Queen's Club, all work, all the effort, sacrifice from the age of

15, the commitment it takes. It is a risk to give up and education, leave

home. It is absolutely hats off And now he is commenting on the issue of

the drugs and Viktor Troicki. I hope he comes back strongly from this

surgery. I can't wait for it. Because he nips at the heels of

Djokovic and Nadal and beats them. It is amazing he is even in the game

with these guys! He is right out there! He may yet end the year

number one himself. An eyesore the training -- and I saw when I was

travelling with him the training of the time he puts in. It is

incredible. And there have been so many hurdles in front of him through

stages of his career. At 17, 18 people were saying he didn't have

the physique, he didn't have the endurance, he wasn't tough enough.

And now he is as good an athlete has anyone. It is important they make

sure he gets this rehab right so he can play 100% but, again, he has got

another four, five, six years at the top of the game. And not always easy

to get everything perfect, and he has led that as well. It is not easy

to say goodbye to some people. Perhaps out of personal loyalty a

weaker character would have held onto somebody but he has done what

is right for him as a high-performance athlete. And

is right for him as a is not easy either. Lendl name was

is right for him as a massive appointment. -- Ivan Lendl.

Yes, to finally get over that hurdle at the US Open was another good

platform for him at Wimbledon. The best shot the whole summer was at

Queen's Club! 102 mile an hour beforehand and he meant it! I

swear, that was the most enjoyable shot he hit all summer! And then the

match against Verdasco. He is actually behind us on the doubles

court with his partner David Marrero. They are up against the

Bryan brothers, who have absolutely dominated. They are leading 9-7 The

Bryan brothers have just done so much, haven't they? Yes. The perfect

year. They won the first three grand slams. The first grand slam in

doubles in the open-air rough. - in the Open era. And look at these

guys! These guys have played tremendous tennis. They really have!

He has got a 30th birthday coming up on Friday and it will be a massive

one in Madrid for him! Is it going to be a Spain double? There you go!

But also Verdasco at Wimbledon, that match, Andy looked out of it in that

quarterfinal. In more ways than one! Both in the school line and in the

way he was playing. But that was an unbelievable effort. -- scoreline.

If the duster could change anything about his ear, and he certainly

wouldn't change any of this, he would problem try to change the way

he played that third set. -- if Verdasco could change anything about

his year. Speaking of Andy, we can hear from him now, because earlier

in the week, you spoke to Sara Orchard.

I had been playing in quite a lot of pain for 18, 19 months. So I wanted

that to stop. And I am looking forward to getting back to the court

being pain-free again, because you forget what that is like when you

are playing with it for a long time, so I am hoping the surgery will have

stop that and so I can get back to being healthy as soon as possible.

I'm looking forward to the next few years. Hopefully I'll have some time

before my first tournament and I won't need to rush it. It will be

interesting to see how badly I am playing, really! Because I will have

lost some of the skill and will need to train myself back up a bit. Have

you spoken to any of the big names about how you deal with that period

out and stay in the loop with what is going on in tennis? But also

mentally, coming back, how you will approach that? I have spoken to my

coach about it and chatted with my team. I have spoken to Rafa a bit. I

have exchanged quite a few messages with him over the last few weeks.

But, yes, with things like this you obviously want to keep the rhythm

and keep within the team you are working with. You don't want

everybody to know which things are bothering you on the court because

if make it to Australia, they will know which things are hurting and

which things don't. But quite a lot of messages from the players wishing

me well, from the guys, hoping I can come back soon. Tough coming back

from an operation and I'll was wonder whether you trust that part

of the body again when you have had an operation? -- I always wonder? It

is almost like the pain is ingrained in your mind and when

is almost like the pain is ingrained from it, you still expect to feel

the pain. It is really important that when he gets onto court, he is

able to put in the hours to make sure it is a thing of the past. I am

sure he will. He is meticulous with his preparation. In Miami, he has a

training block where Ivan Lendl will not be giving him much sympathy

Hopefully he will be 100% mentally and physically so he can concentrate

on his matches. It is picking the right time to come back. The

Australian Open in the searing heat... He said he will not play

unless he feels like he can win Just get back out there and start

getting the matches in. I am not sure whether he needed the operation

or just wanted to get rid of the pain. I heard that clinically it was

not absolutely necessary. He has made the decision that he wants to

get rid of that and then move on. It will probably be history in six

months when he starts putting himself back into contention again.

I must say that his complexion looks fantastic now he has not been

stressed out. He looked well and healthy. A bit of time in the sun.

He looked nice and relaxed and why not when you have one in Boldon the

US Open and Olympic gold? We wish him well -- when you have won

Wimbledon. Tim Henman has played in a few of these but this is Novak

Djokovic coming in as the defending champion. Roger Federer has been

dominant with six wins. Lleyton Hewitt in Sydney winning

2001 and 2002, ended each of those years as world number one.

2001 and 2002, ended each of those years as world number Pete

Sampras... Boris Becker won it three times. Boris was a monster to play

against. Indoors. Tim, which year were you in? Are qualified in 1 98

and 2004 in Houston -- are qualified. The last left-handed

player to win, John McEnroe, 29 years since a left-handed player

won. Maybe that is an omen. Changing tack, the world of tennis suffered a

sad loss when Brad Barritt lost his battle with motor neurone disease.

He died in May. He was a very good friend of all of us in the studio

and all of the players. When the news was announced, the players paid

tribute in a moving one-minute silence in Madrid.

Very sad for all of the players and all of the people who know him. He

was a great person. He had big passion for tennis and that is the

memory we can keep from him. His passion for what he was doing and

his personality. He was a person who everybody loved.

his personality. He was a person who for not just asked tennis players

but the tennis world -- not just us tennis players. He was a brave man

and had the courage to stand up and try to change some things in our

sport for the better. We remember him as a very calm, very composed,

intelligent man who loved the sport with all of his heart. While he was

playing, coaching and then as a president of ATP. It happened very

quickly. It is hard to die just all of that. What else can you say but

thank you to everything he has given to the tour and the players? As the

president at the end and tournament director of the world tour finals,

he has done so much for the game. We can only thank him. The players got

on well with him. We spent a lot of time with him. He was an extremely

nice person. So sad for the whole of the tour to have to see that. But

hopefully he is in a better place now. Such a popular player on the

tour and as part of the ATP. He will be much missed. Here at the

tournament, a tournament that he so loved, they have donated all of the

mascots that walk the players onto the court. And the trophy this year

will be named the Brad Drewett trophy from now on. Such a nice guy.

Tennis was everything to him. He loved it as a player and being a

part of ATP. You are right. He had been involved in tennis at every

level. He was an outstanding junior, moved into the professional game and

was an moved into the professional game and

with him on the tour and during the Grand

with him on the tour and during the negotiations between the tour and

Wimbledon, for example, with the prize money issues. I was in

Shanghai with him. He was so passionate about the game. He wanted

to give back and he definitely was in a very important stage when the

negotiations took place. You saw the reaction of all of the players, not

only in Madrid, but in tournaments around the world, he will be sadly

missed. Our thoughts are with his family. It is lovely that the ATP is

going to remember him in such a way. You will see the little ovals

that people have to honour him. His legacy, motor neurone disease was

mercifully quick with him. But if there is a legacy there, find out

more about motor neurone disease because it is difficult to diagnose

in the early stages. But there are drugs that can make a huge

difference. I was talking to some motor neurone Association people

here this week as guests of Barclays and it was very interesting. I lost

to him at Wimbledon in the doubles once. Even when he beat you, it was

impossible to dislike him. Always smiling. Condolences of course to

the family. Sorely missed. He loved this tournament and he would have

loved this final. This is their 39th meeting. It is frightening they

have been playing so much. Imagine playing Rafa or Novak Djokovic 9

times? This is truly impressive. 26 of the

big ones for Nadal. From 2011 through to the Australian Open in

2012, Novak Djokovic 17 in a row. That was big. It looked like Novak

Djokovic completely That was big. It looked like Novak

time. That is when I think Nadal worked on the forehand down the line

and I think him and his uncle Toni Nadal fort, how will we get through

the Novak Djokovic defence? They played six grand slam finals in

total looking at the graphic and they are three all in that. 201 ,

the US Open, that victory was crucial. Most people in the game

would be happy to have the person who has won the most slams in the

year being the year-end number one. The French Open semifinal, that was

one of the matches of all time. That was extraordinary. 9-7 in the fifth.

Novak Djokovic still has not won the French Open because Nadal is there

the whole time. They have met each other fried times. It is going to go

the distance -- they have met each other five times.

the distance -- they have met each other In the context of the game

when you talk about the great rivalries, whether going back to

Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl and Andre Agassi and Pete

Sampras, it is amazing that they are so Young and this is already one of

the rivalries where they have played the most. It is going to be

interesting. Nadal never loses in Monte Carlo. Della McRae he won

eight in a row -- the game plan he employed was magnificent. He has got

the game to beat Nadal. Especially on an indoor court. If you are a

right-hander against Rafa is when he hits the ball across court. Novak

Djokovic has the movement to get there. He nullifies some of Nadal's

strength. I think their most memorable match

strength. I think their most effort. It went on for about three

days. Check out the shirt ripped at the end of it! I requested that He

looked down and out. They both looked down and out. They were

running on fumes at the end. It was Novak Djokovic that played Murray in

the semifinals and that went on foot five hours. To come back 36 hours

later and beat Nadal -- but went on for five hours. Superhuman. Is that

like you looking in the mirror in the morning? ! Fitness wise, they

have taken it to a new level. We were saying the other day, after

four hours in a match, you start panicking. Now it is six hours. Now

he does 12 hours over two matches over three days. Unbelievable. That

tournament was incredible. They came back from the rest over Christmas

and New Year, I say rest, they do training blocks, they come out hot

at the Australian Open. Novak Djokovic wins at every year. He has

such an amazing record. So does Andy Murray. It is a lot to do with the

training block. They put in so many hard yards, on the track and in the

gym and on the practice court. That is where I think for all of them it

is important that we... We touched on it earlier on, it Roger Federer

has talked about how he has missed quite a lot of practice with the

back issues. He needs to get a good three or four week stint with no

interruptions and build confidence back into his game. Then he can go

to Australia and stamp his authority again. It has changed tennis because

you have to be that strong to get into the world's top five now. The

other players have had to follow. The weight room used to be

optional. It is not optional anymore. Looking at someone like, I

was going to say Grigor Dimitrov, but not him, the world junior

champion is a little guy. He has been practising here with Nadal and

Federer. What you would say straightaway to him is, don't worry

about playing challenges and trying to get onto tall level events, go

and train. That is how the game has changed. You we think that is why

the average age of the top players is going up. One of the reasons

They are learning how to manage their game, for sure, but you are in

your physical peak if you have done the training early bust up 27 to 30

is when you should be hitting it. -- done the training early. Brutal

training session for Andy Murray in December. He did about an hour in

the gym, went out and played Feliciano Lopez for two hours. He

then did training on the court with body weight suit on. Then he did an

hour of Pilates with a Russian ballerina. He was being pushed and

pulled in all sorts of directions. And you did it with him and then you

went for a ten hour run! I was getting tired watching. Then he went

off for more stretching. It is a full-time job. You cannot just play

for couple of hours and have a cup of tea. It is attention to detail.

When you look at the nutrition, dehydration, everything that goes

into it, it is such small margins and when the competition is as tough

as this, you have got to make sure you maximise everything you have

got. Andy Murray has done that so well. Two outstanding athletes in

action here this well. Two outstanding athletes in

Djokovic is the world number two. well. Two outstanding athletes in

Let us hear from him. well. Two outstanding athletes in

2013 season, it has been successful for me. Definitely the last two

months have been the best in the whole season. It came at the right

time. I want to finish this year in the style as best as possible. I am

trying to take the necessary confidence and use it tomorrow

against Rafa. There is no secret between Rafa. We have played so many

times. The later stages of any big event, really, the last big match we

played in the US Open final, he won. I won in the finals of Beijing.

Every match we push each other to the limit. We take it the distance.

A lot of long rallies. Very physical and also very emotional. A lot of

tension. It is part of the big rivalry we have. He has tried to

evolve this game -- his game this year, partly in response to the

success you had against him in 011. Have you had to change your game to

try and counteract the improvements he has made? That is the beauty of

the rivalry. We make each other improved. I would agree with that

fact. He has improved this year immensely, especially on the hard

court surface, the one that was his least preferred and least

successful. He is more aggressive and using his serve more efficiently

and knows how to move much better than he used to. Of course, it made

me question myself, what I need to do, in order to have the right

response, especially at the US Open final. I played very well against

him in the Beijing final. I won in straight sets and had confidence

from that when. Hopefully, I can carry that on in this final. Not

only a big title on the line, but also a psychological advantage for

next year. He is finishing also a psychological advantage for

as world number one. For also a psychological advantage for

this very important to show also a psychological advantage for

is boss? I would not use those particular words but of course

whenever we play each other it is... We are not playing for the

rankings now, he has finished at number one of the world, deservedly

of course with the results he had this season. But, as I said, we have

played 70 times against each other, when you are playing a top rival,

you always want to win -- played so many times. They will be on court in

a moment. Does that make Novak Djokovic the favourite, indoors

hard surface? I have been picking him for three weeks. But there is a

box over here and I was chatting to them and they think Nadal is going

to win having seen his spirit. I think Novak Djokovic hits the ball

through the court quick enough to make Nadal's forehand not so quite

effective. I will go with Djokovic in straight sets. Normally I would

give him a debt first. We will ask him in a moment. It has gone to

darkness because the players are going to be out in a moment. Now let

us hear from Rafa. You have not won the world tour

finals yet. What would it mean to win indoors for the first time at

this event? If that happens, it would be the perfect way to close

the best season in my career, emotionally and results, one of the

best. That is it, Nadal will end 2013 is the world number one! That

is what the celebration is about. Even if I lose, it will not change

my mind about this season. Everything that has happened has

happened. Really unbelievable. I am just enjoying every moment. You are

a big fan of all sports. Would you accept this is one of the greatest

sporting comebacks you have ever seen? It is arrogant if you say it

about yourself. I do not think I can talk about my feelings. What is sure

is that it is the most difficult year in my career. Also the happiest

years. It has much more value than other years. We have heard from both

players and they are getting ready in the corridor for the walk. This

is what matches are all about, the build up. I used to love the build

up, the nervous excitement. This is a huge tournament. It certainly is.

The only difference is that they are so well looked after. They have

individual locker room is. Normally Rafa and Novak Djokovic would be

prancing around in the locker room together because everyone is

normally in one big locker room It is going to be interesting to gauge

the crowd reaction when they come out. It is getting noisy already.

The heartbeat you can hear is getting them all excited. This

matches coming on late on court because the doubles final over ran a

little bit. It is going to be worth waiting for. Let us enjoy the moment

because the players are just about to be introduced. Ladies and

gentlemen, the world number two and defending champion, from Serbia

Novak Djokovic! CHEERING Ladies and gentlemen, the world

number one, winner of 13 grand slam titles, making his sixth appearance

at the Barclays ATP World Tour five -- finals, from Majorca, Spain, Rafa

Nadal. CHEERING Ladies and gentlemen...

SUE BARKER: Wonderful at the O2 Arena. Tennis showbiz.

I hope from 2015 that it is given full consideration for the

possibility for it to stay here The crowds have been huge and that is

minus the biggest draw, Andy Murray. I think it is fabulous. You will be

able to see the tournament on the BBC for another two years. The

contract has been signed. People enjoy this because I think the

players love the atmosphere. It is incredible. Any time you come to a

stadium that is full, it is a good start. When you have 17,500 people,

it is incredible. It is fitting the number one and number two players,

fitting that they are back. I think it will be another minute or two

before Rafa is ready. There is a lot to get in place. The interview was

interesting. He had his cap on. He had just done 55 minutes in the

press room so he had just done 55 minutes in the

has to do different languages. A lot of interest. Talking in the press

conference about needing to be more aggressive on court when playing

against Djokovic so many tactics to play. I cannot wait for it to begin.

Heery comes. -- here he comes. Good evening. I have some reminders. We

have TV changeovers. Please be seated. If you want to challenge a

call, it has to be made in a timely and clear manner. Any questions

Richard, can you ask Novak Djokovic, heads or tails? Urine heads or

tails? Heads is called. -- heads or tails? Your choice. Novak Djokovic

has won the toss and is going to serve. It is or is going to be a

tactic against Federer to make sure he keeps his first ball in. Likewise

today, playing against one of the best returners in the game, it is

going to be important to see not necessarily how many aces or

unreturnable serves Rafa conserve, but how often he sets up the first

shot of the rally, how often he can get it into play and start getting

Djokovic on the defence. He is so fired up for this match. He could do

his ankle in. He changes direction so quickly. He is really quite

something. You asked the question earlier about comebacks. I was just

trying to think, in terms of coming back from injuries, certainly this

has been monstrously impressive Comebacks generally, Liverpool

has been monstrously impressive last year, but he has done it for a

has been monstrously impressive whole year. He has continued to

dominate and he has delivered some of the most painful losses to Novak

Djokovic. Thinking back, the run you are talking about in the head to

heads, the seven victories in a row in 2011 that Novak Djokovic

inflicted on Rafa, in the three Grand Slams, that was terrible,

rotten. But he was the the one. . These two have been present in so

many of the big moments in our sport. A question has come in which

says, what does Rafa Nadal's comebacks say about the depth of

men's tennis? I think it says more about Rafa than men's tennis. If you

are complaining about the level of Murray, Federer-macro... I do not

think we can please everyone! There are no other team-mates to help him

back on the comeback trail. He is looking to win his 11th title of the

year. Where that is a legitimate question and where it leads is, who

is coming after the slot? I am not sure. Murray, Nadal, Federer, they

were all winning tournaments early on. There are not that many that you

could pick. Respect for the level of their play, but there is not

something globally iconic about them. In each regard, with Federer,

Nadal, Djokovic, these are global in a way that the next generation do

not look like they are going to be. It happens. We may have a fallow two

or three years when these guys finish

or three years when these guys five years of enjoying matches like

this then. It was interesting that Federer said about Rafa, how behind

the baseline he plays on the surface -- how far behind. You want to give

yourself more time against Federer because he is playing so

aggressively. He plays with so much spin and give the ball so much

height and make a summit deep. If you are playing flat and fast

against Federer, that is how he likes it. Nadal has an impact by

going crosscourt. Unfortunately for Federer, that breaks it down. Would

you expect to see Rafa being more aggressive? He has to be. You cannot

knock him off balance. He has an unbelievably clinical, surgical

attack. Watching the practice early on, he was taking the ball early and

hitting it crosscourt and then moving to the right and fitting the

crosscourt forehand. It is a pattern he knows he will get from Nadal

today. To say he was hitting it purely is an understatement. It is

tennis perfection at times that these two boys put together. I wish

it was best of five sets! I bet they don't. It has been a long year. You

have another cup of tea on this Who are you going for? Are you giving

the first pic? I have won two. They have been betting all week on

different matches. My choice first. Djokovic. Can you see his face? ! He

is not a bad man to have. You cannot complain if you have got Nadal on

your side. Fingers crossed. There is so little between these. They have

played 39 times. It is 22 to the so little between these. They have

dial. -- to Nadal. It is about who can create chances on the day. I

would not be surprised if it goes to three sets and comes down to a final

set tie-break shoot out. Players love to be the world number one We

saw how Rafa celebrated earlier this week. It is also about titles and

Rafa has not won this. It is incredible when you reflect he has

won all four Grand Slams, Olympic gold, the Davis Cup several times.

This is the one he has not won. If he were to complete that, I think

Andre Agassi is the only other one who has achieved that, the four

Grand Slams, Olympic gold and Davis. Again, it is not when you are out on

the court playing the match, you are not thinking about the prize money,

the ranking points, the tournament, it you are thinking about the

tactics to implement to beat Novak Djokovic. Confidence is such a big

key. Rafa has got it in abundance. Coming in here with a 21 match

winning streak and winning the weight Novak Djokovic has won this

week, he comes onto the court knowing he is on great form. Yes.

One of the challenges for all the players if they have had a busy

year, Djokovic playing the last week, you would have thought they

would both be looking a bit jaded but it doesn't seem to be the case.

We talked about the five set final spot after what they have been

through, to go out and play five sets wouldn't be fair, so it is a

good scenario to have this three-set final. His parents, girlfriend,

Rafa. Everybody wanted a ticket It is a fitting final tournament match,

isn't it? No doubt is a fitting final tournament match,

about Andy winning Wimbledon, Djokovic has played fantastically

well. So to have the number one and number two player playing against

each other in the World Tour finals is the perfect way to finish, and

hopefully they can both perform and give us another classic. Djokovic

would dearly love to win this because Rafa has taken his number

one ranking and he wants to finish the year with a comma hold on, I am

still here. -- finished the year with a, hold on, I am still here. It

is going to be brutal tennis. The way they played, how aggressive how

hard they hit the ball, how consistent they are, the most

important thing to remember for people watching at home is the point

has not finished until battle has bounced twice. There are certain

times when you think, it is over, Rafa is out of position. There is no

way he can win this point. He finds a way to get back in the rallies.

And Djokovic is the same. We should have a bet on another cup of tea for

the longest rally tonight, Andrew and I. We have had a few of those

this week! It is going to go on and on! Andrew is in position. What are

you going to go for? Well, I need to hear exactly and in detail how many

shots Tim thinks it will be. I think the longest rally will be 34 shots.

I'm going to say more than that for another cup of tea! A good shout! We

will pre-need more than a cup of tea watching this match! It is going to

be something really quite special. If you want to send in more

questions for the team, you can There are many ways on social media.

Our Facebook page and on Twitter. If you want to send us a

Our Facebook page and on Twitter. If #bbctennis. So we are all set for

this final. The #bbctennis. So we are all set for

last tournament match of the year. So, sit back and enjoy it in the

company of Andrew and Tim Henman. ANDREW CASTLE: Thank you, Sue. Thank

you very much indeed. It is the world number one and the world

number two to end this tournament. What a match to close with. One

versus two for the fourth final of the year after Wimbledon, the US

Open and Beijing. But here we are in London at the World Tour finals

Both players undefeated through their groups and both semifinal

winners. The Serbian will start Settled in, Tim? Phew! Only just!

That was an hour in the studio! We should get paid overtime for that!

34 shots, you reckon, the longest? Ah! I thought I was

bet on the second point, Tim! Just easing in. Doesn't take them long to

find their feet or their rhythm from the back of the court.

So many statistics and so many numbers and so much history between

the two. They put numbers together in the press room and there are just

acres of forest dying in the press room and there are just

these numbers through! And once you actually

these numbers through! And once you anything. Do the players look at

those statistics themselves at all? Is there anything to gain? I don't

think they necessarily make too many comparisons. I think you are more

interested in analysing your own game. If you are struggling on

serve, you might look at your first serve percentage. But it is amazing

how similar some of these things are. First serve percentage Djokovic

and the dull name, 62.9 for Djokovic, 62.1 for the dull. -- for

Nadal. UMPIRE: Once again, turn the flash

off. Thank you. In the first row. APPLAUSE

The ball's coming through the court, isn't it? Off the Djokovic racket. A

couple of mistakes from Nadal. It is clinical. The attack is

measured. Each shot played on its own merit. There is a purpose to

every single strike of the ball from this man. Nadal just not really

getting the strike in, the ball dropping a bit short. Djokovic

immediately onto it. Three break points in Nadal's first service

game. Oh! That was fantastic! Nadal had

some proper disguise on that one. From that position to find that

shot... Djokovic should had played such a fine point. -- Djokovic had.

Giving no clues and just flipping it crosscourt. That was sweetly done.

That is a sumptuous game from Djokovic. And he delivers a body

blow with that serve. How impressed are you with this start, Tim?

There's no one else in the world that can soak up that type of

hitting from Nadal and then turn defence into attack. He resisted

Nadal going to his forehand and still manage to not only get his

racket on it, but get it back to a decent depth. You sent his intensity

level. Just the second game of the match.

He is already at 9.5 out of ten He is playing like the taking of his

number one ranking was a bit rude! Still no control on the length of

that forehand. He's only ever had one coach, which

is his Uncle Toni. The author who worked on Nadal's

book said lately about the family bond in the family, something

Sicilian, just without the malice and the guns! Apologies

Nadal struggling to make the contact he wants on that forehand side.

Any clue as to why that would be? Use at now and again, that he is not

perfect. -- you see it. At the French Open, just a couple of years

ago, he sorted it out. Just rushing the strings rather than going

through it. Well, when you have that much racket speed, if you are

swinging at it that hard it is going to go a long way from where you want

it to go, and he just hasn't quite found his depth. That added to the

fact that Djokovic has come out on court timing things as sweetly as he

can. Semifinal at the French Open earlier

this year, the one major tournament which has eluded Djokovic. He lost

to Nadal in one of the classics of this year, of all, actually. And

then lost the ranking to him as well, and these are important losses

in the context of a career. They are way ahead of Ferrer and Murray at

number three and four in the world. Djokovic's

number three and four in the world. Australian Open and the points

number three and four in the world. got from that last year, which is

around about 20% of his points. And of course, Nadal will be defending

nothing, so he is just adding. So he might pull away in the rankings but

you have a feeling Djokovic will keep him in his sights. Talking of

pulling away, this is almost a must win game for Nadal in this set. To

drop serve again and go down 4- , that would be a tough comeback even

by his standards. Ooh! Stefan Edberg here. He will be

back, playing a bit against you Flat as a pancake, Rafa, at the

moment. He has nothing to get his teeth into.

His level has been so average, it's difficult to get the adrenaline

flowing. Djokovic won't be complaining.

Ooh! He knows how big that point was. He stayed in it with the slide

to the forehand offence. Just lifting up the back of the ball

here. In two breaks he could have put the sets to bed. You can see by

his reaction only in the fourth game that he knew how important that was.

Mum, sister, girlfriend, uncle. Manager. They are all down there and

they will be relieved that their man has actually got up and running

What will be clearing up from the court? A bit of perspiration, I d

think. 17,500 people and these lights, it gets pretty warm out

there. Remember that backhand in the

previous game on break point? It's the beauty of the scoring

system in tennis. There you are thinking this set could be over and

three minutes later it is 3-1, 15-30, half chance for Nadal.

The dull name there is his attack so well with the forehand, sometimes

you feel he is targeting the backhand and then he switches to the

Djokovic forehand. -- Nadal varies his attack.

Too along from Djokovic. -- too long. He saved a point that would

have seen him down two breaks at 4-0 and suddenly we have a set on our

hands. The service game Djokovic will not be happy with there. Made

far too many unforced errors. Very hard to call it an unforced error

when you are facing somebody like Nadal coming at you from both sides

and with such varied attack and with a presence on the court he has

earned over the years as well. Certainly there's a lot that would

come in the category of forced errors but when you reflect on a

couple of forehand there, the short slice Nadal hit to bring Djokovic

in, his approach on this from six feet, and there's no doubt that was

an unforced error. Alex says, how would Sampras, Agassi,

an unforced error. Alex says, how would say the greatest of all time.

It is difficult to compare it is but also you have to take into account

conditions. If you put Rafa playing on some of those fast, Supreme Court

's Boris Becker and Pete Sampras used to play on, I fancy their

chances. I'd think Rafa would have liked those. But put Sampras playing

on this court, I don't fancy his chances of getting a set. No. And

Rafa was very quick when this debate came up to talk about Rod Lader

whom he never saw play but who was just magnificent. Before he became

professional and then after he went professional. How many would he have

won? If he had had the chance to enter them. So there's that

particular debate. The answer - don't know!

A spectacle to watch a rally like that and a spectacle to hear it

Boom. That is technical expertise. To hit a ball at the end of a long

rally, kicking off the surface like that. It just does not happen

without a bit of practice. It is supposed to be 25 seconds

between points. It has been a bone of contention this year.

Nadal had a good look at that after he hit the forehand on the baseline

and decided not to stop play. Ladies and gentlemen, please do not use

cameras with flash. Djokovic had such a clean start. First three

games, five winners, two unforced errors. Suddenly, after six games,

he has made 11 unforced errors. Sense of history when these to play

against each other. Federer as well. Records. Rafa Nadal took over in

October. He is 108 weeks at number one in total and he will stay number

one at the end of the year. Bjorn Borg, 109 weeks. In a week. Time, he

will overtake him. Bjorn Borg retired at 26. Novak Djokovic at 101

weeks. When all is said and done, it is better to be higher up the list

and lower down. The person Nadal will be chasing soon is John

McEnroe. A full year away to get there. Roger Federer is the

record-holder. Puts it into perspective how consistent Federer

was. Not just winning the Grand Slam events, but the all-round

tournaments. Nadal is only, in' is, been our number one 108 weeks. Six

full year that the head of the game for Roger Federer. That means no

injuries, no downturn in form. Am I supposed to feel sorry for him now?

I don't think so! Federer defeated in straight sets by Rafa Nadal in

the semifinal. Last night Novak Djokovic defeated Stanislas

Wawrinka. That set up the clash between world number one and two at

the season-ending championships Rafa is never going to be serving

bullets but that number of first serves is not ideal.

If he gets the number up, he can dominate with the second shot in the

rally. That was a quietly magnificent return of serve. 12

serve, arise back at 85 miles an hour with a good length.

A good length and a flat hit from Djokovic is a hard to handle,

although Nadal is making mistakes that you would not expect.

Some extra beef on that one. That is about as quick as he will get, 25.

Normally he serves about four doubles the week.

Went down the middle last the break point.

That is a proper tennis point! Did you see Djokovic make ground to get

that lob over Nadal's head? It was after this cut volley, look at

that! History, lightning down the other end. -- a streak of lightning.

It has all got a bit nervy. I thought you said they were tired

at the end of the year? ! At macro you said that!

I am still thinking about how he got over to the lob. That was some

speed. That is lucky. He made all the

running in that point. Had That is lucky. He made all the

to put the first forehand away after the serve. Then got involved in a

gruelling battle. What a point. Was that half-volley going to go wide? I

think that was lucky on two occasions.

Game and first set, Djokovic. Well, the set went in blocks of three

games. Djokovic out to a quick start. Sort Nadal comeback 3-3 and

polished it off -- saw Nadal. Good fortune, you could call it. But

there was such intensity to the set. Looking at the numbers, would not

normally talk about double faults, but four from Rafa is unusual. He

got off to a slow start. Double faults not be helped on the game he

lost his serve to go 3-5 down. Only winning 53% of first serve points

and 45% on the second. Those numbers winning 53% of first serve points

will be lower when you play against a fantastic return, but he will be

looking to improve those. Djokovic is not only living with him from the

back of the court, he is getting the better of it. Marginally. A point or

two here or there. Without the net cord, it could have been very

different. I will have the number one ranking back! Caption

competition. It is very different than any other match we have seen

over the course of the week. Do get in touch if you are enjoying this. #

BBC tennis. It is quite a spectacle when the best play against each

other. It seems to have gone up 5%. They get the best out of each other.

For Nadal, his self talk is always positive. What do you think it

resolves around? Certainly putting the first set behind him. He is

serving the first game in the second and wants to concentrate on that and

start to reverse the momentum. Did well to get back in the first set

and hit the amazing point at break point. In reality, Nadal should have

put the backhand volley away. Nadal's season closes here. No Spain

in the Davis Cup this year. For Novak Djokovic, next week it is

Belgrade against the Czech Republic. Tomas Berdych in his team.

What an end of year it has been for Djokovic. Since losing to Nadal in

the US Open in September, he is unbeaten. 21 matches, this is

the US Open in September, he is 22nd. Take your seats quickly,

please. The players are ready. Incidentally, Great Britain are back

in the world group of the Davis Cup and they play against the United

States at the end of January, the 31st of January and the 1st of

February, in San Diego. If Andy Murray wasn't ready for the

Australian Open, do you think he would be ready for the Davis Cup?

May be? Maybe. First match back five sets on clay, the surface that

gave him most trouble. Errors. Does not need to give

Djokovic start in this set. That was a very unusual ratio of. As for

Nadal. -- ratio of unforced errors. This had some have time on it. It

missed the big scoreboard by about six feet. You would think you would

want to be giving yourself a bit more margin for error, but Nadal

goes for it even more. Mr Nadal is challenging the call.

Baseline. The ball is called out. The line judge did not look totally

confident. -- did not look. That is why Hawk-Eye is there. We play the

confident. -- did not look. That is point. --

That is a big holes from 0- 30. -- big holes. Here is a statistic for

you. The winner of the first set in the last eight matches between these

two macro has gone on to win the match. Relevant? Both good front

runners. Djokovic's cans down the line today, he is going down the

line a lot more. That is the attack he tries to set up. You can drown in

these stats! He has a very specific game plan which he would not share

with anyone else, just him, coach and team.

This is where Djokovic is so good. He felt he was under a bit of

pressure. But he is able to hit the ball a foot from baseline and the

sideline to get back in the point. It's been another wonderful year. He

may have lost the world number one ranking, but

may have lost the world number one time we started putting some

pressure on Andy Murray in that regard, don't you think, Tim? All

take that as a no comment! Definitely! -- I will take that

Sister on the right of Rafa Nadal. Vamos indeed!

You just don't really expect to see those last four points from either

player. Two unforced errors from Nadal to go down 40-0 and two

unforced errors from Djokovic for it to become 30-40.

Nadal made the mistake of getting a first serve in there and it came

right back so quickly off the top of his racket. What a return of serve!

If you don't keep him guessing on that return, he's going to punish

you, isn't he? He is. And Nadal happy first serve percentage up on

this set but wasn't quite able to find the spots. Just a

this set but wasn't quite able to people we have with us here.

this set but wasn't quite able to models, film stars,

this set but wasn't quite able to sorts with us today! Half the

Arsenal football team are here. Eye was saluting them early on because

they beat Dortmund but now they have lost to Manchester United. -- I was.

Is that Molly? Mollie King from The Saturdays. So, Nadal. Is it Nadal

not playing to his high standards or is this about Djokovic being supreme

this evening? I think it's a little bit of both but for me, I think the

major factor of those two issues is Nadal's level. Too many unforced

errors. First serve percentage has got better but only winning 50% of

first serve points and 50% on the second. Those baseline rallies,

Djokovic is bossing it. I think we might be seeing a performance from

Djokovic which is higher than it looks. He's very deceptive and

incredibly effective at doing the basics. Doing the basics

brilliantly. Though, yes, Lily there are mistakes from the Spanish end.

-- clearly. 12 games and Rafa has hit four winners. Does that tell you

something about Djokovic's anticipation? And his movement.

Or does it tell you Nadal has missed?

Nothing working for Rafa. Comfortable for Djokovic as he backs

up that serve. They played recently in China, in Beijing, and Djokovic

won that one very ably in three sets. Is this going to be another of

those? It will be unless Rafa gets his act together pretty quick key.

-- quickly. Haven't seen both players playing at

the top of their game for six or seven rallies.

Given his left knee has been such a problem, this run and the reaction

afterwards from Rafa if we see it, just watch it now... You don't see

him pull up but we will here. Doesn't need that sort of a run on

the left knee. Just winced a bit. I think we have to remember as well,

Tim, when watching this, that this is Rafa's least favourite surface

and the one he has had the least success on. The ATP Tour finals is

just the top eight players in the world and the argument that it could

be played on clay at some point and I have some sympathy for that

argument. Yes. It made a name for itself at Madison Square Garden is

and it has been in Shanghai, Sydney, Frankfurt, Houston,

Hanover. A lot of that was the Boris Becker access. It goes where the

stars. Obviously in Sydney, Lleyton Hewitt. And, you know, it is such a

great event. 260,000 plus people. Just this week. It has found a home

and I'd believe if you have this opportunity, a great sponsor,

incredible crowds, Andy Murray, fingers crossed he can be back here,

you want to make the most of it in London. We have two more years of it

no matter what, and then, well, well before that, a decision will be

made. We could make a concession in the UK and say, look, OK,

Birmingham, Manchester... Glasgow. Somebody shouts at Newcastle in my

ear! Absolutely! Taunton. That is so clean from Djokovic. Not

one stick you feel Nadal was really in it. -- not once did you feel And

I can tell you, he was flexing his knee after that running. Never in

the point but the last blow was a significant one and Djokovic had to

handle it. But the way the serving can keep Rafa out of these rallies

is impressive indeed. gingerly after that serve. We

normally see him moving like a gazelle.

Nadal trying to get stuck into a Djokovic service game.

Djokovic snaps up a mini comeback? Stays up for-2. -- 4-2. He looks

utterly in control of the money No letup, is there? He knows. He can

see the winning line. Finish the match here with another break. Get

the job done. That's see what Nadal has in the tank. Ten titles this

year. World number one for sure -- let's see.

He's giving Nadal the absolute runaround here. His ground strokes

full of precision. And Nadal is left sweeping from side to side, really

just guessing. It's amazing to say Djokovic is just bullying Nadal from

the back of the court. He's the one dictating. This is what it was like

in 2011, when Djokovic won seven times straight. Real dominance for a

while. Three grand slams in a row. Wimbledon, US Open and Australian

Open finals. Nadal's just got to find a way to

hold onto this service game, to then put some pressure on Djokovic.

Rafa holds on, keeps the match alive! A bruising seventh game. In

the second set. And Djokovic will feel frustrated with that. Looking

at the statistics here, forehand winners, one for Nadal. Just has not

been able to impose his game in any way on Djokovic. But, do you know

what? He got through the game. He did and he doesn't know the meaning

of the word submit. He hung in there. Some great match points with

the way Djokovic has been serving and he certainly gives himself

another opportunity, perhaps two opportunities, to break Djokovic.

Fiona says, I am hoping this goes to three sets just so the tennis season

can last that little bit longer I know what you mean! Another says,

Djokovic is like fine wine. Getting better with age. Chris says, both

have had a great year. And the new Year will start with the Australian

Open, where Djokovic will be defending. So nice to see the

pictures coming in from Australia if you are not lucky enough to be

there. Clear blue skies. A bit of a rest for the players, though, before

that. Most of them will have tend days -- ten days to Bob two weeks

away from the game. -- to. They will get to enjoy a tranquil holiday

without the attention of the paparazzi lenses. Could

without the attention of the bit of distance left to run in this

match. Wow! Does he play well or what?

Absolute control of the ball. He is four feet inside the baseline,

taking the angle... It's only the fourth point he has

lost on serve. In this set. Not much for Nadal fans to get a

hold of in these Djokovic service games.

The Serbian has made so many correct decisions and judgements. That

second serve, the committed kick serve down the middle, at exactly

the right time and that name just moving to his right to get the

forehand into play. Djokovic perhaps out of the corner of his eye seeing

it and get into the corner. It's impressive. -- getting to the

corner. The 39th meeting between these two.

Certainly not a classic. Heavy duty rivalry, that is for sure. The big

hitting has come from Djokovic. Well, the clock is ticking towards

want more but Nadal is facing match point. Championship point,

Djokovic. His game has not always been that

but the spirit is still there. If he can hang on once again, Djokovic

might question himself in the next game.

That was magnificent! Rafa holds from championship point down.

As a player, you feel rubbish when you have a match point and you have

to come out and serve for it. It is a question of staying in the

present, if you can. Very much so. Djokovic was trying hard to finish

the match. So that he did not have to go through the trials and

tribulations of serving the match and championship out. The... Knows

he has given himself another chance -- Nadal knows. It is very important

he tries to get into the first couple of points, try to get

there-15, 15-30. He has not quite managed to get into the games.

Always playing catch-up, always behind in the count. Djokovic is

bound to be nervous, trying to put one over his great rival, beat him

in the US Open final, French Open semifinal this year. Djokovic could

have had a career year if it was not for the pesky Rafa. Nadal is not

moving very well, I have to say I think the knee is a big issue. You

did not see him on the TV shots coming out. He will put it to the

back of his mind and he will grin and bear it, but I think he did hurt

himself earlier. Serving for the tour finals.

He does not look livid but I have seen him Mr two of those in the last

two Djokovic service games. Very unusual.

He was not going to give Djokovic another bite of the cherry.

Talk about Nadal's comeback this year! This would be some comeback in

this match. It is Djokovic! For the third time,

he wins the season-ending championships. Nadal has yet to do

so. He will remain the world number one. Right now, this is the man of

the moment. Exactly the same scoreline as he defeated Nadal

recently in China. 22 matches in a row since losing the US Open final.

That is form and that is spirit That is it for the year for Rafa

Nadal. What a year. Sees him pick up two of his three Grand Slams that he

contested this year. This man one in Australia, Djokovic. Semifinalist at

the friends, semifinal at Wimbledon, lost Andy Murray. It came

down to one versus two in this magnificent arena and the number two

wins. A third season-ending victory for the Serbian. Absolutely

undeniably the top man here for the Serbian. Absolutely

week. Djokovic lost so few points when he got the delivery and. A huge

effort from Rafa Nadal to make the last service game close. Eventually

he succumbed when putting a forehand just wide. When a stir and forced

errors is worth looking at. -- winners to unforced errors. Djokovic

was able to get the surgical strikes in. He certainly landed some heavy

blows from the back of the court. No aces from Nadal either. That is not

totally unusual. Djokovic illustrating from the back of the

point, his movement and anticipation and conditioning, just supreme. I

cannot wait for the next instalment of this rivalry. Their next will be

number 40, a rivalry for the ages. Boris Becker and Bjorn Edberg only

played 35. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, 34. This has surpassed those

numbers. Andy Murray will join them in Australia, if he recovers from

surgery. And Federer will look to put together a more consistent year

on the fitness front and more consistent results will follow. That

is ahead. Now we celebrate Novak Djokovic with a third victory at the

ATP World Tour finals. SUE BARKER: That really was a superhuman effort

from this man. We anticipated it would be a tight match but he took

dominated. He never let Rafa in He dominated. He never let Rafa in He

authority on the first three games, he sent out a message

authority on the first three games, he was hitting the ball and how well

he was moving. Rafa came back into it but you felt Djokovic was plainly

better tennis. For me, it was one match to far for Rafa. He has had an

incredible year and deserves to be world 11. But at this moment in

time, indoors, Djokovic is the player to beat. Worrying signs, four

double faults in the first set which is uncharacteristic of Rafa. There

is the worry that possibly the need or some sort of injury... -- Dini.

It is not ideal. You do not want to see him limping. But at the end of

the year, it is a hard year and he will look forward to his holiday.

Back we go for the presentation Former ATP executive chairman,

president and our friend, Brad Drewett. This year, the world of

tennis lost one of its beloved sons, ATP executive chairman and president

Brad Drewett passed away aged 5 following a battle with no to

nearing disease -- motor neurone disease. In his honour, the world

tour finals single strophe has been renamed the Brad Drewett Trophy

ensuring his legacy will live on. We remember him as a very calm,

composed, intelligent man who loved the sport with all of his heart

While playing, coaching and then as a president of ATP. He had a big

passion for tennis and that is the memory we can keep. APPLAUSE

Now, ladies and gentlemen, the 0 13th Barclays ATP World Tour finals

singles presentation, the Brad Drewett Trophy will be carried on to

court by Rebecca Caine, the lucky winner of a competition. This

once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has been given to the fans by Barclays

to recognise the importance of the role that they play in the success

of this event. Thank you very much. If you could

please welcome back onto court the members of the Barclays ATP World

Tour finals steering committee, Chris Kermode, managing director of

the Barclays ATP World Tour finals, the CEO of ATP Europe, the chief

operating officer, the commercial director of the all England lawn

tennis club. Again, please welcome back onto

court the Barclays ATP World Tour finals tournament director... Back

once again, the chief executive of retail and business banking at

Berkeley 's. -- at Barclays Bank. Now it is time, ladies and

gentlemen, to show your appreciation for the 20 13th Barclays ATP World

Tour finals runner-up, is Rafael Nadal. APPLAUSE

Hello. CHEERING Thank you. Hello, everybody. First thing I want to

say, congratulations to Novak I wish you the best of luck for the

final of the Davis Cup, you deserve it. The second thing, thank you very

much to all of the people who are there supporting me, day by day for

the last 20, 27 years. Without them, for sure, it would be impossible for

me to for sure, it would be impossible for

in this fantastic stadium in front of probably one of the best crowds

of the world and the best atmosphere is here in London. Many thanks.

Thank you very much all of the tournament organisation, one of the

best events on tour. The director of the tournament, thank you very much

for everything. You are doing a great job and you make us feel

welcome. Thank you for everything. APPLAUSE All the sponsors, without

them, it is impossible to have an event like this. All of the

companies supporting our sport, thank you very much, for having the

confidence in the tennis. And for the last thing, I have been no doubt

the most emotional season in my career, after a tough injury like I

had last year, I couldn't be here playing in one of the best

tournaments. I missed it a lot. One of the best seasons of my career. To

play the last match of the season in the stadium, it is just fantastic. I

did not have the chance to win today because I played against a player

who played much better than me today. Many thanks, all of the

crowd. APPLAUSE For all of the support, not only today, around the

week and all of the crowd that supported me and more than ever

during the whole season around the world. Thank you very much. See you

next year. Thank you. CHEERING And now, ladies and gentlemen, a man

who has won this title three times, it is your 2013 Barclays ATP

Champion, it is Novak Djokovic. APPLAUSE

Good evening, everybody. CHEERING I would like to start congratulating

Rafa and his team for an incredible season and what you have done this

year is amazing. Congratulations for ending as the world number one.

CHEERING Of course, this is a great place to finish the year. I would

repeat Rafa's words. You guys are amazing. Thank you for appreciating

what we do and having such a great passion for this sport and coming

out the whole week. No empty seats on the stadium for every singles and

doubles match, it means a lot to us. For us, it is a pleasure to play

here. Thank you for your support. APPLAUSE Of course, tournament

sponsors, volunteers, ball kids ATP, everybody taking part in a

contribution to such a successful week, such as successful tournament,

as I said, it is a great place to finish another season in a city that

nurtures tennis tradition for a long time. Thank you all for supporting

it and we will see you definitely next year. CHEERING I just want to

finish by thanking my team, of course. The closest team of people

who are not just my coaches, my professional team, but also very

close and dear people to me who I always can rely on. You maybe CS

playing a lot on the court and you think it is an individual sport But

the big success comes from the back of the court, from these guys and

what they give is very important to us. Tank you very much. APPLAUSE --

thank you very much. SUE BARKER Thank you, Novak Djokovic. If you

were not with us at the top of the programme, the tribute to Brad

Drewett, the executive chairman and president of the ATP who sadly lost

his battle with motor neurone disease this year. It is nice that

the tournament has named the trophy after Brad What a final it was and

what a match from Novak Djokovic. He dominated from the back of the

court. Rafa could not match it. It is fair to say that Rafa did not

reach the levels he is capable of. That was in large part due to

Djokovic. He is so good at staying tight to the baseline. The forehands

from Nadal give tight to the baseline. The forehands

problems, but he is able to keep tight to the baseline. The forehands

Nadal on the defensive. He tight to the baseline. The forehands

play after the US Open, having not lost a match, an incredible finish

to the year. Reflecting on it as a whole, Nadal is a worthy number one.

We talk about Nadal and may be a problem with the need, but he does

not like the surface and playing indoors, the court surface with the

low bounce. Nobody else was good enough to get anywhere near him but

Djokovic has a game that can. That is what he did today. A wonderful

performance from Djokovic. But we can accept that this is not Nadal's

surface. He would like the season-ending championship to be on

clay. He wants it to be on clay because he would win it again and

again and again like the French Open. Fair enough, this is

probably... Nadal is as effective on this as anything. Hell of a

performance from Novak. A wonderful evening. More sport coming up on the

BBC. Highlights from the Rugby League World Cup. That is at 11 20pm

on BBC Two. Today was Novak Djokovic that claimed the title for the third

time. We look forward to 2014. What a year it could be with these two

continuing their battle for world number one, to see Roger back on

form would be great and hopefully we will see Andy Murray free from

injury. We look forward to next year and we look forward to being here

next year. We hope you have enjoyed the tournament as much as we have.

Goodbye. Hi, I'm Sam. Here's our check on the

global news channels. The aftermath of the massive typhoon

in the Philippines dominates. "Survivors fighting for life amid

the dead" is how CNN put it. NHK reported that debris was hampering

rescuers. Vietnam's VTC were live as the typhoon made landfall there VTV

said winds had weakened. China's CCTV