Day 8: Final: Federer v Djokovic (Part One) Tennis: World Tour Finals

Do you ever get that feeling of having seen the same thing twice?

Novak Djokavic and Roger Federer will experience that today having

already met in this tournament in the group match on Tuesday. It is a

little piece of brilliance. Roger Federer undefeated in the group.

These two men have dominated this event in recent years with at least

one of them in every final but one since 2003. Today, Roger looks to

get a seventh victory at the tour final. Novak Djokavic will hope to

clinch a fifth title the first man to win four in a row. Please, do not

adjust your set. It is time for Djokavic Federer take two. Beating

Djokavic ones any week is hard enough and beating him twice is a

huge challenge. This is the last tournament match of the year. We

will finish in style. Only one of them will lift this coveted full

fee. Tim and Andrew are with me for this final. One thing Roger knows is

that it will be a different Djokavic tonight. He did not play very well

in the first encounter. Roger did, he sliced and diced. Djokavic make

mistakes. We're not going to see those mistakes again. Too big

Djokavic take -- twice any week is a joke. Federer is not thinking about

the experience at 34, he just wants to go out. To watch Federer in full

flow time to make that happen, that is the special thing about this

match. Federer has given him trouble this year. He is for-3 down in the

head-to-head but one two out of the last three. You can get that much

they played in the round-robin and it will not have much bearing. I

think the intensity levels went down for Djokavic in the second set. This

is a different scenario. Both players through to the final. It is

going to be clever Federer can maintain that controlled aggression

or whether Djokavic can dominate those baseline points. It is a great

way for this tournament to come to a close. Djokavic has one of the

greatest years in the history of the sport. It is ridiculous. In the

final of every Grand Slam. We talk about Serena Williams doing that. He

has put together the most remarkable year. He has got a presence on court

which electrifies people. He does not look like people make mistakes.

Remarkable. He dismantled Rafael Nadal yesterday. He certainly dead.

They are both such great athlete. You can hear through our microphones

the anticipation that the crowd have for this match. It is a fitting

finale to end 2015 with the man who has dominated the year, Novak

Djokavic, up against arguably the greatest of all time and a huge

favourite everywhere he goes, Roger Federer. Both players will get a

huge ovation when they come out on court. The six time finals

champion. When 88 including 17 Grand Slam clowns. From Switzerland, Roger

Federer. APPLAUSE

Ladies and gentlemen, making his ninth appearance, winning 60 titles.

And ten Grand Slams. The defending champion and the ATP world number

one, from Serbia, Novak Djokavic. APPLAUSE

What an ovation. First for Roger and also for Novak Djokavic. He says he

does not get the appreciation of respect the admiration of the crowds

around the world. In London they told him the respect everything he

has done. Djokavic is popular wherever he plays. It is unfortunate

that when you are kind to make a comparison against Roger Federer,

every game is a home game for Federer because he is so popular

throughout the world. At times it has got underneath the skin of

Djokavic. That he has not had the warmth from the crowd. I think that

now on the back of the year he has had, 28 years of age, he has the

ESPN is not to let that fester. Such great motivation, he has. From 18

months ago, he is a changed man. He has made changes to his physical

shape and game and is almost the perfect tennis player. 18 months at

number one and will finish the year at number one. The motivation when

everyone is shooting at you, you have to look to ways to add to your

game and he does. What can Roger do about it tonight?

Same conditions as always. We will have television changeovers. Two

challenges per sec and one more in the tie-break. If you want to

challenge let me know immediately. Any questions? Heads. Tables, Roger.

Serve. Roger Federer winning the toss and

elected to serve. It is going to see the great -- great to see the great

defence against each other. We will be in for an absolute treat. They

have produced so many great matches and lighters will be around for

another one today. We talked about Djokavic going through against Rafa

Nadal. Last night, Roger Federer went through against his Swiss come

victory at Stan Wawrinka. It was a 17 minute work-out. We went through

75, 6-3. There was a warm handshake and warm words at the net. That is

what happened last night. That match was difficult for Roger Federer but

he dismissed Stan Wawrinka. He has changed his racket and moved to the

bigger style which has helped his game and continued his run at the

top. The racket he was using before had a small head. It was only 90

square inches. This one is about 98. It is a significant change and it is

wider so it has more power. He has more area on his backhand. It is

difficult for him to time the ball perfectly. It is a big change

because he had won so much with that bracket. To change the tool of your

trade you have to be pretty confident you will be adding

something. It really has. We talked about history repeating itself this

week. It was Federer and bring to that played in the semifinals last

year and that is when Federer got injured. -- and Stan Wawrinka. I am

pleased to see both players on the court that and healthy. Federer

unbeaten this week and looking so good. He always plays well in this

tournament. He was nervous when he started against Tomas Berdych and

lost his opening service game. He talked about the week before. Still

getting nervous despite the 17 Grand Slam titles and all the achievements

he has got. This is why he has stayed at the top, he hates losing.

Very soothing, soothing, stylish, elegant and powerful but ultimately

a competitor. The manner in which he competes makes it look easy for

him. He is happy to still do the work. He loves this entire thing.

From that ovation you can hear just how much the fans loved him as well.

We will talk more about this match up any moment. Let us hear from both

players. They both really love the challenge of playing at this event.

I love the prestige they are playing against top ten players. All

condensed in a two days. The round-robin format is very unique.

It depends on how you see it. I have looked on it as an unbelievable

honour to qualify and it is the goal at the beginning of the year to

qualify because it is not a given you will be part of it. It is an

elite group. It is a privilege to be part of it and in the finals here

for the seventh time is exciting. I am happy that I managed to can stain

concentration and energy levels. It is not easy. To be as fresh as I

felt midyear. I know there's one more to go hopefully I can play my

best. Half of his defeats all year are inflicted by you, does I give

you confidence going into the final? It should give me confidence. It is

not so easy to tell yourself that you have never done it before, this

year, in your career. We have beaten one another many times. We both

going in with confidence. His confidence is higher because of the

amount of matches he has one and being on this unbelievable streak of

14 or 15 straight finals in a brawl at tournaments. It is incredible.

But because I have beaten him this week I feel like if I can play

somewhere near to that and make it difficult again for Novak Djokavic,

who knows, there is something to play for. It is really hard to do to

beat the same gateways, especially when it is Novak Djokavic. I have to

play better than I did that day. Not much was going my way. He did well

tactically. I made lots of unforeseen errors and I will have to

move better. And returned better than I did. They are both playing

for history. Roger going for seven at this event. Djokavic has won at

four times and is looking for four any road to be the first ever to do

that. Djokavic in one of his interviews says he always has room

for improvement. It is the room for improvement in his game? I suppose

it is his overhead. How are you going to exploit that? I saw her on

this one earlier this year. Listen to the reception for him. Great to

hear that. One facet of the match from previously this week, Federer

served magnificently. In terms of using the playing surface and

getting Djokavic off-balance and away from the centre of the court,

or at least the baseline, Roger Federer's serve will be massive. The

cake itself and the wide serve. That is very important. If Djokavic is in

the middle of the court playing his technical ground strokes, Roger

cannot win. It is up to Roger to make something happen. This is the

match this is the Matchless tournament deserved. There has been

some matches we are players have looked tired. He has got Stefan

Edberg in his corner and he has improved his volley. He has to use

every attribute of his game. He will not stand at the back of the court

and try to trade with Novak Djokavic. The way that Djokavic has

been hitting his ground strokes and how athletic years with his

movement, he seems unbeaten. If they can really look to dictate with the

first three four shots of the rally, if it goes to eat or ten shots, that

will play into Djokavic's hands. It is lovely to see his transition from

defence into friends. It is beautiful to watch. We are all set

for this match. We want you to get involved as well on social media. We

want to know who you will thank -- who you think will win the four

Grand Slams next year. COMMENTATOR: The players did well to

maintain concentration. UMPIRE: Please remain in silence during the

points. APPLAUSE

Once those of valleys go past eight, ten, 12 shots, you feel that is

playing into Djokavic's hands and Federer has to try to get on top.

Out of all the stats that we get, the second serve points for the

week, Federer 48 and Djokavic at 62. Which says is that when Federer is

at the back of the court against Djokavic, trading ground strokes, it

is not natural for him to be. A rally late that is very satisfying

for him. We get a lot of statistics. We do

not figure it all out on a computer ourselves. One of the ones that we

have been told all week, and now turns out to be inaccurate, is that

if Roger Federer goes through unbeaten in this tournament and Andy

Murray does not win two matches, he will be the world number two. Roger

Federer. That is not strictly true because the Davis Cup carries 18

points and we had, -- clarification today. Even if Federer wins this,

Andy Murray could still end the year at number two.

Boris Becker, happy birthday to him. Lord in 67, 48 years old today. --

born in 67. That is the other man in the Djokavic camp.

It is amazing the level of play and the intensity from the word go. No

opportunity to ease into it. Federer saved a break point in Game

one and a Djokavic facing a break point in game two.

A 10th world tour 's final final form Roger Federer. 16, lost three.

Djokavic unbeaten in finals. He has one four.

15 finals you see in a row for her husband. That is the record, is it

not? The last time it was done was 13 in

1977. Federer a group to get forward in

that rally but he knew he had to choose the right shot to coming on.

That again emphasises the point, when you come to the net against

Djokavic, you know you will have difficult volleys. 124 mph serve in

the corner. That was important! And the backhand

down the line won the point but the defence and the athleticism, is what

got him through it. Look to be white, didn't it? UMPIRE:

Challenging the call. It is wide, second serve.

Djokavic was too solid. He gets the break first. Totally different than

the group match. We expected that. Yesterday, Tim, Djokavic did not

lose a point against Nadal in the second set of the match behind his

first serve. There is margin for error in the game. He hits the ball

so high. And then inside the lines. He is able to play with such an

intensity with his shots and his movement but still keep the unforced

errors down. When you reflect back to the match they played in the

round robin group, Djokavic only 151% of points painters first serve.

That'll be a story today. -- only was victorious in 51%. It is not the

court that you conserve someone off the court. There will be

opportunities and will be about who takes those chances. They played in

this arena before but the court was quicker, it is slow this year.

Federer beat Djokavic with the loss of four games. He basically half

volleyed winners. It was an extraordinary performance. One feels

that is the level that he will need to gain a victory here. He is one

break down to the top seed, Novak Djokavic. The final of the season at

the ending championships and pleasure to have your company on BBC

Two. We will be on BBC Three from 7pm this evening. Change if you want

to stay with us. Two ground strokes from Djokovic in

a row. Out of character. This World Number 1 with his record

lead at the top of the world rankings has inflected so much pain

over Roger Federer. Wimbledon last year, the US Open this year as well.

In 2010 and 2011 as we look at it Terry Henry, Djokovic beat Federer

in the US semifinal. They have had some crackers over the time. -- Jury

Henri. A nice quick game. Some sort of

momentum possible for Roger Federer, a break down to Djokovic in this

final. This is the last regular ATP Tour match of what has been another

great season of tennis. It is not the finish tennis wise, the Davis

Cup takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 30 miles or so from the

centre of Brussels. The British Davis Cup team having let on to

postpone their travel arrangements for the moment and they are

monitoring the security situation. That is a situation still

developing. The Belgian government not able to assure people they

should gather in large numbers for big, important events. Who knows

whether or not the ITF and the Lawn Tennis Association and government

bodies will say, go ahead with the Davis Cup final, it remains to be

seen. But it is a great deflation for everybody so looking forward to

that and we will see what happens. It is certainly unsettling the team.

They would like to get out there and practice on the court, in the

stadium. And fingers asked it is going to go ahead, it would be a

great shame with the build-up throughout the year of what they

have achieved, getting through to the final -- crossed. If it were not

to be played, no idea when it would be played. No, this is an important

period for the players at the end of a long year. Some rest and

recuperation. But it is Christmas time and this is a month off. But we

will continue to monitor that. We are supposed to do that and who

knows, we might still Friday, Saturday and Sunday hopefully

against Belgium. The second serve of Djokovic is

slow. They're directed a good job of taking it early so the ball did not

get too high on him. -- Federer did a good job.

Holding the finish like a golf shot. Not sure what that is all about.

Given the scoreline, Federer was comfortable to stay in the rally. It

almost felt like he was saying, am not going to make an error.

Unfortunately for him, he did. Federer got away with that, the

volley was not great. It was not the best for the Federer

but he was asking the question at the right time. Coming to the net at

deuce and putting the pressure on his opponent and it gives him

another break point opportunity. Have we seen a Federer drop shot

yet? Has there been an opportunity to go forwards with the slice? These

are patterns of play sitting Djokovic rather more. I like Federer

using the slice and changing the pace a little bit. The longer these

rallies continue, the more I feel it favours Djokovic.

Federer had a break point but holds. -- but Djokovic chuckled. Djokovic,

remember, had to save a break point in a previous game. So this last

game with the slightly fluffy tennis bulls, you might have a real good

look at this. The best atmosphere of the week -- balls.

No problems. Half-volley, whipped forehand down the line.

Forcing the issue, taking the ball on and looking to move forward.

Not the shot, it is it? So desperate to get ahead in the rally. But the

defence from Djokovic chip is remarkable. -- Djokovic.

The shot direction, that statistic and graphic about Djokovic going

down the line, he knows if he hits his backhand down the line, he is

going into the strength of Federer. He is really looking to work over

Federer's backhand. Looking for the influence of Stefan

Edberg on his name and the changes because of that. His volleys have

improved this year immeasurably. Novak Djokovic, number 1 every week

of the year in 2015. Amazing. The last man to do that was Roger

Federer in 2007. So records on both sides of the net. And for the

record, it Federer wins the title tonight, he will get 1,500 ranking

points, just under ?1.5 million. If Djokovic Wednesday night, he picks

up 1300 points because he was to one group match and about ?1.4 million.

-- he lost one group match. That is the last thing they will be thinking

about at this point, they just want to beat each other. You don't think

about points or money playing in a match like this, do you? Definitely

not. When we look at the statistics, it emphasises how tight it is.

Although Djokovic has the break of serve, 24 points, Federer winning

five out of seven points at the net, that is something he will think

about, how he can impose his game and be the 1 dictating the baseline

rallies. A full house on a Sunday night on

the North Greenwich Peninsula. The tournament is staying here, the

season-ending championships, until 2018 and possibly beyond. Just over

half an hour played here and it is a break to the number one, serving

with new tennis balls, at 4-3. Dragging it wider. It is a slightly

of pace ball from Federer, that is a big mistake. That is far from

perfection today so far for Djokovic, although he has a break.

Certainly talking about hitting the right shots at the right times.

30-30 in the last game and he came up with an ace.

Retaining his composure nicely after missing that forehand to go back to

30-30. An ace out wide, backhand down the line. Like a machine at

times, Djokovic. He seems to be running out of ideas

quite early, doesn't he? Federer trying to get into the net but that

was not the ball. And that is why! Djokovic takes the

first set 6-3, it is more of what we saw in the semifinal against Rafael

Nadal. He is the World Number 1 and he is proving get and I wonder if

Federer has anything left in the tank for this final. He will

certainly throw everything at Djokovic. First set, 6-3.

Boris Becker giving his nod of approval, a wonderful first set from

Novak Djokovic. He lost to Federer early in the week we knew he would

come out as a different player and he is at his very best at the

moment. It for defence from the back of the court and he is able to

Turkey into a fence so quickly. So it is all Djokovic at the O2 at the

moment. -- offence. We asked you to get in touch about who might win the

grand slam next year. Pete Riley thinks Rafael Nadal will get his

10th French and Djokovic will play in the other three. Colin Thomson,

Andy Murray will win two, the Australian at Wimbledon and Djokovic

the French and the US, so that will be a career Grand Slam because the

French is the only one he has not won. A prediction here, Djokovic the

Australian, the French, Djokovic. And Wimbledon for Federer and Andy

Murray can win the US Open. And Charlie says, I honestly believe

Djokovic can win all four Grand Slam is next year and with a good rest,

he will bring good form in 2016. And from what we have seen, we would

agree. Andrew and Tim, watching this match, I am isolated. Watching the

footwork Djokovic and his movement and how that has improved so much,

he's such a great athlete and he has lost that weight but his movement

and his quickness, it is almost impossible to get the ball away from

him. It does appear that way. And

certainly, Roger Federer comic you can see his game plan, he is serving

out wide with the kick on the left court. Just manoeuvring Djokovic.

But he's making mistakes at the moment, Tim. That is right. The

serving for Federer is the platform for his game. If he serves well, you

holds serve Mark Constable it and that puts pressure on the opponent.

-- more comfortably. And it frees you from the baseline. Federer down

at 57% of first serves. He only wins 65% and that shows Djokovic has the

domination from the back of the court. So this man who was in all

four Grand Slam finals this year, 50 finals in total. He has been the

dominant force and he has a set lead here in this final. Number two.

He had Federer filed with the slice down the line, after Federer missing

of course. -- ruled. He has got two sets to play. In his

tennis year. He hopes! Yes, he will be thinking that. Still in this, got

to do my thing. It is all or nothing for the next 90 minutes. We will go

over to BBC Three soon. It is the right shot, it is the

right idea, just not the right execution.

That is a committed second serve. And he is 1-0 up. Roger Federer,

according to Tim Henman, has to lay the foundation of this comeback with

the serve direction and the consistency and the focus. The shot

placement Federer in set one going to the backhand of Djokovic most of

the time, marginally. He perhaps need small length. It does not

matter whether it had sliced on it or not. Djokovic aiming at the

Federer backhand, just like Rafael Nadal used to do. Important service

game for Federer here. Sue Barker: we are coming to the end

of the transmission here on BBC Two and the tennis moves to BBC Three so

to continue watching these great champions going head-to-head, join

us in a moment on