Day 5 - Roger Federer v Marin Cilic Tennis: World Tour Finals

COMMENTATOR:

This victory was

important for Roger Federer...

The

six time champion is on his way.

Federer with a straight sets victory

over Jack Sock.

Federer gets the job

done.

And Roger Federer just keeps on

going.

Sue SUE BARKER: Good afternoon.

Roger Federer has dominated this

event as much as he has the one

across London. Today at the Nitto

ATP Finals he takes on Marin Cilic

in a repeat of this year's Wimbledon

final, and, Andrew and Tim, I think

Marin will be hoping it will be a

bit more competitive than that match

was, eight games in three sets, and

some horrible blisters?

Yes, Cilic

was talking about the trials and

tribulations he had in that match

and it was such a great effort to

get through to the Wimbledon final,

and I think the whole build-up of

emotion, he spoke about how much it

meant to him, but when he had the

blisters on his feet and he realised

he couldn't compete properly, it was

massively disappointing and, yes, a

different type of match today.

Federer is already through to the

semifinals, but from Cilic's point

of view, he wants to put in a good

performance to finish off the year

on a high zero.

Andrew, it was one

of the matches of the tournament at

Wimbledon, when Cilic had match

points and lost and five.

Absolutely, you can blow you off the

court when he is playing well, but

being able to relax and just

continue to hit the ball and not let

the nerves get the best of them,

because as well as the blister and

the poor tennis we saw, it was a bit

of a meltdown in that Wimbledon

final, looked a bit too big, which

is strange considering the won that

US Open back in 2014 and beat his

opponent in the final in straight

sets, so he knows he can win this,

but really it is a day to celebrate

Roger Federer's tennis, and with a

bit of luck Marin can just chill out

a bit, because he has looked so

tense on the court. He has chances

to win the other matches this week.

Just chill out a tad and enjoy

yourself, because it looks like a

bit of an ordeal sometimes when he

plays, which I don't understand.

Including the 2014 US Open, this

year's Wimbledon finalist, from

Croatia, Marin Cilic!

APPLAUSE

MUSIC PLAYS

MUSIC PLAYS

Ladies and gentlemen, making a

record 15th appearance, the six time

champion, winner of 95 titles,

including a record 19 grandstand

trophies and Master 1000s, the 2017

Australian Open and Wimbledon

champion, from Switzerland, Roger

Federer!

APPLAUSE

Ladies and gentlemen, please give...

Sue SUE BARKER: The players are on

court, and we were talking about the

win that Cilic had at the US Open.

You feel that was the greatest match

he has played and he needs to repeat

that sort of form but, Tim, coming

in here, this match doesn't mean a

lot, in terms of ranking points and

prize-money, yes, but difficult to

play the sort of matches, isn't it?

You have to go out there with a

purpose and I think from Federer's

point of view, the match he won

against Zverev, I think it was quite

erratic, made a lot of unforced

errors, his first serve percentage

down, so I think it is the ideal

opportunity for him to come out and

work on those different aspects of

his game knowing he is already

through to the semifinals, because

as the matches get tougher and

tougher, Federer wants to make sure

he is in top form, to finish this

year off pretty much the way it has

been all year.

It is a different

mindset, though, isn't it? Federer

knows he will be here on Saturday

already.

Yes, looking to maintain

his momentum. You don't want to go

into the semifinals having suffered

a loss. He wants to play better than

he did against Zverev, as Tim said,

and Cilic will just want to win and

finish it in some style.

Boys, thin

conditions. Welcome to the Nitto ATP

Finals. The toss, head or deals? OK.

-- head or tails. Roger.

Roger

Federer has

-- head or tails. Roger.

Roger

Federer has won the toss. Let's hear

from Marin Cilic, looking forward to

playing the world number two today.

Looking forward to the match against

Roger. Definitely had the great

season, amazing season obviously for

him, hasn't played too many

tournaments but all of them he has

played at such a high level.

Obviously he loves the indoors, ATP

World Tour Final is, he always

enjoys the player, always likes the

big atmosphere, big stage, so

hopefully for me I can deliver a

great match against him and

hopefully I am going to be the one

finding the key for the victory.

Somehow I feel that Roger has

changed the locks since then, but it

is interesting. When you look at

what has happened since Wimbledon,

he took off a lot of time, only came

back at the US Open, and we have

been looking at the highest ranked

players he has beaten since then,

and Bautista Agut, the highest

ranked players. Lost to the likes of

Del Potro, Nadal...

That final was

completely brutal. You don't need

6-7 weeks off to recover from the

blister. He needed a rest. He is

rested now was but he played well in

his first two matches here. He

should be proud of his year. He was

a definite here, no AlterNet.

Against Zverev and Sock, he had a

break-up in the third set of both of

those matches. If was coaching now

it would be looking for high energy,

but how about putting a smile on

your face? I really mean that, take

a little bit of the ear out of the

balloon, just smile your way through

the match. Roger will be

demonstrating shots we are unlikely

to see anybody else play, so that

will be a joy to watch, but for

Marin

will be a joy to watch, but for

Marin, just enjoyed his last chance

to showcase your talent at the end

of a great year.

He should have won

both matches against top ten

opposition here, but how does that

affect the main? When you can't

finish it off?

I think that has been

a question, at the very highest

level, and we are talking about a

great player who has won a Grand

Slam, and when you see his record,

the number of opportunities he has

not been able to close out, it plays

on your mind. It will always be

there. We know you have to stay in

the present, forget about it, but he

will be aware of that and certainly

in a big event, to be up 3-0, 3-1,

to not close out those matches and

when you have a big game indoors

that will be very disappointing, but

as Andrew said he has beaten Federer

before and he has the revel in this

opportunity. Looking at some of the

other statistics, with Federer's

head-to-head against David Ferrer,

you look at those, it is good he has

beaten him once.

And against Alex

Zverev, this young up 20-year-old

who could be a future world number

one, and even Roger said he has a

very bright future, he was so good

at the sliced shots, wasn't he?

Slicing the backhand more to Zverev

than he was before.

He has a

wonderful backhand slice, has the

ability to put the ball anywhere he

wants of the court. He found it very

difficult to get on the front foot

against Zverev and he mentioned it

straightaway afterwards, he was

frustrated, a little testy at times,

and I thought it was a wonderful

contest because Zverev is such a

fine player already. He will be even

better. But it was interesting.

Roger didn't feel he played that

well. I thought there were moments

where he was really pushed to the

very limit and that was thrilling to

watch.

You speak about their

tactics. Zverev said Roger was

slicing to his backhand so much,

because everyone is very much aware

that Zverev is so good when you give

him a bit of power?

Very much so,

and again we saw that, Federer

keeping the ball law, sets sets in

height, Zverev, is whether it is

that it is slice down the line to

the forehand -- he is six in height.

It is another shot the lookout for

but I think overall Federer's

consistency and vitamin that match

was erratic and he will like to use

this as a good opportunity to work

on his game and be really ready for

the semifinals on Saturday.

He was

giving himself a stern talking to

during that match, wasn't he? He was

looking fed up, wasn't he, at times

during that?

Was a bit grumpy. It

doesn't happen that often, but, you

know, the end of a long season,

having a little go at the umpire,

saying he didn't actually hear it,

sometimes a little bit short with

the ball kids, with himself, with

his support crew, so it is good to

see he is human after all.

Absolutely. And just today it was

announced he is now, he has now won

more actual prize money than Tiger

Woods, the top individual

sportsperson, £84 million, just over

$110 million. He has nothing to be

grumpy about!

You wouldn't have

thought so! It should be a fairly

good Christmas in the Federer

household. Certainly with the way he

has played all year it has just been

incredible. He realises how good it

has been, but this is a title he

desperately wants to win again, so

I'm sure he has some holidays coming

up and he will want to go into those

holidays with the right finish to

the season.

Well, it is just

wonderful that his passion is still

as strong for the game now is when

we saw him as a junior.

It is

wonderful and I think a little

surprising. At 36, with armoured of

trouble he does, the demands on his

time, yes, there are fantastic

rewards, but there are enormous

sacrifices, but he still absolutely

thrives in this environment and I

would like to think he will be back

for a few more years yet.

Yes,

absolutely. Let's sit back and enjoy

this one with Tim and Andrew.

COMMENTATOR: Absolutely. Marin Cilic

asked to serve first, because, as

you said, Roger Federer won toss. A

repeat of the Wimbledon final,

across town from SW19.

Because you are going to choose

Federer to winners today...

What

makes you think that?

No, because

you are.

Is that because I give you

the first choice on your birthday?

LAUGHTER

I will think about the bet I am

going to offer today, we'll see.

So I say Federer in straight sets.

Do you want Cilic asset?

LAUGHTER

-- a set?

Cilic in seven sets.

Cilic in seven, sets.

This afternoon it is a chance room

just to work his way through

gearboxes and Federer, just

ridiculous how good he is a tennis.

Don't know what to say!

APPLAUSE

Said it yesterday and I will say it

again, it is amazing how quickly

within six points, both players,

coming out aggressive, timing the

ball well. In this type of

tournament you can't really is your

way in.

You can barely remember the years

you played in this event,

considering you qualified... There

is Jonas Bjorkman there.

What was

yours?

Played Arsenal to it... -- I

played as an alternate.

I was

actually playing in the national

championships at Telford in the

morning. Beat a very good young

prospect, James Dell gargle.

Oh, did

you? -- James Delgado.

Is as loud as the sound system at

all O2 here, the sound of the ball

Common off be strings.

all O2 here, the sound of the ball

Common off be strings.

Federer certainly is the boss here.

APPLAUSE

Well done, Marin Cilic. It has been

a tough week so far. A decent hold

from break point stone. That, those

national championships in Telford, I

really enjoyed playing that, and you

outgrew it, that was the problem.

It

was good, though, at that stage, for

a lot of the guys. It was a pretty

big event, some decent prize money.

It helped a lot of people to

continue in the game.

You could make

political statements as a change of

ends, if you want to do.

LAUGHTER

-- wanted to. Then get banned! Oh,

boy! Happy memories, eh?

It's big.

The National is probably the only

event where I got the final more

than you. -- the Nationals.

Very good, the pace of indoor courts

nowadays compared to 15 or 20 years

ago. Very different. This court is

quite quick for an indoor court.

Severin Luthi.

Now he can play on a fast and court.

-- fast indoor court.

Dipping into the box of tricks quite

early, Roger Federer, with that

surprise forehand drop shot. It was

played with his toes on the

baseline, and came out of nowhere

really. Expect quite a lot of that

this afternoon. Looking forward to

seeing what Roger comes up with,

always. Good from..., though, to

have 30-0 against the Federer serve.

Unable to capitalise. -- good from

Cilic, though, to have 30-0.

UMPIRE:

The ball was called out.

Interesting one. If this ball is in,

where did the call come? Did it

affect Roger Federer's return? You

tell me.

When did call ever affect a

first serve return? The ball is

coming too quickly, isn't it? Out.

The return might have been affected

if it was your serve coming through.

LAUGHTER

A second before it arrives! A couple

of challenges from Marin Cilic. That

one was on the outside edge. Is that

the same gentleman reported and

emitter -- Dimitrov be in court

yesterday. Beady eyes on him.

emitter -- Dimitrov

being coach yesterday.

APPLAUSE

Right, excellent old. -- hold. Let's

take a quick look at his opponent,

Roger Federer, because this is what

you're up against when you're

playing Roger and his record at this

tournament is absolutely ridiculous.

The oldest player at 36 to qualify

for the year-end finals, which have

been going since 1970. A

semifinalist all the way back in

2002 and you can see the winds there

in three, four, six, seven, ten and

11, so quite a barren run since 2011

-- wins there. I just remember

watching that match and thinking

that was crazy. Appetite for success

continues. Victor Ruiz in Shanghai

and London, and Houston, for Roger

Federer -- Victor Ruiz in Shanghai

and London -- victories. And the

records he has, against

Kohlschreiber, Lopez, it is just the

dominance over other players. They

fill it the locker room for sure.

Again it emphasises the overall

consistency of his performance. He

just does not have too many lulls,

lows in his game, so sound in so

many areas, but an impressive start

from Cilic here. That'll do it!

A

bit of wingspan.

Oh, that is a volley. Back behind

your man.

I see that a couple of times from

the back of the court, Cilic going

behind Federer, but that was a great

volley from Federer.

Tough for the big man to change

direction.

APPLAUSE

The oldest player to qualify for

these finals. Eight men. The top

eight who still survive uninjured.

The youngest, Zverev, plainly to run

against Jack Sock. -- playing later

on against. To determine the second

player in this group to go through

to the semifinals. Who do you think

will win that? Jack Sock or Sascha

Zverev?

You see, there is something.

I think Zverev, but I think there is

a little bit of history there, there

might be a little bit added tension.

Really, tell me more.

I'm not sure I know much more.

So there's been something.

A little bit.

Super angle.

Great hitting from

Cilic, and Federer is certainly not

taking it easy with his movement. He

did well to get the first one back.

Great angle from Cilic.

Just enquiring about the second

serve. Right on the line.

Tim, there has been some interesting

handbags over time, thinking back to

the Wawrinka match against Roger

Federer. Do you remember that one?

That was a good one.

It got a bit

lively.

It got lively, I guess Stan

wasn't impressed by the level of

support from the Federer can. You

travel with each other ten and a

half, 11 months of the year, you see

each other around, agents, coaches,

physios, you share a relatively

small space in a high octane

atmosphere, bound to happen now and

again. Who was your greatest rival?

Who did you have the biggest spat

with? I bet you will say nobody.

A

couple of interesting matches with

Nalbandian.

Did you?

He didn't

necessarily see I do I about certain

things.

C1 in London.

2005 when

Frederick twisted his ankle -- Ahye

won in London.

Why did he get on

your back? What was it about his

attitude? Makes headlines. It was

more about his game, his backhand

was too good. It wasn't about the

tennis! Didn't like his backhand!

Marcelo Rios...

Oh yes.

He was

fairly obnoxious at times.

The ATP sportsmanship award named

after Stephan Myburgh who is here

supporting his former pupil, if you

want to call him that, Roger

Federer, won by Roger Federer this

year again. Unbelievable on court.

He is respected by his fellow

professionals for being fair on

court as well.

Roger Federer a champion of this

group already and winner of seven

tournaments this year. It started

with the Australian Open a

phenomenal final against Rafael

Nadal in Melbourne at the start of

the year, after taking six months

off after the previous year's

Wimbledon. A remarkable piece of

sporting history.

That was special from Federer, it

was behind him and rising. Just a

bit of a slap on the backhand side.

Watch the technique on this backhand

side. It's very nicely done. He

managed to hit a totally flat ball.

APPLAUSE

Return and move forward is one thing

but I much prefer taking the return

early when he went back on the first

.8 or nine feet behind the baseline.

I feel that gives up so much

territory. -- on the first point,

eight or nine feet behind the

baseline.

UMPIRE:

Game, Cilic. New balls

please.

COMMENTATOR: That time of year when

we look back on what we have enjoyed

in the tennis season. Johanna Konta

didn't finish as well as she would

have liked as number one but still a

top ten player, fantastic effort.

I've just seen that Angelique

Kerber, former number one, has Jo

Konta's former coach. This is the

season when people jump around a bit

and take new employment. And

contracts are signed and terms

negotiated. I wonder what else will

happen at this time. You never know

until it happens unless you are

behind the closed doors of what is

going on. But some horse trading no

question, Jo Konta will expect a

better start to the New Year than

she had at the end of last. Of form

drifted away. It can happen.

It can

and it was a disappointing end

because she had a great year, put us

off in position to qualify for the

WTA year-end championships. But it

didn't quite materialise.

There is

Bear Grylls down there and on his

wife Donna Creighton is his wife. I

think he just walked through the

entrance rather than blowing a hole

in the roof and abseiling down,

which no doubt he is capable of.

-- and on his right, his wife.

He's a left-hander, he flips his

forehand a bit. It's another thing

for the off-season, what these guys

like to do. Roger Wilco walking in

the mountains. I don't know if he

still skis but he went away with

Bear Grylls for a few days and did a

bit of surviving, going wild with

Bear Grylls, or whatever it's

called. Don't shake your head at me,

you want to stay nice and warm with

half a bottle of red!

Why go

surviving when you can go to the

Maldives? I don't get it.

CHUCKLES

Quick one.

Because its spirit enhancing and

fulfilling.

Drink gin for spirit

enhancing.

4-4 in the first set of this final

group match.

Just over half an hour played. He's

had trouble holding serve from this

end before. This one would be big

trouble. Those are the other break

points. He's just had a single break

point here.

APPLAUSE

Good reaction from Cilic, the

backhand volley the point before was

a reflection of his performance in

this event. Set it up well but

couldn't finish it off. He came in

that time and was able to put it

away.

Yeah. He got a hold of that serve at

130 mph and backed it up with the

forehand. Well done. 29 years of

age, number five in the world,

fourth last month, so a career-high

or thereabouts and an excellent year

for him. Jonas Bjorkman on board for

this former grand slam champion, of

four brothers from Croatia. Pretty

slow start of the year, lost to Dan

Evans in the Australian Open,

semifinal in Acapulco, Gregory and

much going going but no good at

Indian Wells and Miami but he won

Istanbul in May on clay and didn't

lose a set and that ignited him. Got

of the French Open championships

where he lost to Stan Wawrinka,

Wawrinka, the final of Queens and

Wimbledon and his EU really took off

and after that he had the whole

summer off, he had quite a staccato

year but a successful one when he

played. -- his year really took off.

What you expect of him next year,

what is he capable of?

I think he's

capable of winning the best, biggest

events we have. The question mark

really has been emphasised how good

he is closing out matches against

the very best.

I think with the quality of tennis

he played in the first two matches

he would have been very disappointed

to come out losing them both. He had

big chances, the big serve indoors.

Don't want to give up those

opportunities.

When you see somebody like Federer

or any of the players hit a volley

like that I sometimes question how

well they are picking the ball up,

when they get to the net, the ball

coming out of the spectators behind.

It looked a pretty basic volley that

he hit straight back down the

middle.

I mean, the truth is, Federer,

having won this group, could

actually do without this match,

couldn't he? At 36 years of age, I

know he wants to...

He will want to

get through the match in two sets,

doesn't want to be out there for two

and a half hours. But he wants to

maintain his rhythm, he wants to

maintain the psychological edge over

Cilic, send the message to the other

players that he's ready to go.

We have got some rugby chaps in

today.

The Australian rugby player next

door to Bear Grylls courtside.

A quick glance at the server stats,

Federer's percentages this week have

been a little lower but 70% first

serves, winning 79% when the first

serve goes in. A good foundation for

the rest of your game.

That missed by a fair bit. Is gone

four rows, seems to have taken an

earring off, or hit her neck.

A little bit surprised at the back

of the court there isn't some

netting. It's quite a long way back

to the crowd.

Federer doing his best to go up

through the gears but admirable

resistance from Marin Cilic. He's

the only one to have faced break

points in this set. Two groups of

four. The match taking place later

on is the one that will decide who

goes through along with Roger

Federer from this group, Zverev

versus Sock, that will be

interesting, Radio 5 live Sports

Extra for that. Interesting how

Federer does manage to maintain

motivation, how anybody does after

they achieve great success. It was

2004 that Federer was first number

one in the world and he is still out

here, you've got to love hitting the

ball. You've got to love actually

playing otherwise you can't stay out

there. Why did you end up saying

that was enough?

I think a

combination of different reasons,

but certainly a few injury

struggles. I don't think my game was

getting any better, I wasn't

improving, just about to have our

third child at that stage and I

wanted to be out there competing to

win titles, and I don't think that

was probably the case at that stage.

If I knew I was going to have to

work with you I might have stayed

out there a bit longer.

Exactly. I

wish you had!

CHUCKLES

Great defence from Cilic. Early in

the point you thought Federer might

move forward, but Cilic weathered

the storm.

The last tie-break they played was

in the quarterfinal of Wimbledon

last year, Federer won that 11-9.

6-3 in the fifth and he went on to

win. One point from defeat in that

quarterfinal match.

And Federer in

this event has won six tie-breaks in

a row. The last one he lost was to

Djokovic in the 2012 final.

That

counts as research.

It counts as

reading the notes in front of me.

Talking the other day about how

difficult it was to get on the front

foot against Zverev. This little

chip is useful in some circumstances

but it's landing a bit short. Cilic

able to get up to that ball with

good footwork and make the most of

these short balls.

He tries to come forward with that,

get on top in the rally, and it's

another mistake and it's now

suddenly 4-1.

These are the moments we have talked

about with Cilic, he has got his

nose in front. Can he really

capitalise?

Federer was 4-0 down against Zverev

in the tie-break and he finds

himself in a bit of a hole here.

After you, and then trip

trip him up. 2-4 in this first set

tie-break. Now then.

Can't exactly say Cilic did anything

wrong with those two points, but now

the ball is in his court with his

serve to come.

Oh, some tough hitting. Both

players, good defence, Federer.

Cilic didn't do much wrong.

Talking about Federer's finds the

whole time, it was his footwork and

his ability to make his opponent

play an extra one each time, a mark

of the champion he is. Every time.

Seen them missed. Federer when the

right way, trying to follow the

Cilic overhit, a well struck

penalty.

Direction of serve on this point. It

has been going to the Cilic forehand

quite a lot.

Oh, that is a superb point! The

return was stunning.

Second serve

wasn't bad either.

Yeah, that'll trick. -- that old

trick.

Ah, good for him! Excellent work,

Marin Cilic! Ends this set on a

break, and those unhappy memories

from the Wimbledon final

evaporating, in these two previous

matches where he was so close to

victory, but so close to victory

this week. And of course the real

highlight, Tim Henman is going to

take us through the dashboard of

Apollo 11 and make us all see how

this match shapes up when it comes

to statistics. I can't wait. Tim,

all yours!

Saw impressive from

Cilic, 20 winners, but 22 unforced

errors. A similar ratio for Federer.

Total points one, and it was opaque

set, wasn't it? 44-44, not coming to

the net much.

Were photographs? Week

should get a grasp on the next layer

here -- way are these graphs? We

should get a graph.

The sliced

backhand, bringing the total down.

These are more the meat and potatoes

of the set. Federer better serving,

69% first serves, 81% won.

That

graph at the bottom, if I can

interject, when you were in full

flow? That actually makes sense to

me, now. I get it. He has had break

points, and that is what that graph

is all about.

It also indicates when

he has had break points.

Perhaps it

is my mistake and this thing is very

clear.

It is tough for you when

you're colour-blind.

Yes.

Beautifully done.

And credit where

credit is due. Cilic has played a

very solid set of tennis.

Do you

think Federer wants to give three

now, I does he give this away a

little bit?

I don't think he will

give it away. I think Federer is

probably not going to stress too

much. We have seen him be a little

bit grumpy on the court, at times,

in the first two matches. I think he

will go with the flow. Still fancy

his chances and three, but if it

doesn't happen, no damage done.

They have not been to many of those,

2-2. Forced doubles.

But a third ATP finals in four years

for Marin Cilic, and has only ever

won one round-robin match, against

Nishikori last year.

That works!

Just warming up now. After almost an

hour on court.

Three times in a road running

around, big forehands, not right off

the middle that one necessarily, but

beautifully worked in the end.

Well, he's hitting the ball cleanly

now.

UMPIRE:

Game, Cilic.

APPLAUSE

I von Ljubicic now coaching Roger

Federer. He was in the season-ending

championships. But rounding out the

four players from Croatia to have

played for wood here -- Ivan

Ljubicic. Back in the 1970s.

played here -- Ivan Ljubicic.

I think you would normally say that

the forehand side of Cilic

is

probably the weaker win, but he is

using it well today. -- weaker wing.

UMPIRE:

Deuce.

You definitely wanted

to hit this one up.

You get fined

for that. The kids would have to go

without Christmas presents. Four

straight points. A frustrated Roger

Federer here. Tough to dig deep,

when you have already won the group.

Cilic playing well.

This was a tactic employed by

Carreno Busta last night in the

match against Dominic Thiem, Thiem

won in the end. Had Rafa Nadal as an

alternate, playing his part.

Ljubicic.

APPLAUSE

You sense that Federer doesn't want

to hang around, and that means it

could go one of two ways, you either

hit more winners or make more

unforced errors.

UMPIRE:

New balls, please. Federer

reads 2-1.

A big difference when

Roger Federer changed his racket. It

is... I think he went up two square

inches. He is taking another one out

of the packet now.

Certainly a

slightly larger head, but also a

slightly wider frame, so definitely

gets a lot more help, bigger sweet

spot with this.

Helped on the

backhand side particularly. He was

sick and tired of being penned into

the backhand corner by Rafa Nadal,

wasn't he? One of the big things

this year was being able to beat

Rafa four times straight. He was

asked, how has he been able to win

those matches, and avoid some of the

losses, and he said don't play him

on clay. Five straight he has beaten

Rafa now going back to the previous

year. Is that... Yes, that is the

family of Mohamed Lahyani. Would you

recommend that for our club player,

95 square inches or higher? Was that

the same as yours?

95, I think, mine

was.

Still think you can play?

Who said that?

LAUGHTER

It is like using bladed golf club,

isn't it? What tension do you string

is that? You don't even know!

A lot

looser these days. 22-23 kilos.

I don't suppose you would know what

grip size you have either? That

dainty little hand?

As we all know, if it is not the

arrow...

Second serve ace.

Nice change up from Marin Cilic,

giving Federer some of his own

medicine, playing him in short with

a drop shot.

Having a little glance at the match

time on court for almost an hour and

15 minutes, and I guess the schedule

has worked out well for Federer,

starting on Sunday, the Sunday,

Tuesday, Thursday means he gets a

day off before the semifinal match.

So really indoors, in of how long

this goes on, if it were to go on

two and a half hours, don't think it

is the end of the world.

Even in his

career, which is quite a long

career, 17, 18, getting on 20 years,

he has been out, and even in that

time the sides of the sport has

changed so much, it is not about

just hitting the ball harder and

being ready physically in that way,

it is the recovery times, the

understanding, the application of

the knowledge around recovery. It

has been amazing to me how these

players and air conditioning has

allowed them to come back and play

these long matches again and again

and again.

Plenty of injuries on tour this

year. Kei Nishikori, very early on,

and Stan Wawrinka going the same way

although he is hitting at the

moment. Andy Murray, we are really

not sure about, and Novak Djokovic,

not sure about his physical

condition.

not sure about his

physical condition.

It has to be frustrating for Andy

Murray, though, sitting at home. I

don't know if he's watching this or

not. If you are, hello, Andy. But it

must be frustrating, and he was very

happy to be here heading a few balls

earlier this week, practising, and

being amongst the guys again. This

is his job and he's being denied the

opportunity to do it, so the

frustration, with all the success

and the glory, he just wants to get

out and play.

The first set to Marin Cilic on

tie-break, on serving the second as

Roger Federer attempts to win this

round robin match, he has already

gone through in this group. He

arrived on these shores sometime ago

getting ready for this event,

satisfying a commitment he made the

Andy Murray live event in Glasgow at

the SSE Hydro. We had to show you

these, Roger played in a kilt and

said it felt surprisingly

comfortable. Of course, he's not

playing with a sporran so doesn't

count but he said it had a nice

weight to it. He was asked whether

he would like to play a full match,

not sure if he would, but he played

his part, as did Tim Henman, he was

supporting the Andy Murray live

event.

I play with Mansour Bahrami

with stomach against Andy and Jamie.

But you hit with Roger a bit.

Yes,

it was a great event, and a great

dinner the night before with an

auction. They had a frame with

rackets from Andy, Rafa, Roger and

Novak that went for a lot of money,

fantastic arena, impressive.

The SSE

Hydro on the banks of the River

Clyde. Andy was moving no -- OK?

He

was moving OK, I think he had a bit

of a limp, he's always done that,

and we focus a bit more on the way

he moves every step these days. But

hopefully he's moving in the right

direction, he still has a good six

or seven weeks to get ready for

Australia. So fingers crossed.

Double figures on aces for Cilic.

Absolutely ready to get his win

here, after suffering two losses to

Zverev and Sock from winning

positions in his two other matches.

Federer a winner over Zverev in

three sets and Sock in two.

A dangerous moment for Roger Federer

now, a couple of backhand mistakes,

not moving his feet with quite as

much urgency as you would expect if

the match was fully live.

The world number one ranking had

been decided before this event. Rafa

Nadal taking that position after a

fantastic year that saw him win a

tenth French Open and another US

Open, his fourth year and number one

for a Rafa Nadal at the age of 31,

the oldest ever will number one so,

this effort from him, Roger Federer

at 36 the oldest ever world number

two. So they continue to set

records, be it for ages or amount of

titles. A remarkable generation.

What do you hear about Novak

Djokovic? I would love to see him

back in this mix again.

I'm not

sure. I don't know quite whether he

is recovering mentally or

physically. I think after Wimbledon

there were concerns about the elbow.

I think it's all been pretty quiet

on that front. But definitely, it's

amazing how 12 months ago it was

Andy and Novak going head-to-head to

see who would finish world number

one. Roger and Rafa went around and

it's almost a complete role

reversal. So, fingers crossed both

Andy and Novak can make a big

comeback in 2018.

And Stan Wawrinka

too.

30-30 on your own serve at 4-4, the

ace out wide, gets through that

game, and suddenly two set points to

Federer.

We will go to three sets this

afternoon.

Good reaction from Federer when he

won the second set, the fist pump,

looking at the box, he is fully

engaged.

He doesn't want to lose,

simple as that, you cannot cease to

be a competitor no matter what the

situation, just slightly concerning

by how much energy he is taking out

of his system but after the third

set we go and they are delighted

about it, off you go through this,

Tim.

More stats. More winners for

Federer, bit of a role reversal. I

guess really 32-29 is pretty even on

points. Net points won, neither of

them coming in much. Average

groundstrokes beads for Federer has

picked up, bringing his forehand

into play, that would be an

illustration of not hitting some

many sliced backhand and skipping

round and getting the forehand

interplay.

Not too many long

rallies, no rallies over nine shots.

Accelerating through the ball.

That

is an interesting stat, first serve

percentage from Cilic, significantly

dropping off, Federer getting a lot

more looks at second serves. And

really the middle stat at the

bottom, break points, Federer has

had a few in the match, six, and

finally...

I haven't worked out that

graph of break points. Cilic had his

break point through that set and

didn't take it. Simple as that.

There is that sliced backhand, which

can be so effective.

I sometimes

feel against Cilic when playing

against him, the better you play,

the better he plays and in the last

game Federer hit a couple of routine

slow chips down the court to say,

OK, the ball is in court, let's see

what you can do. There is still

value in changing the pace and

changing the speed, it can easily be

forgotten as people work on plan a,

they sometimes forget B.

It was important in the second set

with Federer serving first to have

his nose in front and breaking in

the last game, gets a chance in the

third.

4-4, 30-30, second set, great

opportunity suddenly serving 0-1 in

the third.

There was a great backhand volley, I

can't imagine there was a better

backhand volley of Anne Stefan

Edberg. When he would receive serve,

you would receive it and he never

gave away any forehands, it was all

backhand, was tempting you to serve

there because whatever happened you

would play a top ball after serving

to his backhand, he you work serving

to that side, you have to be

disciplined serve to his forehand.

Here is a chance to get ahead for

the world number two. Cilic faces a

break point. Scouring the record

books to see when the last person

lost all three group matches in

three sets.

That's the way to take it. Four

straight games, the clean forehand

down the line. It is a shot he has

been practising this match, taking

the risk really, running round his

backhand and teeing up for the

forehand. 100 mph forehand. Making

the pace himself, and then of course

the umpire calls new balls as well.

Double joy.

UMPIRE:

Cilic is challenging the

call, it was called in.

It is worth

a look.

It seems they have just gone off for

a loo break.

UMPIRE:

Mr Cilic is challenging the

call.

I don't know, Marin

UMPIRE:

Mr Cilic is challenging the

call.

I don't know, Marin, I

wouldn't bother.

It is annoying when

it is just in by a millimetre and I

reckon this one is pretty similar.

It's exactly the same. It's

unbelievable.

Talk about people

aiming for the Lions.

Aiming for the

outside edge.

One of the line judges at the far

end who is doing the centre service

line opposite, the woman who got the

two calls spot on, he put both of

his hands up saluting that she got

those both right, because they are

under pressure themselves on those

challenges. First game to return

means a new racket for Roger

Federer.

4-4, 30-30, and then

Federer has won 18 of the next 23,

24 points. Amazing how quickly it

turns around.

Just popped it out

wide, didn't he, on the serve? On

the 30-30 point. He certainly didn't

want to lose this match. But you

wondered about a full on physical

effort from his point of view. He

has responded with the tennis.

Federer was a set and a break-up

against and slightly lost

concentration, and lost the second

set. You feel here 3-0 up in the

third, he is going to be keen to

maintain that intensity, to finish

it off without wasting any more

energy.

They might play again in the

final. Who knows? Zverev and

Federer. We will see. Federer has

been the favourite every step of the

way as he always is in London. Rafa

making the point that wouldn't it be

nice if the season-ending

championships could be played on

clay. I think he has a point.

48 of these events and none of them

on clay.

None of them on grass

either.

That's a good point too. Not

many tournaments on grass. Plate

accounts for about a third of the

tour.

Even more reason to put it on grass.

Where are you going to find grass in

November that works for a European

field?

Australia.

It was in

Melbourne once.

It's going to be tough to move it

away from London.

It's here until

2020.

I think so.

And why not? Such

a successful event.

Hello... That's...

Everyone was getting a bit confused

there.

Testing the hands of the ball boy

down at the far end.

Well caught.

Dad on the left, agent and friend

Tony Godsick in the middle, Mirka

Federer. That's nice.

Keeps him in this set. And the

match.

It's not difficult to pick numbers

out of Roger Federer's Korea,

difficult to know how to put it into

perspective really. But this year

he's lost only four matches, in

Dubai in the second round, big

surprise against somebody ranked

116th, and he lost to Tommy Haas in

Stuttgart in the second round, had a

match point in both of those matches

I have told you about. Who lost a

Del Potro in the US Open in the

quarterfinal, very subdued

performance there. Lost to Sascha

Zverev in Montreal. Those are the

only four losses he's had this year,

I'm trying to compare it to his

other years, won just over 50

matches. In 2006 he was 92 wins and

five losses. It is an unbelievable

career. Did you mirror him exactly

on tour years?

I thought you are

going to say did I mirror him on

match wins! Exactly! I was on the

tour a little ahead of him, seven

years older. But we had the same

agent when he came on to the tour,

so I got to know him when he was

young. I knew he was going to be

good but I didn't realise quite this

good.

One of his first coaches and his

first inspiration was a man who I

knew col Peter Carter, who we have

subsequently lost in a car accident,

he was with Roger Federer -- called

Peter Carter.

And Peter was saluted, his memory

and his family were saluted by

Roger, after his first Wimbledon

win, and I was delighted to see

that. He served just like Peter

Carter. In terms of style.

Just wait. -- wide. Hasn't had a lot

of

success with Hawk-Eye in the set.

This is his last challenge.

UMPIRE:

The col stands.

UMPIRE:

The call stands.

Oh! He has actually worked on that,

hasn't he, in this match?

Must have done that six or seven

times.

How would you like to serve a second

set at break point down to somebody

doing that to you?

Traditional chip charge, rather than

the Sabre, the annoyingly named

Sabre, from two or three years ago,

sneak attack by Roger. Another break

point.

Is he going for the forehand again?

And this time the off-speed chip

return gets the job done, as much

because of the four when he missed

on the previous break point.

5-1. Similar to the Zverev match.

Dominance in the final set.

Ah, boy. It has been an exhibition

this afternoon. From both players.

In effect, with nothing particularly

hanging on this match, but a good

show. Three match points. And that's

the end of that. Roger Federer once

again unbeaten at the season-ending

championships. He goes through

undefeated to the semifinals. A

repeat of the Wimbledon final and a

repeat of the result. This time

Cilic played better and grabbed a

set, but this is all about Federer.

Well, the crowd being asked for

appreciation for Marin Cilic, quite

rightly. He certainly played his

part. For the third time in four

years, she had earned his place in

the season-ending finale, and has

suffered three 3-set losses, tough

to take, but he has provided a fair

level of entertainment here, and

that will be it for 2017 for Marin

Cilic, firmly inside the top few

players in the world. He's at the

very top echelon and should be proud

of his despite remaining winless at

London this year. It is Federer

advances as champion from his group,

to play the runner-up in the other

group, the Sampras Group. Dimitrov

has already gone through from that.

Let's get the thoughts now of Roger

Federer, who has provided some fine

entertainment this afternoon. Let's

hear what the great man has to say.

Well, well played, Roger. Marin

major work extremely hard taking it

to three sets today. Can you just

give us your thoughts on the wing?

Leckey said, a tough match -- on the

win. A lot of chances in the first

set, but I think Marin served well,

a bit better on the breaker and I

think I was a bit better in some

important moments, then I was in

trouble, asset and a break down and

also in the second set, so happy I

found a way out of it and at the end

I played very well is a really happy

to be playing at this level right

now.

And not an easy situation,

knowing you have already won the

group. What was your mindset coming

into this match because of that?

I

was telling myself, try to relax a

little. We have a lot of pressure

every match during the season

because when you lose you go home,

so this one wasn't the case and it

is nice to play tennis this way were

maybe you can play a bit more

freely, and I think I was able to do

that, in the second set, reminding

myself I am through regardless, but

of course I want to do well, try to

keep the momentum going and play the

right way, and for that a win is

always very helpful looking forward.

And your suit your 14th semifinal

out of 15 appearances here. Looking

forward to that we can? -- you are

through to your 14th.

Yes, knowing I

had qualified on Tuesday evening, it

is kind of weird, to be already

through to the semis, but of course

it gives me a great idea of how to

prepare for Saturday. I am looking

forward to play far, I think it will

be the winner of Goffin and Dominic

Thiem, now, both great guys, friends

of mine on the Tour, so I will watch

that more and just try to relax

right now. One great push before the

vacation then prepare for next

season.

We look forward to it. Well

done tonight. Roger Federer,

ladies and gentlemen.

Thanks,

everybody. Thanks for coming. Sue

SUE BARKER: They were absolutely

delighted to watch the great man in

action.

A different sort of match than you

would have anticipated, but take

nothing away from Roger Federer. He

could easily have said he will save

himself for the semifinals, but just

hates to lose.

Yes, I think one of

the words you could use was patient.

Cilic played well, did well to get

the first set under his belt, and

Roger Federer did not panic at that

stage. I don't think there was a

sense of wasting extra energy,

mental or physical, so he just

stayed calm and waited for his

opportunity in the second then

suddenly when he got them at the end

of that second set he just run away

with it, eight of the last nine

games, to finish the match off in

under two hours, which certainly

bodes well for Saturday.

Yes, Roger

Federer will probably be there for

quite a well signing a few

autographs for those lucky fans, but

let's look at the group because

Federer remained unbeaten and

tonight it is a shoot out between

Alex is -- Zverev and Jack Sock. And

we will have Dominic Thiem against

David Goffin at two o'clock

tomorrow. Looking at that match,

though, the service game. Matt

Clarke divot-mac lost at the end of

the second set, it just said it all.

-- the games he lost at the end of

the second set.

Yes, he need a

vacation, and simple as that. He had

his chance at 4-4 in the second set,

30-30, but he has lost three matches

in the sets which is a real drag for

him, but watching the Federer show

here this afternoon, it just strikes

me, there will be a big Roger

Federer size hole in the game and

the sport for a while when he goes.

You can't replace somebody

like that. You hope that young stars

emerge to captivate people across

the board the same way he does but,

you know, good show here today.

Classic Federer. Looks like it is

all, and Serena here, but he wanted

to win to maintain his momentum. He

is a vicious competitor and he looks

so good and lovely on the outside

but he didn't want to lose that

match so he would be pleased to get

the victory.

And he has already

pretty well manages career very

well, hasn't he?

Yes, interesting to

hear him say earlier in the week how

he felt this was almost a sort of

unique year with how little he has

actually played and still winning

two Grand Slams, three Masters, one

1000 event, and he's talking about

playing tournaments next year. So it

will be interesting to see how he

manages that aspect. Will he play

the clay-court season, for example?

Doubtful.

I think it is doubtful.

Having won the French Open, he can

afford...

That is what he wanted to

do. Tim, Andy, thank you very much.

What a performance from Roger

Federer. Again he came from a set

down to remain unbeaten here at the

Nitto ATP Finals. He will be back on

court on Saturday. We will be back

tomorrow for Thiem against Goffin.

Until then, from Olof us here,

goodbye.

COMMENTATOR: -- from all of us here.

That is a superb point.

Good for

him, Marin Cilic! Frustrating Roger

Federer here.

So we will go the sets

this afternoon. That was a little

bit special from Federer.

Roger Federer, unbeaten once again!