Federer eases into final

Titleholder Roger Federer swept aside Spain’s David Ferrer 7-5, 6-3 yesterday to reach his seventh World Tour Final.

Federer – making it 12 wins from 12 matches against Ferrer – will play France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in today’s final. Tsonga beat Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5 in the other semi-final.

Federer – unbeaten in 16 matches – can become the record-holder in terms of World Tour Finals should he win his sixth today.

He is also guaranteed to move above Andy Murray into third place in the rankings whatever the result in the final.

This was not a vintage display from Federer, but once he had secured the crucial break in the 11th game to take the first set he was always in control.

The 30-year-old said: “I’m very happy to have played so well again. That’s what it takes to beat David, he’s had an amazing season. He can still win the Davis Cup next week so I hope he does that.”

Ferrer returned to the court less than 16 hours after the end of his loss to Berdych on Friday night and he was in trouble when he began the fifth game with two double faults but a sharp volley helped him stave off a break point.

Federer had the luxury of a day off on Friday but he seemed to be feeling the pressure and was snatching at shots and making a host of unforced errors.

He survived a game of five deuces serving to stay in the set at 4-5 and in the next game the 30-year-old moved up a level, winning a fine rally to force two break points, taking the second when Ferrer overcooked a forehand.

That should have been a weight off Federer’s shoulders and he served out the set with relative ease.

The Swiss then made the perfect start to the second as he extended his winning streak to four games with a return down the line.

Ferrer was not about to throw in the towel and he stopped the rot by holding for 1-2 with a scrambled backhand winner that said everything about the Spaniard’s tenacity.

He then saved two breaks to stay just about in the match but it was all over when Federer broke again in the final game, his attacking play finally overwhelming Ferrer.