In the 32nd meeting of this storied rivalry, Rafael Nadal prevailed over Roger Federer, 7-5, 6-3.
The first semifinal of the day started with each man playing well and holding serve. They traded breaks three times in succession in the 9th-11th games of the set, which Nadal served out at 6-5. The second set was more squarely on Nadal, who broke Federer’s serve in the 6th game, and again with the Swiss serving in the final game at 3-5, to close out the match. It was the Spaniard’s first win over the former No. 1 on indoor hard courts.
This was Federer’s 12th consecutive year playing in the ATP World Tour Finals, which he has won six times. For Nadal, it is his fifth appearance, and only his second time to make the finals. He lost in the finals to Federer in 2010.
Photo credit: Marianne Bevis (Creative Commons License)