• ATP World Tour Finals

Federer fends off fearless Fish to extend unbeaten streak

Roger Federer continued his unbeaten streak in his final round-robin match © Getty Images

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ESPN.co.uk will be providing live scores and analysis from the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

Roger Federer fought off a determined Mardy Fish to extend his unbeaten run to 15 matches at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

In a meeting of the oldest two singles players in the field, it was the 30-year-old Federer who emerged triumphant, the defending champion needing three sets to navigate his way to a 6-1 3-6 6-3 victory.

Federer, who is chasing a record sixth title at the year-end championships, looked in superb form as he crushed rival Rafael Nadal on Tuesday, and the world No. 4 oozed confidence as he raced through his opening service game with terrifying efficiency.

Federer had already qualified for the knockout stages with a match to spare, while Fish had no chance of reaching the last four. With the match essentially a dead rubber, Federer was clearly in no mood to hang around as he grabbed an early break. Fish battled valiantly, but cracked on the fourth break point as he sent a backhand fizzing long.

Federer had bageled Nadal in the second set on Tuesday and was looking in the mood to inflict a similar result on Fish, but a brief lapse in concentration momentarily checked his progress as the American broke back.

But Fish, who was broken five times in his defeat to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Tuesday, failed to hold onto his serve once again, as Federer tightened his grip on the opening set, and a inch-perfect drop shot saw him establish a 3-1 lead.

Another break of serve put the Swiss firmly in command, and although Fish briefly threatened to break back, Federer saved three break points to romp to the opening set in a little over half-an-hour.

But if Federer intended to conserve energy ahead of Saturday's semi-finals, Fish had other ideas. With no chance of reaching the semi-finals, the American was desperate to make his final match of the season last longer than an hour. After holding serve for the first time in the match, Fish was rewarded for a period of sustained pressure with a break.

As Fish's confidence grew with every forehand winner, Federer was visibly frustrated, and although he avoided a double break, he was helpless to stop Fish levelling proceedings to force a deciding set - the American showing superb reactions at the net to bring up two set points, and the world No. 8 held his nerve to seal the set.

But normal service resumed in the third set, as Federer grabbed an early break to edge closer to victory, the Swiss dispatching a forceful forehand to break before storming to a 3-0 advantage, showing ruthless efficiency to close out the match in an hour and 47 minutes.

With three wins from three, Federer will finish top of Group B, with Rafael Nadal and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga going head-to-head in a straight shootout for the runner-up spot later on Thursday. Federer will learn his semi-final opponent on Friday, with Novak Djokovic, David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych all chasing a place in the last four.

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