• ATP World Tour Finals

Djokovic: I never counted Federer out

Nick Atkin at the O2 Arena
November 14, 2014
Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in five sets to win Wimbledon this year © PA Photos
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Novak Djokovic says he never doubted Roger Federer would return to top form after his struggles last season.

Following a poor 2013, Federer slipped to No.8 in the world after this year's Australian Open, his lowest ranking in over a decade, but came back to push Djokovic to five sets in the Wimbledon final, as well as all the way for the year-end No.1 spot.

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Andy Murray lost 6-0 6-1 to Roger Federer on Thursday © Getty Images
  • Andy Murray slumped out of the World Tour Finals after a humiliating defeat and a poor year. After watching his performances at London's O2 Arena this week, Nick Atkin asks if he will ever reach the top again.

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Djokovic finally won their battle to finish the season on top of the rankings after beating Tomas Berdych in straight sets at the World Tour Finals, but feels 17-time grand slam champion Federer, 33, is back to his best.

"I didn't never count him out. Even last year, people started talking, because they always talk. It's over, he's too old, stuff like this. He's still playing great and he's proving that, proving everybody wrong," said Djokovic.

"Roger is playing some of his best tennis since I know him and since I watch him. He changed the racquet last year I think midway through the season.

"Okay, few things didn't go the way they did maybe eight or nine years before that. When you see Roger, you expect him to be top two of the world and win grand slams. That didn't happen last year. He didn't have such a great year. But this season he's come back again.

"We played amazing finals of Wimbledon. We fight all the way through basically the last few days of the season for No.1. That proves how good he played over the course of 12 months. He won five titles."

Djokovic could meet Federer in Sunday's final at the O2 Arena, with both men through to the last four in London.

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