Novak Djokovic reigns supreme in London
World number 1 Novak Djokovic ended his 2015 season on a high as he beat Roger Federer 6-3,6-4 to win the Barclays ATP world tour finals. Djokovic thus becomes the first player in the history of the game to win 4 straight titles at London. He thus adds his tally of year-end titles to 5 now, and is second in the line of most titles, one shy of Federer's 6.
Djokovic showed supreme confidence throughout the match as he routed Federer with some amazing service returns. Djokovic, who is definitely the best service returner in the game made Federer struggle with his second serve. Federer won only 9 out of 21 points of his second serve. Djokovic amazingly won a mind-blowing 84 percent of his second serves (16/19) and 8 of them were targeted to Federer's backhand out of which Novak won 7.
Federer’s only plus point in the match was that he chalked out more winners than Djokovic. Federer hit a total of 19 winners compared to Djokovic's 13. However, this did not prove to be enough as the Swiss legend hit 31 unforced errors compared to Djokovic's 13.
Thus, Djokovic was a lot more accurate in his shotmaking throughout the match and he did not allow Federer to pose a threat at any time during the match. Djokovic targeted Federer's backhand and hit 70% of his backhands cross court and 30% of the time, he sent Federer on the defensive with the backhand and then put pressure on his running forehand.
Federer’s backhand though, had errors throughout. He hit six winners, but had way too many unforced errors at 13. Federer hit 61% backhands cross court and 39% down the line. Djokovic thus captivated Federer's backhand with his own, by hitting it cross court and taking full advantage.
The highlight of the 2015 season has surely been Novak Djokovic, so much that we can call it the Djokovic season. Djokovic has scaled new heights, heights which no tennis player had ever imagined.
Reaching all four grand slam finals and winning three of them (Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open), reaching 8 out of 9 ATP masters 1000 finals and winning 6 of them,(Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Rome, Shanghai and Paris), his record this year has been outstanding. And to add to it, he has also now won the Barclays ATP World Tour finals and has finished the 2015 season consistently with perfection.
A lot has to do with Djokovic's mental confidence and also with his new coach Boris Becker, who has moulded him into a stunning server and an even better service returner. Last year, after his loss at the 2014 Roland Garros finals, questions were raised about Djokovic's performance at Grand Slam finals since he lost three finals in a row. But Djokovic certainly proved critics wrong and the 2015 season has established Novak as on of the greatest players of all time.