Big Four: Best encounters at ATP World Tour Finals

The World Tour Finals is the season-ending event for the best singles players and doubles teams on the ATP circuit. Only eight players qualify for the singles event are split into two groups of four. Since 2009, all of the Big Four have successfully qualified for the World Tour Finals (barring 2013 and 2016).

Federer and Djokovic have won 11 of the last 13 titles. Federer has the most number of WTF titles (6) whereas, Djokovic is closely behind at 5. Barring Murray, all three have made it to the final stage at least once. In 2010, all four made it past the round robin and competed in the semi-finals. In totality, they have competed against each other seven times in the semi-final or final stage.

This tournament has witnessed some great matches by the big four and also a rare occasion of Federer bageling Nadal in Group B match in 2011, for the third time in his career.

For 2015, Djokovic-Federer and Nadal-Murray are pitted against each other in their respective group. Considering that Nadal and Murray have never won this title before, this year might be the best chance to take each other head on for a shot at the title.

Let’s have a look at some of the classic clashes of the big four that once thrilled us to pieces.

1. 2010

The first semi-final, Nadal vs Murray, in 2010 was voted the best ATP match of the year.

The two players entered the court all charged up, amidst downpour of applause in the resplendent arena. But what came next exceeded everyone’s imagination. A match so near-perfect followed, that it left the English crowd transfixed.

The match saw a great comeback by Murray in the second set after losing a tight first in a tie-breaker. He took the second set 6-3 and the match went into a decider.The match got more exciting as it progressed, with breaks of serves followed by more breaks of serves!

The premium quality match went into yet another tie-breaker of high intensity drama, be it the fiery fist pumps of Nadal or the unfortunate and painful fall of Murray at a crucial moment.

The sheer display of grit, athleticism and perseverance by Nadal got him through and the highly competitive joust ended up in the Spaniard’s favour 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-6 (6). Nadal embraced Murray at the net and patted repeatedly to mark his appreciation and respect for giving an extremely tough competition.

 2. 2010

A highly awaited Federer vs Djokovic semi-final at the O2 arena wasn’t as highly entertaining as the other draw. A cheap double fault on Nole’s first service game gave an easy 2-0 lead to Federer.

With great efforts Djokovic managed to win only a solo game in the first set. But soon Djokovic regained his composure and fought back to win the opening game of the second set and break Federer in the next.

Just when things were about to normalise for Djokovic, a wide forehand error at 3-1 sent him back to square one. The quick change in momentum brought Federer on top once again as he conjured some brilliant shots to end the game 6-1 6-4 with an out wide unreturned serve in style.

3.  2010

The climax of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, as two legends of the sport took the court in their first meeting after the Madrid final the same year. Federer and Nadal matched the expectations of the boisterous crowd at the O2 Arena. Both players played phenomenal tennis and produced splendid rallies.

Federer was successful in converting the only break point opportunity in the first set that went his way 6-4. But he paid the price in the next set with a poor service game.

In the decider, Federer retaliated with an aggressive play and sensible approach to break Nadal’s serve at 2-1. Later, with two breaks in his kitty, Federer finished the job with a forehand winner, which Nadal failed to challenge. Timing his shots to perfection at the tail end of the decider, winning 17 of the last 22 points to claim the 66 title victory of his career.

4.  2012

It was Federer vs Murray in the semi-final at London. The game started with an early break of serve by Murray who quickly took the lead by 3-1. Federer brought back the game to 3-2 with some phenomenal shots, to which Murray responded with supremely sublime shots at the net taking the game to 4-2. Murray’s first lapse came at 4-3 when he got broken by Federer, hence drawing the match on even terms. The set went into a tiebreaker which the Swiss won 7-5.

And then there was no looking back. Federer swept the match 7-5 6-2. And, yes, that was yet another Federer masterclass.

 5.  2012

Roger Federer took on Novak Djokovic in the 2012 WTF for the first time in the finals, with an eye on what could be his seventh title of the prestigious tournament. But it was Djokovic who got the better of Federer in a convincing win by 7-6 (6), 7-5  in just under two-and-a-quarter hours.

This was only the fourth time since the inception of the season-ending format that the world’s two top ranked players had contested the title. Djokovic took the first set in a tie-breaker, just exactly how Federer took the first set against Murray in the previous round.

In the second set, Federer was up 5-4 and 40-15, a comfortable position to be in. But he stumbled yet again and blew two set point opportunities. What ensued was truly magical ad Djokovic went up 6-5 and ended the match with a magnificent full-stretch passing forehand.

6.  2013

Nadal and Federer faced each other again in the semi-finals. Nadal managed to get the first break at 4-4 and took the set 7-5.

Nadal cruised comfortably in the second set to claim the match 7-5 6-3. In the final of 2013 WTF, Nadal took on Djokovic who was in top form. And rightly so, Djokovic left no stones unturned in converting break point opportunities to his profit. The win for Djokovic came comfortably at 6-3 6-4.