Roger Federer vs Novak Djokovic Nitto ATP Finals 2012 Final | Full match Highlights

Earlier this week Federer did serve poorly. Starting like a well-oiled machine. Of course, you've remarked on a couple of occasions this week about how much you feel Djokovic has improved his first serve. Djokovic had his chances there. Federer nice and patient with the passes. Yeah, did well to read it. This is the one that should have been put away but he's just caught it on the throat of the racket. Shaky start as far as Djokovic is concerned. It's amazing, Robby. You were remarking on the fact that you were almost guaranteeing that Djokovic was going to start a little better this evening than he did in Cincinnati when these two last met. An amazing scenario once more. The serve is so accurate as well. Not sure about that. I'm not sure. Neither is Lars. Mr Djokovic, a challenging call. On the right baseline, the ball was called out. Probably just wants to slow things down a little bit here as well, even if he's wrong. Terrific tennis from both, particularly Federer when he was under pressure there midway through the rally on the forehand. Yeah, does so well to control the racket here when he's at full stretch. Nicely done. That's a shot that's going to need to work well this evening. That gives him more options, doesn't it, from the baseline. Yeah, and it helps him to get to Federer's backhand a little easier as well. Because we know Roger likes to back away to his left into the... What a second serve that was. So much work on it. Purchase off the court was remarkable. His royal Rogerness. Oh, what a shot. Swinging from the hip this evening, Federer. Absolutely, Ripper gets set so quickly. He's hugging the baseline. Shame. But again, we saw some nice variation throughout the course of that rally. Federer. So important just to... Oh, yes. That's more like it. The Wilson wand. Wrong shot. And here's the price. This guy plays so quickly. It's a killer. On the return. Spectacular winner. Skidded off the baseline there. Forced Djokovic to hit the ball a little too close to his body. Which has been good this week. A big point. He's just brought his targets in. And hasn't made mistakes. Stuff from Djokovic. Eighth. We're only making one of six first serves there. Delight. Lovely shot. Nice variation there. Loaded team. Return, setting things up beautifully here. The depth was exquisite. Authority now, Djokovic. Spreading the court beautifully as well as Novak. We're just not happy with the content. Apparently the critics weren't happy with the content. Okay. Federer's hit that shot well this evening. To secure his games. Of course, against a guy like Novak, it's so important, given how well he returns. Most notably, those matches they contested at the US Open. Takes total commitment emotionally. 14-15. He spoke about that. Pattern of play and a better service game. As well as I do, I'm sure. How expensive that can get. Absolutely. A game until you start serving effectively. 14-13. Oh, what a shot. Absolutely remarkable back from Djokovic. Four games on. Sets it up beautifully. Shots like this are worth the admission fee on their own. Beautiful preparation. Turn of the left shoulder. Great return that was. A lovely combination of shots from Federer. He's having to work so hard, Djokovic, just to get Federer to play balls here. There's no respite. Love the footwork there. So important. If you hit a pass, you've got to start then moving up the court. Because if your opponent just gets their racket to it. More often than not, they're just going to dribble it over short. And you've got to be ready to move. Watch Djokovic here. Hits it. He's already moving up the court there. That's good serve. A lot of work on that second. Incredible. He was also animated against Murray yesterday. Just that body language. It's so interesting when you see the two get into a protected baseline rally like that. Djokovic is so much better at defending, isn't he? And therefore, Federer is always trying to up the pace, isn't he? Djokovic there. Superb in turning defense into attack. Nice variation on the serve. Yeah, he's hardly gone to the body at all today. To the ball. It's coming into your body. You've got to hit with a lot of racket speed. You've got to get up and down. Oh, what a shot. Considering he lost his balance. Had to make one big lunge step. He's expecting the open court approach. There's the slip. That's where he's so strong. Endless pressure from Djokovic. Proved too much over the course of that service game. 15-11. Did an excellent job in that game of breaking down the Djokovic forehand. Didn't make enough first serves there. Only put four of eights in play. That's good length. Another terrific serve. What a great return though. Thought he'd missed it initially but then apologized. It was another terrific serve. A sixth ace. And it's Federer who leads now. 6-5. Because it's a relatively slow hard court. That's how they make it slow. By using a slightly coarser grain of sand. Check more when it hits the court surface. That's why slice works well here. All those kick serves we saw Federer hit initially. Really just bite. Novak by surprise here. That's a new shot. Djokovic is in trouble now. Lovely serve. Big serving. That was the problem when he served for the set. Previous history as far as the tie break records are concerned. Or what's happened on the day going into the break. 1-0 Djokovic. It's not definitive over the other. Given what we've seen today. Who's your favorite for this one? Djokovic. Can we wait for more points? That's a wonderful backhand. Needed something a little special. Well he's definitely hitting the backhand up the line well this evening. No question about that. That is an oil painting of a backhand from Roger. That's good serving. He looked wide. I think he just wants to be short. Perhaps an opportunity just to take a bit of time as well. I haven't seen many of those today. Terrific approach. That's good tennis. That's even more. Points. All dropping stuff from both players. They're on the approach shot. But what a get this is from Federer. The foot speed from Novak was incredible. I thought he'd done enough. But this is just beyond belief. That's wild. That Lewis. What a terrific effort that was. From the world number one Novak Djokovic. Federer got off to a flyer. Djokovic clawed his way back into the set. And eventually prevailed after an hour and 12 minutes. Lovely team. So easy to feel relieved that you've been able to eventually win it. The start that he made. A little loose. That's a poor shot really. If you're going to be aggressive there and pull the trigger you've got to make sure. Just enough to force Federer to hit that one a little late. It's a nice change up and I like that when Federer runs around the backhand there. Using that shot well. Not that time. Just a little too early with the shot if anything. That's good length. So much more difficult. You can understand the frustration. It's Federer who draws first blood here in the second set. There's more of it here. I feel sorry for those fans that just nipped out for a quick bite to eat or something to drink at the sell end of the first set. Because of course they can't get back in until three games are done. Again Federer. Nice when you can hold serve as comfortably as that at the back of a long game in which you're able to get a break. In fact I posted a picture of them. Those stringers work hard don't they? Players like the freshly strung bats. Trouble around the world doing it for the guys. Bespoke stringing service for all the very best players in the world. Von's been doing it for a while. He's a good stringer. Good serving. Nice variation. Already in the second set but only one winner so far. Left. First service. See if he can move forwards. Take the ball out of the air. Shanks the back end. Left. First service. Beautifully done. That's the way to work the points. Without taking too many undue risks. 30 on. He hasn't been hitting that back end up the line as often as what we're used to seeing. Left. Second service. 40, 30. He's got Djokovic bearing down on him. He's moving forwards so he knows it has to be absolutely perfect. Another piece of the line from where we're sat. It's amazing to think there's been so much variation down the years. Koenig tennis. Well done today with that back end up the line. That's a sensible serve in my book. Chest missed. Nice injection of pace midway through the rally. That's a back end up the line. Yeah, Djokovic. He's getting tempted to go a little too close to the line there. It's such a key shot. The opponent. I don't think he's got as much confidence. Nice movement forwards there. Choosing the right time to do so. Yeah, better. This holds. Djokovic and, of course, Joe Wolfitz-Songer. Scotty Harris as well. Anything from Thomas Johansson or Jürgen Meltzer in that regard? 30 left. Tough to pull off in that position when you're a couple of feet behind the baseline. 13, 15. A lot of our friends enjoy tennis all over the world. Come, check it out. That's a terrific rally. I thought he might have done a little too much with the volley. Must have landed right on the back edge of the line. Dexterity and a great smash once he got up there. 15 left. And there's another one of those backhands. He sits so well this evening. Again, it's the length doing the damage. Quickly snuffed out in the best possible manner. It's like he's been scared to go to the... Oh, nicely done. Nice and tight on the net. Yeah, especially some great numbers on the forecourt again. It's been perfect in the second set when moving forward. Oh, that's another good hold. Just concerned. And that's not like you and I, Rob, when we get up in the morning and just go out for a little jog. That is sprinting. Put out the scalpel for that one. Can't hit it any better than that. This one is cut so cleanly. Oh, good stuff from Federer at the net. Cash like. Great hands. He's still not bad. Nicely done. Sometimes when you're playing against a player that likes to come forward, you've got to do that to take the net away from him. He hasn't come in much there at all. Little passive. Early on in the rally. He gets the break. And draws level. Five all now. Five games on. Left. For a service. Number two. There it is again. That's worked well for Federer. Left. This can change off the back of another solid service game. It's Djokovic now, who's just a game away from victory. It's good stuff from Federer. Aggressive hitting to relatively safe targets. Enough in the end to outmanoeuvre Djokovic. And again there, I thought... ...opportunity. Agree with you. Especially at love 15. Why not surprise Federer there? Really go for that. Obviously doesn't have that feeling there. Federer's had his chances. Tail end of his second set. Remember once, serving foot at 5-4. He had 40-15. Two set points. Wasn't able to close the set out there. It's a break up in the early stages of the first. But Djokovic has battled hard. And he now has match point. Djokovic. Magnificent end... ...to a highly entertaining affair. It's the world number one... ...who finishes the year in the best possible manner. A second year end championship victory for Djokovic. His first here, of course, in the O2 Arena. And a sixth ATP title of the year. And he does it the hard way. Defeating the defending champion in the final. In straight sets. Delight for all of those associated with him and his game. What a year they've enjoyed off the back of all... ...that he was able to achieve last season. He gets it done today in straights at 7-6, 7-5. And, of course, with the win today, he just sneaks ahead of David Ferrer... ...for the most match wins in 2012. His 75th of the season. And a sixth title.