Federer beats Nadal to land World Cup Final
ROGER FEDERER last night bagged a cool ё1million ATP World Tour Finals jackpot - and showed why he is one of the greatest sportsmen on the planet.
The Swiss ace got one over on arch-rival Rafa Nadal with a 6-3 3-6 6-1 final win to end a difficult year on a real high.
Fed may have lost his world No 1 tag to Nadal - he has unusually lost four finals in the past 12 months and bagged just the one Grand Slam - but gave 17,500 at the O2 a real treat.
In fact Federer finished eight blistering days in London undefeated, meaning he scooped a tasty seven-figure sum in record time.
Federer, 29, said: "I`m thrilled at the way I played all week and to beat Rafa after the year he`s had makes it even more special.
"I don`t think I could have played any better. It`s nice to have the money but this victory means more than anything.
"I need a holiday though. Time is money."
This showdown of two sporting giants took a while to get going.
Maybe an audience including the likes of Diego Maradona, Thierry Henry, Kevin Spacey, Rolling Stones` Ronnie Wood and Princess Beatrice caused a few nerves.
But as soon as Fed broke Nadal`s serve in the eighth game of the first set, the clash exploded into life.
Federer instantly stepped up a gear, producing a series of ridiculous backhands and forehands to take the first set in style.
But Nadal, 24, is World No 1 for a reason and soon hit back with some punishingly powerful hitting.
And when he broke Fed in the fourth game of the second set, the Spaniard seized the initiative and sent it into a final set.
It was 16-time Grand Slam winner Federer, though, who was bang on top of his game.
Nadal, who still ends with 2010 with three Slams, said: "Roger was unplayable in the first set and is probably the most complete player around.
"But I have had an amazing, emotional year and was pleased with how I performed."
Canadian Daniel Nestor and Serbian Nenad Zimonjic beat Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi 7-6 6-2 to win the doubles crown.
|
