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Roger Federer: one step closer to seventh ATP Finals title

By Harry Floyd

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 14: Alexander Zverev of Germany congratulates Roger Federer of Switzerland on victory following their singles match on day three of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at O2 Arena on November 14, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 14: Alexander Zverev of Germany congratulates Roger Federer of Switzerland on victory following their singles match on day three of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at O2 Arena on November 14, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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Roger Federer is inching closer to his seventh career ATP Finals title. The Swiss superstar books his spot in the semifinals this week in London.

Roger Federer holds off 20-year-old Alexander Zverev at The O2 Arena in London.

The two squared off Tuesday for their second matches of the round robin stage at the 2017 ATP Finals. Coming into the match, the players were knotted with a 2-2 singles record against one another. This time, however, the six-time ATP Finals champion walks away with the win.

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Federer is now the clear favorite to win the title in London this week. With his win over Zverev, he secures his place in the semifinals.

Roger Federer defeats Alexander Zverev in three sets, winning 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-1.

After a tough initial two sets to kick off their meeting in London, Federer proved why he has been so dominant on the 2017 ATP World Tour. Cruising to victory in the third set, the Swiss great appears in fantastic form this week at The O2 Arena. It is almost as though Federer is having a fairytale year on tour.

With two Grand Slam titles, multiple Masters and other ATP titles, a win at the ATP Finals would thrust Federer within 200 points of Rafael Nadal to start 2018. The year-end world No. 1 is out of play in London. After dropping his initial match against David Goffin in three sets, Nadal has withdrawn from the tournament due to his ongoing knee injury. Pablo Carreño Busta takes his place and will square off against Dominic Thiem on Wednesday at The O2 Arena.

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With Nadal out of the mix, it is as though nothing stands in Federer’s way.

Even after dropping his match to the world No. 2, Zverev could still be a strong contender if he rebounds against Jack Sock on Thursday. The young American wins his second match, keeping his own hopes of advancing alive. Sock defeats Marin Cilic in three sets, removing Cilic’s hopes of a semifinals bid.

Roger Federer has once again showed the sport of tennis why he is arguably the greatest of all-time. The 36-year-old Swiss superstar continues to defy all of the odds. He moves on in search of a seventh career title at the end of year tournament in London. Stay tuned to see how Federer fares throughout the rest of the 2017 ATP Finals at The O2 Arena.

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