LONDON, November 18, 2017

Most of the people, who came to watch the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals on Saturday, might have thought that Saturday was only about to clarify, who is going to join Roger Federer in Sunday’s title match.

The six-time ATP Finals champion from Switzerland brought a 6-0 head-to-head recored against David Goffin. Federer won 14 of the previous 16 sets against the Belgian and also clinched the opening frame today. From then on, however, the World No. 2 lost his rhythm, Goffin raised his level and capitalized on his chances. The Belgian didn’t show any sign of nerves and served the match out after one hour and 45 minutes.

A moment @David__Goffin will never forget…

Roger Federer: defeated. #NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/XPCLt1e8Gy

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) 18. November 2017

“It was a tough game to get broken at 1-0,” Federer described what happened after winning the first set.

“I had my chances to go 1-1 but I didn’t serve as accurate as I should have. In that very moment he connected well on a few returns to keep him in the game. I think in hindsight that was maybe a bit of a key moment in the match.

“I think things really turned around for him at that moment. He started to feel better from the return, from the baseline. He wasn’t missing as much any more. He was returning also much better off the second serve after that.

“Then I just think he raised his game. I couldn’t follow any more. Maybe my game dropped naturally a little bit because he was playing better. Maybe I have never really reached my best level because the first set was all right.

“So it’s pretty disappointing. But at the end he did play extremely well, and he was the better player on the court. I feel like it’s okay like this, you know, for him to win.”

Federer To Start New Season In Australia

“Looking ahead, clearly the buildup is not going to be six months like it was last time around. It’s not going to be six weeks of tennis. It’s just going to be two, three weeks. It’s going to be short. But I did that 15 years previously, so I know how to handle the buildup,” Federer explained.

“Then I’m just looking forward to some time off now, away from the match court, away from the pressure, then hopefully play well in Australia. I can’t wait to play there again. I had the best time of my life this year, so can’t wait to go back there.”

Goffin is now awaiting the winner of the encounter between Grigor Dimitrov and Jack Sock.