ATP Finals Preview: Roger Federer vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas in semifinals

In a battle between the oldest and youngest players in the field, 38-year-old Roger Federer will face 21-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals of the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals on Saturday.

Federer went 2-1 in round-robin matches to finish second in Group Bjorn Borg, falling to Dominic Thiem in his first match, 7-5, 7-5. He then beat Matteo Berrettini, 7-6 (2), 6-3, before outclassing Novak Djokovic on Thursday, 6-4, 6-3, in a duel where only the winner would move through to the semifinals.

It was Federer’s first win over Djokovic since he beat him in the round-robin stage at this event four years ago, and the Swiss was on top of his game, hitting 23 winners to just five unforced errors.

“There was a lot riding on the match,” Federer said. “I think I served great, had great anticipation, a clear game plan and it worked to perfection tonight, and hopefully not for the last time against Novak.”

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The 20-time Grand Slam champion is the most accomplished player in the history of the ATP Finals, not just winning a record six titles in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011, but also holding the record for most career match wins at the season-ending event. He is going for his 60th against Tsitsipas, while no other player has yet to register 40 wins.

He also qualified for a record 16th semifinal in 17 appearances. Standing between Federer and his 11th career final at the event is Tsitsipas, who also went 2-1 in round-robin play but finished first in Group Andre Agassi. He won his first two matches of the week in straight sets, beating Alexander Zverev, 6-3, 6-2, and then Daniil Medvedev, 7-6 (5), 6-4. His momentum was halted by world No. 1 Rafael Nadal in an absolute nail-biter on Friday afternoon, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5.

“My body feels well currently. I don’t feel pain anywhere. I feel fresh, honestly,” Tsitsipas said following his two-hour, 52-minute battle against Nadal. “After having such a long, difficult match like this, I feel like I can go out and play again tomorrow the same way. So I don’t have any problem with that.”

The first Greek ever to qualify for the ATP Finals, he’s a win away from the biggest final of his career.

Federer leads Tsitsipas, 2-1, as all three of their previous meetings have taken place this year. Tsitsipas won their first in the fourth round of the Australian Open, 6-7 (11), 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-6 (5), scoring the only break of the match in the second set and saving all 12 of Federer’s break points.

The Swiss has turned the tables on Tsitsipas when it comes to break points since then, winning their last two encounters in straight sets—both by the same scoreline, 6-4, 6-4—in the final of Dubai in March and the semifinals of Basel a few weeks ago. He broke once in every set of those two meetings.

Federer has stated positive feelings about Tsitsipas’ game in their short rivalry.

“What I like about him is how he’s able to take the ball early time and time again,” he said before playing the Greek in Dubai. “Serve, takes it early, comes to the net. He does that all the time. Then on the backhand side, he has more air, which gives him more margin. And for a big guy he moves well.

“It’s nice to see all the qualities he has. He has different ways to win points, which makes it hard.”

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