(UTV|COLOMBO) – Roger Federer rediscovered his verve in the nick of time to outclass Austrian Dominic Thiem 6-2 6-3 on Tuesday and maintain his hopes of reaching the last four at the ATP Finals. The 37-year-old’s proud record of always reaching the semi-finals at the season-ender since it moved to London in 2009 looked in peril after a surprise loss to Kei Nishikori in his opening round-robin match on Sunday.
Another defeat would have made it impossible for the Swiss to reach the semis but the six-time champion rebounded in style to post a classy win in which he lost only six points on serve. There is still work to do for the second seed, however, especially as giant South African Kevin Anderson, who he plays at the conclusion of the group on Thursday, is in red-hot form.
Anderson, the first player from his country to qualify for the ATP’s blue riband tournament since 1995, leads the Lleyton Hewitt group with two wins after trouncing Nishikori 6-0 6-1. The inspired 32-year-old won the first 11 games but was denied only the second ‘double bagel’ in the event’s 48-year history after Federer’s 2005 rout of Argentina’s Gaston Gaudio.
“I hope it is not a match like Kevin Anderson played this afternoon!” Federer, who lost their Wimbledon quarter-final clash this year, said on court. “It feels good (today). I am very happy that I showed a reaction after the last match. It’s not something I’m used to — losing then coming back to play.”
