Roger Federer beats Dominic Thiem at the finals of the ATP World Tour – as it happened | sport

Second set: Thiem 2-6, * 0-2 Federer (* indicates the next server) Federer seems to be at the correct pseudo although it is not particularly well tested there. He goes to a service for the love.

Second set: Thiem 2-6, 0-1 * Federer (* means the next server) Thiem tried to Being aggressive, but lacking in precision to succeed. He tries to play here on the ground with Federer, but does not find his joy, Federer responds without effort. Thiem is discouraged and loses his service.

First set: Thiem 2-6 * Federer (* designates the next server) Federer seeks to serve the whole, and it is difficult to see Thiem oppose great resistance. As I type that, he hammers a burning setback. This is 30-15, second serve, and Thiem excuses us for a return beyond the baseline. The Fed ends with an ace.

A few football stars in the crowd tonight: Real Madrid's Toni Kroos, Asmir Begovic, Bournemouth goalkeeper, and West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini. Federer is in the right age bracket; maybe he suspects a one-year contract.

First set: Thiem 2-5 * Federer (* denotes the next server) Thiem does not play well enough to interfere with the players even 50% fit Federer; he bluffs an attempt over the net, then adds a double fault to his unforced error. Another point of rupture for Federer, while Thiem does not judge a recovery slightly more delicate.

First set: Thiem * 2-4 Federer (* following server) Thiem may feel better after a second game on the board – but can he make his way on the Federer service? Not here – Federer takes control with a brilliant and curly shot and closes with an ace.

First set: Thiem 2-3 * Federer (* indicates the following server) Thiem in a spot again once, non-forced errors pile up as he slides 15-30 behind. At the second service, he succeeds in an exchange, then comes to the net to take the next. He cooks another forehand, and that's two points. Federer gives up an advantage with a return that extends for several kilometers and Thiem holds.

First set: Thiem * 1-3 Federer (* denote next server) Return to service is a weakness for Thiem, who beats here while Federer runs to 40-15. An ace closes him and he looks good.

First set: Thiem 1-2 * Federer (* denotes the next server) Another sniff chance for Federer at 15-30, but he throws a forehand. Already more than a dozen non-forced mistakes – it's a terrible job. Thiem takes the best of the next rally, but nets as Federer survives him! Break Point taken when Thiem struck a deep shot.

"Maybe Federer has a new contract with the sweatshirt company – it has to be worn longer," suggests Andrew Benton. "And a 95% Federer can easily beat Thiem!"

That's right, but is Federer 95%? Can he beat Thiem 80%? The answer is probably:

First series: Thiem * 1-1 Federer (* means the next server) Federer tries to find his rhythm at the service, but scratches a shot in the nets at 30-15.

First set: Thiem 1-0 * Federer (* denotes the next server) Thiem throws a volley into the net to take an advance of 0-30, but catches up with a few forehands. Thiem then goes long, giving up a break point, but saves him with wide service and hits the winner of the cross-court. Thiem misses a few chances to close the match, but a restart and a quick second serve do the job.

Here we are, Thiem serves first in front of a packed house.

Federer wins the draw and chooses to receive the first, which is his usual tactic. He kept his tracksuit for warm-up, which led Rusedski and his colleagues to think that he would not feel 100%.

The players are heading out. on the court. Federer, as one could expect, gets a much bigger ovation. The commentary team thinks he looks nervous – I doubt that.

This is Roger! "I just have to play better, be a little more positive. I am very excited to still have a chance. Indoor tennis, I have to be aggressive and play to win.

Thiem has the rare distinction of having a winning record against Federer, two-on-one. However, they have not played since 2016.

There is no Andy Murray here this year , of course, but his brother, Jamie, reached the double – final semifinal with his partner, Bruno Soares. They have just won the 6-4 and 6-3 wins against the Colombian duo Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah. They are in the semifinals for the third year in a row, although they have never reached the finals.

Hello. The preliminary phases of this end-of-season business can become complex and confusing, but the equation for Roger Federer is very simple. He must beat Dominic Thiem or face a group stage elimination of the World Tour finals, for the first time since he was renamed and transferred to London in 2009.

His initial defeat against Kei Nishikori left him in a precarious position. in his group, while Thiem also slipped to defeat Kevin Anderson. Federer remains the big favorite to win tonight, but Nishikori's performance today – a terrible 6-0, 6-1 loss against Anderson – raises the question of Federer's form. Playback begins at 8 pm, GMT.