Federer survives thriller to earn Djokovic clash

Roger Federer will face Novak Djokovic in the final of the ATP Tour Finals after the world's top two both survived dramatic semi-finals at London's O2 Arena on Nov. 15.
      
Federer the world number two, saved four match points before defeating Stan Wawrinka, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8/6), while world number one Djokovic emerged from his first serious test of the tournament with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 victory over Japan's Kei Nishikori.
     
Federer looked down and out when Wawrinka served for the match in the final set, but the six-time champion responded superbly and eventually booked his ninth appearance in the final of the season-ending event       

Djokovic had swept through the group stage in imperious style, but he was pushed harder by Nishikori, who became the first player to take a set off him since October, before a strong finish secured the Serb's fourth appearance in the final.
     
Djokovic, who has lifted the Tour Finals trophy three times, remains on course to become the first man to win the event three years in a row since Ivan Lendl in the 1980s.
      
The 27-year-old has now won 31 successive indoor matches, including 14 at the Tour Finals.
      
"Kei was playing great and this has been the best season of his life but he made some crucial double faults in the third set," Djokovic said.
     
Federer held his nerve impressively despite an erratic performance in the best match of a tournament sorely lacking memorable encounters this year.
      
The 33-year-old has now saved 11 match points in three winning causes this year, with the others against Gael Monfils at the US Open and Leonardo Mayer at the Shanghai Masters.
      
The 124th final of Federer's illustrious career is a...