Federer overcomes young Zverev, enters semis for 14th time

LONDON,
Roger Federer marched into the semifinals at the ATP Finals once again on Tuesday but he made hard work of the task before finally prevailing 7-6(6) 5-7 6-1 in a high-quality battle of the generations with Germany’s Alexander Zverev.
The 36-year-old six-time champion may have been giving away 16 years to the youngster fancied to be the game’s next major force but Federer proved in a dominant third set that, for the moment, he still remains a cut above his young pursuers. The triumph in two hours and 11 minutes ensured the 19-time Grand Slam champion booked a place in the last four for the 14th time in 15 appearances and with the tournament still only three days old.
It also meant that Zverev and Jack Sock will now meet on Thursday to decide the other qualifier from the Boris Becker group. World No. 2 Federer looks even more of an overwhelming favourite for a seventh crown in the absence of Rafael Nadal, who has pulled out injured from the tournament. “It sounds great,” Federer told the crowd after being told of his record of 14 semifinal appearances.
He had high praise for 20-year-old Zverev, too, after being tested for two fierce sets before finally dismantling the increasingly weary-looking world No. 3. “I’m very excited for his future. He’s a wonderful guy and a great, great player,” he said.
Sublime Dimitrov thrashes Goffin to reach semis
Grigor Dimitrov stopped listening to the Roger Federer comparisons years ago but produced tennis the Swiss maestro would have been proud of to destroy David Goffin 6-0 6-2 and reach the semifinals on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old has not always handled the expectations placed on his shoulders after he won the Wimbledon junior title in 2008 with a game style uncannily like Federer’s. But after qualifying for the ATP Finals for the first time having climbed to a career-high sixth in the world, Dimitrov is starting to revel on the sport’s biggest stages.