Article

  • Federer looking over his shoulder as Djokovic gives chase

    11/18/08 9:10 AM | Johan Lindahl
    Federer looking over his shoulder as Djokovic gives chase Roger Federer may well be looking over his shoulder when the 2009 ATP season begins in less than two months with hot rival Novak Djokovic standing just ten ranking points adrift.

    The Swiss handed himself a huge task for the start of the new campaign by losing to Andy Murray and exiting the group stage of a year-end championships for the first time in his career.

    Djokovic, by contrast, won the Masters Cup over Nikolay Davydenko. As it turns out, the Serb missed a chance to take over from Federer last week when he lost a key group match to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

    Djokovic has climbed to within a hair-thin 10 points of the Swiss, 5295 ranking points to 5305.

    The pair will both be on their guard in the first events - Doha for Federer and Brisbane for Djokovic - with a poor performance by either a likely game-changer.

    Djokovic will have to do well at the Australian Open as he defends the title, while Federer can widen his lead in Melbourne.

    Federer is still focused on his battle with No. 1 Rafael Nadal: "I obviously have a little bit of mixed feelings at the end of the season," said the Swiss. "But I think it gives me the opportunity to start over all new again next year."

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Comments

Live your dreams...(regards, 10 points)

gordana , 11/18/08 9:45 AM


Good luck Novak!!

jean , 11/18/08 10:25 AM


it's now or never nole...ajde!

...and people think i keep on bashing him! i'm actually pulling for him, to get to #2...i sure hope he doesn't bungle this chance, he may be seeded #2 come AO, if he does everything he can...

mLina , 11/18/08 11:20 AM


It's so close I think he can almost taste it...but not just yet :)

Don't think he can be seeded 2 unless no. 1 or 2 are injured - hope not!

homos , 11/18/08 12:15 PM



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