Fed Express back on fast track to No1 after record Finals win

ROGER FEDERER secured a record sixth World Tour Finals title in London last night, moving clear of Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras. His 100th singles final resulted in a 70th title, with the exciting Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga dispatched 6-3 6-7 6-3.
 
It means the Swiss ends a difficult year on a high, with 17 straight wins, including success at the Paris Masters and now here at the tour’s showpiece finale. This victory will provide the greatest satisfaction for Federer, taking him to No.3 in the rankings above Andy Murray, and earning him a £1m prize.
 
He was pushed to the limit by Tsonga in what has become one of the sport's most intriguing rivalries since Wimbledon when the Frenchman became the first player ever to beat Federer from two sets down.
 
Yesterday was the third straight Sunday match between the two, after successes for Federer in the Paris final and the group phase here. This was the toughest yet, with the defending champion discomforted by a Tsonga fightback that saw him take the second set tiebreak with some fearless shot-making.
 
But Federer remained patient and struck ruthlessly in the eighth game of the decider to secure a match-winning break, before serving out with panache.
 
After the match, Federer reflected on "the strongest finish I've ever had in my career", and looked ahead to new targets. These will include the Australian Open in January and the No1 ranking; if he reaches it he will break Pete Sampras's record total of 286 weeks at the summit.

"Only Federer seems capable of consistently handling the rigours of his calling", writes Kevin Mitchell in the Guardian, who believes that Federer "entertains realistic ambitions of reclaiming his place as world No1 by the summer". ·