Sequels are almost always a disappointment. But the O2 will be hoping for a reprise of the marathon Wimbledon final when Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic meet tonight for the first time since then.
Asked in the immediacy of a surprise defeat by Dominic Thiem what the significance of that five-hour summer encounter might have on proceedings at the ATP Finals, Djokovic said simply: “It doesn’t really matter.”
He knows he now has to win the event to have aspirations of the end-of-year world No1 spot, while whoever loses tonight’s clash goes home.
But the No1 spot that the Serbian craves and another mention in the record books that he also hankers — winning the tournament would equal Federer’s record six — mean the onus for victory rests more readily on his shoulders.
Former British No1 Greg Rusedski said: “All the pressure will be on Novak Djokovic because he’s the only one trying to end the year as world No1.
“Roger knows he needs to step up his level against Novak. He has to up his game, for sure. You would expect a much higher level from Federer at this match.”
Djokovic looks the likely winner. He has not lost against Federer in their last four matches — a run which stretches back four years — although the last defeat came on this same court.
Then there are the mental scars from that Wimbledon final and the question of how much that still rests in the mind of Federer. After beating Matteo Berrettini here on Tuesday, the Swiss claimed the defeat in the final — in which he let two match points go begging — had taken him a couple of weeks to get over.
While Federer drew short of uttering the word revenge, there is no denying that the memories of Wimbledon will act as a motivating factor for him on court tonight.
In Pictures | Wimbledon 2019
“We’ll find out,” he said of the potential mental ramifications. “But I think it’s all flushed away from my side. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then.
“We have played a lot of matches since then and I think we both look back at a great match. I think that we both can take away some confidence from the match. Him obviously a lot. Me maybe a tad bit less.
“But, at the end of the day, I didn’t hope that I was never going to play him again.
“Actually, it’s good for me to play him again and maybe that all helps to get a chance to get him back or whatever it is but I’m here for the World Tour Finals and not because of the Wimbledon finals.”
In contrast, Djokovic has done his level best to ignore the implications of Wimbledon, saying simply: “I don’t want to think about that.”
In a 49th career encounter between the pair, there is the prospect at least of another modern-day classic.
