Nitto ATP Finals Day 1 Preview: Federer Vs. Sock

Fans attending the Nitto ATP Finals on Sunday will be treated with a historic moment as the day session gets underway. The season finale in London is set to open with a clash between second seed Roger Federer and debutante Jack Sock, marking a record 15th tournament appearance for the Swiss.

Federer saw his streak of 14 consecutive appearances snapped last year due to injury, but the six-time champion will be eager to make an emphatic statement to conclude a dominant 2017 campaign. Looking to neutralise Sock’s power game, Federer will take confidence from a 3-0 FedEx ATP Head2Head mark against the American. He did not drop a set in those three encounters, most recently prevailing 6-1, 7-6(4) in this year’s BNP Paribas Open semi-finals.

“I don’t look at the other 12 matches I won against these guys [in Group Boris Becker], my focus is solely on Jack Sock,” said Federer. “He had a wonderful week in Paris. He was almost out in the first round against Kyle Edmund and then ends up winning the whole thing. He’s confident and likes the big stage. I know that from the good match we had in Indian Wells. I can expect a tough one.”

Focused Federer Ready For London

In total, Federer has a 12-3 head-to-head record against the other three players in his group and he is 11-3 in opening matches at the Nitto ATP Finals, with losses coming in 2007 to Fernando Gonzalez, 2008 to Gilles Simon and 2013 to Novak Djokovic. The 36-year-old, who has secured the year-end No. 2 position in the Emirates ATP Rankings, will be bolstered by a 49-4 win-loss mark this year, including an 11-1 record against fellow Top 10 opponents.

While Federer looks to reach 50 match wins for the 14th time in his illustrious career, Sock will be bidding to match a personal best with his 37th victory of the season. The Swiss and the American are the only players to enter the tournament on the heels of clinching titles. Federer is streaking into Sunday’s showdown after lifting trophies at the Shanghai Rolex Masters and Swiss Indoors Basel, while Sock has won five matches in a row after claiming his maiden ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Paris.

Sock Flying The Flag For America In London

The Nebraska native is the first American in the season finale since Mardy Fish in 2011, and is looking to become the first to win a group stage match since Andy Roddick in 2007. Also the champion at the ATP World Tour 250 events in Auckland and Delray Beach, Sock joins Grigor Dimitrov, David Goffin and Alexander Zverev as Nitto ATP Finals debutantes this week.

“I’ve never played a format like this, but it’s nice having the guaranteed matches,” said Sock. “If the first one doesn’t go well, you have your next two to make the semis. It’s nice for sure. I think I have a fairly entertaining game, so I’m definitely looking forward to showcasing it and getting out there this weekend and into next week.”

Sunday’s evening session will feature Zverev against Marin Cilic, as Day 1 in Group Boris Becker comes to a close under the lights at The O2.

View FedEx ATP Head2Head matchup for the Group Boris Becker matches to be played Sunday at the Nitto ATP Finals and vote for who you think will win!
Federer vs. Sock | Zverev vs. Cilic