Sports
Federer had already won the Boris Becker group, having battled back to beat Marin Cilic earlier to post a perfect round-robin record at the event for a 10th time.
Updated : Nov 17, 2017, 09:51 AM IST
Jack Sock became the first American to reach the last four of the ATP Finals for 10 years when he stunned world number three Alexander Zverev in a firecracker of a match on Thursday.
The world number nine, who barged through the back door to qualify for the London showpiece by winning the Paris Masters, triumphed 6-4 1-6 6-4 to prolong his London adventure. Roger Federer had already won the Boris Becker group, having battled back to beat Marin Cilic earlier to post a perfect round-robin record at the event for a 10th time.
Six-times champion Federer won 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1 leaving the stage set for Zverev and Sock to slug it out for the runners-up spot and a semi-final against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. Talk of a possible Federer-Zverev re-match in Sunday's final, after their high-quality duel on Tuesday, was doing the rounds but Sock, nicknamed 'Showtime', was not listening.
The 25-year-old from Kansas looked to have blown himself out when a 4-1 lead evaporated in the decider, but the 20-year-old Zverev admitted later he "choked" when serving at 4-5, double-faulting and then bunting a forehand wide to hand Sock victory.
"That was a rollercoaster of a match for sure, that's been the theme of my last few weeks, hang in there and keep fighting," Sock, who seemed to be imploding when he received a penalty point at the start of the third set, said on court. Andy Roddick was the last American to reach the semis.
Sock mixes eye-watering power with a deft touch and it was that combination that disrupted Zverev's smooth power. The American broke for a 4-3 lead in the first set but then almost gifted it straight back, recovering from 0-40 with five unanswered points to lead 5-3.
Two games later a nonchalant drop shot, one of the favourite tricks in his locker, gave him first blood. Zverev took the second set in the blink of an eye, although Sock carried on entertaining the crowd, as he has done all week, and at one point attempted a lob played through his legs rather than dispatching a routine forehand.
When Sock dropped serve at the start of the third set after some incredible defence by Zverev, he launched a ball high into the upper tiers of the 02 arena. The penalty point he incurred meant Zverev started the next game 15-0 ahead but the German lost focus and was broken.
Zverev double-faulted to gift Sock another break for a 3-1 lead and was staring defeat in the face at 4-1 down. He battled back but it proved in vain as a season which earned him five titles came to a sudden halt. "I choked. It's quite easy," said Zverev. "When I got back at 4-5 that's one of the worst games I think I played all year."
Federer had already booked a semi-final spot with his win over Zverev on Tuesday but there was no chance of him letting up on Cilic, who now has a 1-8 record in three visits to the 02. World number five Cilic put up much more resistance than he did when blisters left him in tears against Federer in the Wimbledon final but it still was not enough.
Federer was in danger at 4-4, 30-30 in the second set, having lost the opening tiebreak, but turned on the style to win his 55th career match at the tournament. The Swiss has reached the last four in 14 out of 15 appearances in the year-end tournament and will face David Goffin or Dominic Thiem for a place in the final.
Looking to keep the record intact...
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2017
Roger Federer vs Marin Cilic LIVE now on Tennis TV
https://t.co/kRsZ9udpkC pic.twitter.com/e7zuQsdsUo
An upset on the cards?@cilic_marin takes the first set 7-6(5) against Roger Federer at the #NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/DzkwOT1NT6
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2017
The scores are level…@RogerFederer makes it a set apiece and we're going to a decider...#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/uayEGDaePq
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2017
Sometimes, even Roger Federer can't do anything about these...#NittoATPFinals @cilic_marin pic.twitter.com/A9yKceySAR
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2017
A Roger rocket on break point... #NittoATPFinals @RogerFederer pic.twitter.com/FFXOq3otQt
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2017
3 matches. 3 wins.@RogerFederer maintains his % record at the 2017 #NittoATPFinals, beating Marin Cilic 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1. pic.twitter.com/VVwoGrHHeW
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2017
The #NittoATPFinals for @rogerfederer...
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2017
15 event appearances.
10 times unbeaten in round robin play (group stages). pic.twitter.com/uAUgE6Li7w
Cancel *everything*.
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2017
Sascha Zverev & @JackSock, the #NittoATPFinals stage is yours for a semi-final spot...
https://t.co/kRsZ9uv0ca pic.twitter.com/sQ6VVjz2yW
Lady luck is with @JackSock, it seems...#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/uTfoRDp4dh
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2017
High quality tennis is on show tonight...#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/GAZwRY5Do3
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2017
Advantage, @JackSock...
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2017
The American has one foot in the semi-finals after taking the first set 6-4.#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/zlWDmjne9F
A match packed with drama…@JackSock will face Grigor Dimitrov in the #NittoATPFinals semi-finals after a thrilling win over Sascha Zverev. pic.twitter.com/3axDAJDLCw
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2017
Federer flicks and sensational Sock tricks were among the memorable moments on Day Five of the #NittoATPFinals... pic.twitter.com/5ilSlyXTOB
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 17, 2017
(Inputs from Reuters)