Roger Federer's dream scenario is about to come to an end, and it's not because of Rafael Nadal.
Tennis.com reported that Novak Djokovic is a win over Tomas Berdych or a Federer loss to Andy Murray away from retaining the No. 1 ranking to close the 2014 season.
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The only drama that seems to remain is whether Federer can knock off the red-hot Djokovic at the ATP World Finals in London and whether that match will come in the semifinals or finals.
Federer had to five all five of his matches at the ATP World Finals, then win a Davis Cup match and have Djokovic lose at least once in pool play for Federer to overtake Djokovic in the final rankings.
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After Djokovic disposed of Federer's Swiss countryman, Stanislas Wawrinka, 6-3, 6-0 on Wednesday, Wawrinka, the reigning Australian Open champion and the No. 4 player in the world, was no match for Djokovic.
"I think I covered the court very well, got a lot of balls back, mixed up the pace, got him off the comfort zone," Djokovic told the press afterward, adding, "that's something that was part of my game plan."
Djokovic won 52 percent of Wawrinka's first serves and 74 percent of Wawrinka's second serves in dominating Federer's Davis Cup playing partner.
Federer still can creep closer to Djokovic in the points standings if he can defeat Djokovic in either the semis or finals.
Federer owns a 19-17 lifetime record against Djokovic, including a 6-4, 6-4 victory in just more than 90 minutes last month at the Shanghai Masters. But Djokovic has been on a roll since, winning the Paris Masters (in which Federer was knocked out before getting to Nole) and the first two matches in London with ease.
He also owns the epic, five-set Wimbledon victory over Federer in July.
If Federer is to upset Djokovic in the season-ending event, the Swiss likely will have to come up with a dream performance.
Do you think Roger Federer can beat Novak Djokovic in the ATP World Tour semifinals or finals? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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