Federer Steamrolls Nadal to Reach ATP Cup Semis

Roger Federer continued his hot streak this fall, rolling over Rafael Nadal in the round-robin portion of the year-end ATP World Cup: 6-3, 6-0, in only 62 minutes. 

Fed was the aggressor throughout, hitting 28 winners against 8 unforced errors, compared with Nadal, who had only 4 winners
and 7 UFEs. In the second-set bagel, Nadal won just nine of 35 total points. 

Tactically, the match was similar to Fed's victory over Nadal in last year's final, but more one-sided. On the low-bouncing court, Fed was happy to go backhand-to-backhand, using more topspin on that wing to push Nadal back, then open up his forehand by going short-and-wide. 

Fed also attacked Nadal's second serve, even hitting outright winners with both backhand- and forehand-returns, in part because Nadal's heavy slice second serve is far less effective indoor than on high-bouncing clay or clay-like hard courts. When Plan A fails, Nadal has no Plan B. 

Fed has won 14 straight matches, beating 6 top twenty players, while surrending only 4 sets. (Click to enlarge stat table on left.)

Caption: I took this on the critical point in their doubles match at BNP Indian Wells, last March ©jfawcette 2011.