Fed wins season-ender

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Roger Federer captured a record-equalling fifth title at the ATP World Tour Finals with a 6-3 3-6 6-1 triumph over Rafael Nadal.

Federer toppled the world number one in front of a capacity crowd at London's O2 Arena on Sunday in one hour and 38 minutes for his 66th career championship.

The 16-time Grand Slam winner was at his best against Nadal with his breathtaking backhands and powerful forehands on show once again.

Both players were nervous early but it was world number two Federer who gained the decisive break in the opening set.

With Nadal serving at 3-4 and 30-0, he hit a double fault before Federer eventually brought up break point with a forehand down the line and then duly converted with a stinging crosscourt backhand.

But in almost a complete role reversal, Nadal began the second set on top as his opponent mishit several forehands.

The Spaniard skipped into a 3-1 lead and seized the initiative, with his powerful back-court game and serve - Nadal served at just under 90 percent whereas Federer just scraped past 40 - enabling him to take the second set and send the match into a decider.

But again Federer responded, opening the third set with five straight points.

He broke Nadal in the fourth game of the set to go 3-1 ahead before powering home as the Spaniard committed several unforced errors to hand Federer victory.

Federer won more than two-thirds of the points in the final set and sealed his win with a forehand that looked like going long before catching the line.

He has now defeated five different players in ATP World Tour Finals - toppling Andre Agassi in 2003, Lleyton Hewitt in 2004, James Blake in 2006 and David Ferrer in 2007.

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