This archive report was first published on 12 November 2019.
Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer stayed alive in the ATP Finals on November 12, 2019, with a hard-fought 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 win over Italian debutant Matteo Berrettini at London's O2 Arena.
Federer, a six-time champion at the tournament, had put himself under pressure by losing his first match on Sunday in straight sets to Dominic Thiem.
However, the Swiss third seed bounced back in style, overcoming a tough first set to outlast Berrettini in the second set.
"There's no reason to be too down on yourself," Federer said in a post-match interview. "We came here to play three matches and give it all we have. It was the big goal of the season to come here and qualify which we did, plus I had a day off."
With the win, Federer kept his hopes of a seventh ATP Finals crown alive, while Berrettini's loss means he has a mountain to climb in his remaining matches.
The ATP Finals continues at the O2 Arena, with top players including Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal still in contention for the title.
