A CONFIDENT START....!
Four time champion Roger Federer made a confident start to the season ending Barclays ATP World Tour finals campaign with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 win over Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in a match that lasted one hour and 59 minutes.
Federer hit 32 winners and capitalised on Verdasco's 31 unforced errors to win the three set match.

Federer stays just a game away with the win in the Round robin match on day one at the 2009 Barclays ATP World Tour finals.

In an absolute turn around in the match, Federer races to a 3-0 lead in the decider to put the Spaniard in a pickle which he is, currently struggling to come out of. Can verdasco make a comeback like Federer did in the second set?

Federer recently became a part of history by achieving a 'career-slam' as the 2009 French Open brought title glory for him. His emphatic win over rising Swedish Star Robin Soderling came at a time when he most needed it.

ONE SET A PIECE.....!
The Debutant Verdasco challenged the four time champion to limits, but could not hold his serve in the 12th game to let the Swiss maestro come back into the match after winning the second set 7-5.

Federer delivered flawless performances in his opening matches at this year's Championships. His opening round demolition of Chinese Taipei's Yen Hsun-Lu gave a clear indication that he was the strongest contendor for this year's title, which he duly proved.

Federer seems to have found his pace in the match as he awaits no one to stay ahead in the second set at 5-4. Verdasco will now serve to stay in the set.

With a much improved play, specially in the service games, Federer stays ahead in the second set. The Spaniard, however, does not seem to have lost his rhythm, which saw him win the opening set.

When Federer made a shaky start to this year's Open with hard earned win against Jose Acasuso in the second round, many put the Swiss star in their list of possible upsets, but it all changed when the 14 time grand Slam champion proved his mettle against Tommy Haas with a come-from-behind five set victory.

Federer continues to stay ahead in the second set with some solid service games. The Spaniard, however, looks for that elusive match winning break that can see him through in this interesting match.

Federer hit the rock bottom when he was handed the loss by Serbian Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of Miami Masters 1000 event. Ever since it has been all glitters for the Swiss maestro as titles in Madrid and Paris made him the resurgent heartthrob.

One of Federer's most satisfying performance before the triumph at French Open was the win in the final of Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open, where he tamed the Lion in his den.

Verdasco impresses with a solid start into the match and pockets the opening set by 6 games to 4. The Spaniard took full advantage of the break that he got in the opening game and maintained his lead gallantly to win the first set 6-4.

Verdasco continues to bother Federer with his razor sharp forehand winners and solid serving. The Swiss, on the other hand, is finidng difficulty to get that one break nack to see his chances in the opening set.

During French Open, Federer was literally tested to limits by Tommy Haas in the pre-quarterfinals and Jose Acasuso in the second round. With so much of struggle in the early rounds, the Swiss star's win in the final over Soderling came as a relief.

Federer saves two break points, which could easily have been virtual set points, to stay very much in the opening set, still trailing by a break.

Federer ensured his place at the very first page in the history books when he beat Andy Roddick in the finals to lift his sixth Wimbledon singles and 15th overall Grand Slam title, surpassing American Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam wins.

Federer impresses with his solid game at the net with some quick points to avoid any further damage in the match. The Spaniard still leads with a break though.

After an unusual start, Federer gets on board in his service game but lags behind by a break against Verdasco, who can very well capitalise on this early breakthrough into the match.

Roger Federer started the year in promising style, reaching the final of the Australian Open. But ever since, he saw a down trodden performance, perhaps the most challenging in his career since his triumph in 2003 Wimbledon.

2009 ATP World Tour Finals RR
 Roger Federer vs. Fernando Verdasco
Head-to-Head
Federer leads series 3-0
Last Meeting - 2009 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells QF
Federer won 6-3, 7-6(5)

The 2009 season brought a myriad of achievements for Roger Federer both on court and off it. On one hand, he surpassed Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles and on the other, he became the proud father of twin daughters. As the Swiss enters the year-end championships, he has a chance to finish the dream year with a record-tying fifth Masters Cup crown.
His opponent in the opening Round Robin match is Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, who makes his debut at the season ending elite eight event.
Stay tuned with TennisEarth to find out who will emerge victorious in this swashbuckling tussle....!