Rafael Nadal won the latest instalment of his epic rivalry with Roger Federer as the Spaniard swept into the final of the ATP World Tour Finals with a 7-5, 6-3 victory on Sunday. Nadal was in commanding form in the last four showdown at London's O2 Arena and his 22nd win in 32 meetings with Federer booked the world number one's place in Monday's final against either Novak Djokovic or Stanislas Wawrinka.
But there was nothing routine about Nadal's latest show of force against Federer as it marked the first time he had ever beaten the Swiss great indoors after four defeats, including a loss in the 2010 final of the Tour Finals.
That was the 27-year-old's only previous appearance in the final of this prestigious season-ending event, but he looks in the mood to finally end his long wait to lift the trophy after halting Federer's remarkable run of success in the tournament in just 79 minutes.
Federer, a six-time winner of the event, had reached the last three finals, winning twice before losing to Djokovic last year.
But this has been Nadal's year and the 13-time Grand Slam winner, who has also won Olympic gold and the Davis Cup, is now just one more victory away from finishing a glorious campaign by adding the last major prize missing from his glittering CV.
"It's the perfect way to finish the season, probably one of the best seasons of my career," Nadal said.