Austrian gun Dominic Thiem has become the first player to defeat Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic during the round-robin at the ATP Finals.
On Tuesday, Djokovic suffered a 6-7(5-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) defeat to an inspired Thiem in the standout match of the tournament so far while Federer accounted for Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (7-2) 6-3.
'CHEMISTRY ISN’T THE BEST': Tsitsipas gets revenge in tennis' new rivalry
‘HEARTBREAKING’: Aussies devastated in Fed Cup thriller
The results sealed Thiem's maiden qualification for the semi-finals of the elite eight-man event, ensured a blockbuster meeting between Djokovic and Federer, and ended Berrettini's hopes.
Thiem defeated the Swiss maestro in the first match to secure a piece of history for the Austrian becoming the first player to defeat the pair in the round-robin stage of the end-of-year event.
✅ Beat Federer on Sunday
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) November 12, 2019
✅ Beat Djokovic today
What a 48 hours for Dominic Thiem. What a match.@ThiemDomi | #NittoATPFinalspic.twitter.com/ndz80e99HI
Dominic Thiem the first ever player to beat both Djokovic and Federer in ATP Finals round robin.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) November 12, 2019
Well done.
Dominic Thiem vs The Big Three
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) November 12, 2019
Versus Djokovic: 4-6 (has won 4 of the last 5)
Versus Nadal: 4-9 (all four wins on clay in best-of-3)
Versus Federer: 5-2 (3-0 in 2019)
Federer sets up Djokovic showdown
Federer admitted he was looking to “get him back” following the heartbreaking loss at Wimbledon this year.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion dropped two championship points in his loss to Djokovic in a five-set epic.
“Actually, it’s good for me to play him again, and maybe that all helps to get a chance to get him back,” Federer said following the match.
“Maybe it took me a few days, couple weeks at most, to get over the Wimbledon loss.
“We’ll find out, but I think it’s all flushed away from my side. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then.”
Only once in his previous 16 appearances at the year-ender has Federer failed to survive the group stage, in 2008.
Djokovic, who is bidding to equal Federer's record of six titles and claim back the world No.1 ranking from Rafael Nadal, faces Thiem later at the O2 Arena.