Roger Federer kept alive his hopes of progressing from his ATP Finals group on Tuesday with a 7-6, 6-3 win over Matteo Berrettini.
Federer, a six-time champion at the season-ending tournament, was looking to bounce back from his opening loss to Dominic Thiem, and while the Swiss still appeared below his best, he did enough to beat the Italian debutant.
Neither player gave an inch in a close first set dominated by serve, with Berrettini saving the only break point in the 12th game which doubled up as a set point.
Federer then seized the initiative in the tiebreak, twice winning points on Berrettini's serve to close out the opener 7-2.
The Italian world No 8 was punished for a slow start to the second set as Federer broke to love, and the Swiss maintained his one-game advantage before breaking again in the ninth game to seal the victory.
Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem face each other in the group's other match later on Tuesday.
More to follow
