Roger Federer powers past Stan Wawrinka to book Novak Djokovic final showdown

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Roger Federer beat Stan Wawrinka 7-5, 6-3 at the ATP World Tour Finals
The 17-time Grand Slam champion now faces Novak Djokovic in the final
Federer through to final for 10th time but has not won the title since 2011

Published: 16:38 EST, 21 November 2015 | Updated: 08:57 EST, 22 November 2015

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Twelve months ago, Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka engaged in a heated argument in a private gym backstage after a tumultuous semi-final battle on court at the ATP World Tour Finals.

It is unlikely, however, that there were similar scenes after their latest meeting on Saturday night at the same stage. The result went the same way with Federer triumphing 7-5, 6-3, but this 70-minute encounter was all rather comfortable in the end for the 17-time Grand Slam champion.

Federer now goes on to face Novak Djokovic for the second time this week after beating the world No 1 in straight sets on Tuesday. It will be the final we did not get last year when Federer was forced to pull out just one hour before with a back injury after the previous night's exertions.

Roger Federer recovered from 4-2 down in the first set to beat Stan Wawrinka at London's O2 Arena

Stan Wawrinka saw his chances of a final place dissolve after a convincing performance from Federer

'I'm feeling slightly better than last year,' said Federer. 'The press conference wasn't the fun part because I knew I was not in good shape. This year obviously it's very different. I feel completely normal. It's a big relief for me. I am happy of how the week's gone so far, so it's a good feeling this time around.'

Matches between Federer and Wawrinka used to be rather one-sided before the latter started to put up more of a challenge last year with the added confidence of being a Grand Slam champion after winning the Australian Open. Even before Saturday, though, the head-to-head record still sat at 17-3 to Federer.

After the apparent heckling by Federer's wife Mirka towards Wawrinka during their match last year which caused the post-match row, it was noticeable that umpire Ali Nili told the pair ahead of the match: 'Let's make this a good clean fight. No blows below the waistline.' Perhaps Nili was not intentionally referring back to last year, but Federer and Wawrinka heeded his advice with no sign of any issues.

David Beckham and his son Romeo were among the crowd at the semi-final match on Saturday night

Wawrinka landed the early legitimate blow as he fortunately broke for 3-2 with the help of two net cords which went his way. A poor service game, though, gifted the break back and Federer broke once more to take the first set.

Those in the 17,500-strong crowd - which included David Beckham and Thierry Henry - hoping for a contest were left disappointed as Wawrinka never recovered and Federer closed out the match with ease to give himself a shot at a seventh year-end championships title.

Federer goes into the final with a 22-21 lead in his head-to-head record against Djokovic, something he admits does have a bearing on the mindset heading into Sunday's match.

Former Arsenal and France star Thierry Henry waves to the crowd during the Federer match

Actor Hugh Grant watches the men's semi final between Wawrinka and Federer on Saturday

'It matters because we can both look back on it and see what we could have done differently, for the good or the bad,' said Federer. 'That's interesting for both of us. Even though it does also happen that you play each other in one place one week, then another place seven days later in a final, this is different. It's the same conditions, same court, same place.

'For me it's an advantage because I guess it gives me a bit of confidence. For him it's an advantage because he gets a second chance and he's in another final. He's played some great tennis since we've played. So I still believe his confidence is slightly higher than mine with the amount of success he's had this year.'

Saturday's victory also keeps alive Federer's chances of finishing above Andy Murray as the year-end world No 2, although he would have to win the title on Sunday and hope that results involving Murray at the Davis Cup final in Belgium next week go his way.