LEAD: Federer makes more history by setting up 100th final

By Bill Scott Nov 26, 2011, 16:16 GMT

London - Roger Federer will crack his century mark on career finals on Sunday after escaping a dangerous patch against Spaniard David Ferrer and producing a 7-5, 6-3 victory at the ATP World Tour Finals on Saturday.

The 16-time Grand Slam winner will be competing in his seventh final at a year-end event and bidding for a sixth trophy.

'I never ever thought that I'd reach 100 finals - but I can promise I won't retire after my 100th,' he joked.

His win in just under 90 minutes over Ferrer - a loser now in a dozen matches with the Swiss - will also carry Federer past Andy Murray and back to third in the rankings.

Federer was feted on court after his win by a full-house crowd of 17,500. He will await a winner from Czech Tomas Berdych and Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Federer was within two points of losing the first set at 4-5 but won a nine-minute game and lifted his level in the second set to earn victory running away.

The Swiss advanced with six aces and 24 winners, committing 29 unforced errors. Ferrer, heading off to Spain for next week's Davis Cup final against Argentina, managed just eight winners.

Federer dished up love games on his last two times at serve and broke Ferrer in the final game on a second match point with a forehand winner to the corner.

'I'm happy to have played so well against today,' said the winner, now 63-12 on the season with a 16-match win streak to hand after claiming trophies in his last two events in Basle and Paris. 'That's what I takes to beat David. He's had an amazing season but it's not over for him. I hope he can go back and win the Davis Cup.'

The Swiss admitted he broke a sweat in the tense tenth game of the opening set when Ferrer threatened.

'He had the upper hand from the baseline, I was struggling to hit cleanly form his topspin forehand,' he said.

'He was moving me around. To hold in that game gave me confidence, it was the key to the match.

'I'm just amazed that I can reach 100 finals, that's not something you can plan for.

'I'm amazed I'm still standing and walking around normally after so many years. But I'm fit and really motivated. This really means a lot to me.'

Federer ended group play undefeated for the seventh time at a year-end event and will aim for his fourth title of the season on Sunday.

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