( CNN ) -- Even after all these years , Roger Federer is still thrilled by the chase . The 31-year-old can not regain his No . 1 ranking this year , but he can add yet more accolades to his glittering resume if he beats Novak Djokovic in Monday 's climax of the ATP World Tour Finals in London . The 17-time grand slam champion blew away Andy Murray in Sunday 's second semifinal , earning some measure of revenge for his defeat in August 's Olympic gold medal match and denying the Scot another long-awaited milestone . Murray became the first British male to win a grand slam since 1936 when he lifted the U.S. Open in September , but the UK will have to wait for its first finalist in the season-ending showpiece . `` It was a special match . It was the third time in London this year for the two of us and the crowd was electric , '' said two-time defending champion Federer , who beat Murray in July 's Wimbledon final to match Pete Sampras ' record of seven titles on the hallowed grass courts . `` I have been around the block a few times and that was something . You ca n't tire of nights like this . `` That is why I keep practising in front of no people , it inspires you to keep working hard . '' At first it had seemed that Federer might have been feeling the effects of Saturday 's three-set defeat by Juan Martin del Potro , as Murray -- who had an extra day off -- took an early 3-1 lead . But the Swiss worked his way back into the match in front of a pro-Federer crowd , and raced away to win 7-6 ( 7-5 ) 6-2 in one hour and 33 minutes . `` Almost all the times when you play Roger anywhere in the world he gets great support everywhere . He deserves that because of everything that he 's achieved , '' said Murray . It was his third semifinal defeat in the elite eight-man event , while last year he pulled out with injury during the round-robin stage . `` It 's been the best year of my career by a mile ... I 've achieved things I 've never achieved before , '' the 25-year-old said . Federer will seek a record-extending seventh title , and bid to match the last man to have won it three years in a row -- Murray 's coach Ivan Lendl . He will face a formidable foe in Djokovic , who was guaranteed the year-end No . 1 spot when Federer decided not to defend his Paris Masters title last week . The Serbian lost his opening match in the French capital soon after his father was taken to hospital with a serious respiratory problem , but better news from home has helped him win all four matches so far this week . Djokovic was tested by Del Potro in Saturday 's opening semifinal , but showed the fighting abilities he needed in earlier group-stage wins against Murray and Tomas Berdych as he prevailed 4-6 6-3 6-2 . The giant Argentine , runner-up in 2009 , looked poised to reach the final for the second time as he went a break ahead in the second set but Djokovic turned it around . He won the 2008 final when the tournament had its final staging in Shanghai , but has never got this far in London . `` Knowing it 's the last match of the season , I 'm really going to try to give my best physically and mentally tomorrow , '' said Djokovic , who equaled David Ferrer 's leading 74 match victories this year . Del Potro has won a career-high 65 matches in 2012 , battling back into the top 10 after a long recovery from serious wrist problems . `` He deserved to win today . If you do n't play for the whole match at your best level , it 's really difficult to beat him , '' Del Potro said . `` I had the chance to win today when I was a break up in the second , but I did n't serve like yesterday and I did n't serve like my first set today . Nole was returning really well . ''
Roger Federer will play world No . 65 Novak Djokovic in final of season-ending tournament . Defending champion Federer beats world No . 3 Roger Federer in Sunday 's semifinal . Federer will be seeking a record-extending seventh title , and his second in a row . Djokovic beats Novak Djokovic to reach final for first time , his first in London .