Roger Federer defeats Dominic Thiem at ATP Finals in London

                                           

Roger Federer put himself in with a chance of progressing to the knockout stages of the ATP Finals after defeating Dominic Thiem in straight sets on Tuesday night.

Federer's bid to win his 100th career singles title at the ATP Finals hit the buffers in his opening match against Kei Nishikori, but he hit form just in time against Thiem to win 6-2 6-3 in 66 minutes.

The 37-year-old, attempting to win a record seventh title and a first since 2011, has only once in the 15 previous times he has played at the season finale failed to qualify from his group - and that was 10 years ago when the tournament was in Shanghai.

It was billed as a must-win match for Federer and he came out firing, while costly errors from French Open finalist Thiem allowed the Swiss to make an early breakthrough, before establishing a comfortable 5-2 lead. He successfully served it out in 31 minutes.

The 25-year-old Thiem held a 2-1 winning record going into their latest clash, but he struggled to compete on the indoor hardcourt surface of London's O2 Arena.

In a match of few extended points it was Federer who was enjoying the court conditions as he broke at the start of the second set and then held all his service games comfortably to see out the contest. He has now put himself in with a chance of qualifying from the group with one match remaining.

All four players in Group Lleyton Hewitt are still in contention to qualify for the knockout stages.