Roger Federer will face Novak Djokovic in the World Tour Final after defeating Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka 7-5, 6-3 on Saturday.

Third seed Federer beat Djokovic in straight sets in the group stage. “A great match, I really enjoyed it,” Federer said after his win.

“It will be a perfect ending only if I win. Novak should be knocked out by now! No, I am joking. He played a great match against Rafa earlier today and I’m sure it will be a fantastic meeting.”

Federer went into the Wawrinka match with a 17-3 lead in career clashes between the two, including all their matches on a hard court.

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At the coin toss, the umpire, like a boxing referee, asked both players for “a clean fight” and “no blows below the belt”.

Fourth seed Wawrinka broke first for a 3-2 lead thanks to some luck at the net cord, flicking a shot into Federer’s face and then diverting a shot wide from the 17-time Grand Slam champion.

But Federer broke back to level at 4-4 and motored on to take the first set, breaking again as Wawrinka double-faulted and misfired, a volley into the net sealing matters.

Federer broke in the second game of the second set and had two break points in the fourth before Wawrinka pulled it back.

Wawrinka saw off a match point to hold for 5-3, but Federer was cruising by this point and ended the contest with a straightforward service game.