When most of his fellow professionals are complaining about the hectic schedule that they are going through in preparation for the upcoming 2012 season, Roger Federer is quietly going on about his work, hell bent on reclaiming the number one position that he feels that he deserves.

Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal to win the final in London. The 29-year-old's attacking game carried the Swiss to a 6-3 3-6 6-1 win in one hour and 37 minutes at the O2 Arena.

Federer's victory ensured that an inconsistent year by his standards was bookended by wins at the Australian Open in January and now the ATP World Tour Finals in November.

Nadal had been hoping to land the only significant title to so far elude him but a three-hour semi-final against Andy Murray on Saturday looked to have taken the edge off his game, and Federer proved the stronger in the closing stages.

Roger Federer sailed through to fourth round in New York with a 6-4 6-3 6-3 win over Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu. Federer, 29, did not have to be at his best as he reached the last 16 in total control at Flushing Meadows.

Third seed Novak Djokovic proved too strong for crowd favourite James Blake as he secured a 6-1 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 win.

The pair were joined in the last 16 by Robin Soderling after the Swede eased past Thiemo de Bakker 6-2 6-3 6-3.

Second seed Federer revealed he had found the blustery conditions problematic on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

World number one Roger Federer was upset in the Estoril Open semi-final as he again fell short of a clay court tournament victory.

Switzerland's Federer, who won the Portuguese event in his only previous appearance in 2008, was beaten 6-2 7-6 by defending champion Albert Montanes of Spain in one hour 21 minutes, in a match that many would have bet their scratch cards on federer winning.