For eight games and a total of 50 points, a colossal zero stood in the winner column next to Novak Djokovic’s name. It was not until he served for the first set that the Australian Open champion was able to dispatch a comfortable forehand drive volley and record his first winner. In regular circumstances, such a stat would hint at the kind of uninspired passive play that disenchants the tennis audience.

However, the reality was that Novak Djokovic had controlled the match from the outset. Throughout those eight games, he stood on the baseline and played the suffocating role of conductor with poise and precision, switching the ball from side to side. Effortlessly, he managed the doubly difficult task of changing the direction of the ball on what seemed like at least every other shot while unleashing penetrating drives. Every point seemed to follow the same routine. Off Wawrinka went, chasing down the ever-changing direction of Djokovic’s strokes, side to side until finally he committed an error. There was never any need for Djokovic to produce a winner or a kill shot, for the outmanoeuvring of his opponent was so simple.

Joining him in the final showdown to end all final showdowns was his arch-nemesis, Rafael Nadal. Only a set has Nadal lost, yet he has had it even easier. As he rekindled his legendary yet now one-sided rivalry with Federer, the Spaniard looked almost unimpressive against his rival of nearly a decade. His backhand misfired, and his typically relentless pursuit of the Federer backhand was surprisingly ineffective off the ground, which seemed to present Federer with a rare opportunity to dispatch Nadal. He could not capitalize, however, often falling on his own sword with a host of ugly unforced errors, and the new world No. 1 triumphed.

Afterwards, Djokovic measured up his prospects against Nadal as he looks to claim a fourth consecutive title to end 2013.

“After the US Open final, I haven't lost a match,” said Djokovic.  “I'm trying to take a lot of positive energy out of this run that I had.  I won against him in the finals of Beijing in straight sets and I played a great match.  I liked the way I improved in our matches.  I like that I changed a few things that allowed me to win against him.  That's something that I will definitely try to use tomorrow. “

“[Nadal] has immensely improved on hard court.  Compared to all the other surfaces in our sport, this is probably his least preferable, but not this year.  This year he has had incredible success.  He's more aggressive.  He's using his serve better. Of course, no clear favorites in the final tomorrow.  It's always expected that we go the distance.  Let the better man win.”

Nadal, meanwhile, spoke at length about his expectations of the ATP’s grand final.

“For me every match means a lot,” said the world No. 1.  “Every tournament means a lot.  It’s true that this tournament is special and I never had the chance to win here. It will be great if any year I have the chance to finish the year with a victory.  But I know that a lot of work remains, probably the most difficult [match]. 

“I think if I don't play my best tomorrow, I won’t have chances.  I need to play more aggressive.  It's true that today I tried to play aggressive from the beginning, but it is very difficult to play aggressive against a player who tries to go for his shots in every ball.  So we'll see tomorrow.”

With a match of such magnitude approaching in a marquee final, talk has circulated about the possibility of reinstating a decisive best-of-five-set format for the final of the ATP World Tour Finals. It seems quite unnecessary, however, after a long year that has already forced both men to the brink of their limits. This shorter best of three sprint of a match will perhaps deemphasize some of the attritional aspects of their match-up.

And that may not be such a bad thing at all.