Roger Federer aims strong finish to the season in London
The Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer has put together a devastating run of results in the second half of the season, making him arguably the player to beat at the year-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, when the prestigious event starts in a week’s
time in London.
Criticism was raised when Federer’s run of twenty three semi final Grand Slam appearances ended in a quarter final loss at the hands of world number four Robin Soderling at the French Open in Roland Garros. The doubters once again raised their eyebrows few
weeks later when he was crushed out in the quarter final round of Wimbledon by an impressive Tomas Berdych.
The sixteen time Grand Slam champion, however, was unhampered. The Swiss dusted himself down and appointed Pete Sampras’ former coach, Paul Annacone in August. Since his surprising loss at the grass court Grand Slam tournament in London, he has lost only
four clashes in a run that saw the former world number one capture his seventeenth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown in Cincinnati and grab back-to-back European indoor trophies in Stockholm and Basel.
The right hander, who made his debut on the ATP World Tour back in 2002, goes into the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on the back of his more shocking defeat of the year, squandering five match points in a final four loss at the hands of Frenchman Gael Monfils
at the 2010 BNP Paribas Masters in Bercy last week.
The 29-year-old still strongly believes that his present form and conditioning are more than satisfying to secure him a fifth crown at the year finale.
“I think I have sound chances maybe in London for winning. I feel good physically. In a way it is a relief that I was able to finish the tournament in Bercy in good physical health. Victories are important, however when you are not fit and when you are injured,
it is bad. I am going back to Switzerland quickly and I am going to prepare for London, because London is the great final of the year,” reflected Federer after his semi final loss in Bercy.
The Swiss while commenting on his form further added that he is quite happy with his current form and is looking forward to play well in London.
One factor that the Swiss attributed to his solid finish to the year was the knowledge that his position in the elite eight man field at the season-end tournament was confirmed as a result of this opening round victory at the year’s final Grand Slam, the
United States Open in New York, where he ended his competition’s campaign with a five-setter marathon loss in the semi final round versus Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
“The problem at the BNP Paribas Masters is I believe in the past, when I was stuck in the race attempting to make the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals that is what actually gets you. It is simply a mental drag. It just becomes so tough for the players. I
remember back in 2002 and 2003, I could hardly sleep at night because I was so excited, nervous, eager to either make it or not, only to find out,” declared Federer, who before his semi-final run this week, had never advanced past the quarter-finals in Paris-Bercy.
The Swiss superstar will be joined at the 02 in London by Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Robin Soderling, David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych and Andy Roddick.
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