Federer aiming for title No.7 in London

 

Originally published on: 06/11/12 00:00

One of the only things predicable about the ATP World Tour Finals in recent years has been Roger Federer’s form. The 17-time Grand Slam champion has beaten six different finalists in each of his six victories at this event and this year the Swiss is aiming to become the first person since Ivan Lendl (’85,86,87) to win the tournament three times in a row.

“There is no real secret to it you just try hard and hope it all works out,” said Federer on his success at this event. “Overall I think I manage my schedule pretty well to make sure that the back end of the season doesn’t feel like a back end. So it feels more like a priority being fresh mentally and physically still during that period instead of just trying to dive over the finish line.”

Federer was drawn in Group B of the World Tour Finals, along with David Ferrer, Juan Martin del Potro and Janko Tipsarevic, while Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Tomas Berdych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga make up Group A. Djokovic is guaranteed to finish the season ranked No.1 after Federer decided against defending his points in Paris last week and the 31-year-old believes that no matter what happens in London the Serb is the real No.1.

“I don’t think there should be any real debate around that,” Federer explained. “You don’t get there by chance. The ranking is something that shows you how you have played over a 365-day period. Okay, it might all change in two months at the Australian Open there is no doubt about that but right now it’s clear and I don’t think whatever happens [this week] should take anything away from anybody.”

Federer also backed up Murray’s recent calls for more drugs testing in tennis with the Wimbledon champion explaining how he used to be subjected to more testing over six years ago. “I don’t know the exact reasons why we are being tested less and at this moment I agree with Andy,” said Federer.

“We don’t do a lot of blood testing during the year. I’m okay with having more of that; I just think it’s important to have enough tests out there. I don’t like when I’m only getting tested, whatever number it is, which I don’t think is enough during the year. So I think we should up it a little bit or a lot whatever you want to call it, I think it’s key and vital that the sport stays clean. It has got to and we’ve got a good history in terms of that and you want to make sure it stays that way.“

Federer will make his first appearance at The O2 on Tuesday when he takes on Serbian Janko Tipsarevic in the afternoon session.

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