Federer books London ticket

 

Originally published on: 31/10/13 00:00

The 17-time Grand Slam champion needed to win his opening match at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris after losing in the final of the Swiss Indoors to Juan Martin Del Potro last week.

With the pressure on in the final main draw event of the ATP season, Federer defeated Kevin Anderson 6-4 6-4 to secure his place in the eight-man season finale for a 12th consecutive year.

The Swiss, who will meet Philipp Kohlschreiber in the last 16, is the seventh man to qualify, but there are two spots remaining following Andy Murray’s withdrawal.

"It feels great, I'm so happy," said Federer. "It's been a tough year so this is a little bit of a highlight. It was one of the goals I set myself at the start of the year and I've been able to achieve it. I'm looking forward to a good performance in Paris to gear myself up to hopefully play great tennis in London."

"As a six-time champion Roger stands alone as the most decorated player in the history of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals,” said tournament director Andre Silva. “He is enormously popular here in London, where he has also won seven Wimbledon titles, and we’re delighted to welcome him back to The O2."

With less than a week before the event kicks off in London, there are still two singles and three doubles teams spots remaining. Stanislas Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet are in pole position to seal those places, but Milos Raonic still has a chance of qualifying. Defeat to Kei Nishikori in Paris saw 2011 runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s season come to an end.

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