Roger Federer still has a big goal for 2018: winning the title at the ATP finals in London.
The draw on Monday evening in the context of the BBC The One Show meant it already once not badly with the Maestro. At the beginning, the Swiss will meet the Japanese Kei Nishikori on Sunday evening (21:00 CET), whom he last defeated in two sets in Shanghai and Paris-Bercy.
Then Austria’s Dominic Thiem and South Africa’s Kevin Anderson are waiting for the 20-time Grand Slam Champion in the Llyeton Hewitt group. The Swiss player lost his last encounter against both of them, but Federer is still the clear favourite in the fight for the semi-finals.
Especially the defeat against Anderson should still be painfully remembered by the best player of all time. In the quarter-finals of Wimbledon, he took the short straw after a 2-0 lead in the set and a missed match point. A further incentive to enter the ATP finals with top motivation.
And it wouldn’t even need this one. Federer, who won the year-end tournament twice in London and a total of six times, was already looking forward to the event in September: “I can hardly wait. London has been a great place for me so far.”
Even after his defeat in the epic semi-final of Paris Bercy against industry leader Novak Djokovic, the 37-year-old turned the focus back to England: “I am looking forward to a little break and a good preparation for the tournament in London.
In the French capital, the third in the world rankings played the best tennis for months, especially with his refreshing offensive tennis, he was able to thrill the spectators again. This is exactly the game Federer will need in London.
Finally, the Swiss will also take second place in the ATP world ranking. He would have to win all five matches – and Federer can be trusted after his performances in the previous week.