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Federer ready for loaded field in ATP finals

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Updated Nov 21, 2009 2:38 PM ET
     
 

LONDON

Roger Federer, a winner of the ATP year-end finals four times in the last six years, thinks this year's eight-man field is as closely balanced as any he has played in. "It was tough last year in Shanghai, too," Federer said Friday, two days before the ATP World Tour Finals begin. "Everyone in Novak Djokovic's round robin group lost a match. But this year I think both groups are tough. Everybody has had big moments during the year and the top four have been very consistent. Then there was Robin Soderling with his unthinkable win over Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros and Juan Martin del Potro playing so well to win the U.S. Open against me in the final. And Nikolay Davydenko has come back strong after being out injured at the start of the year." Federer admitted that the No. 1 year-end ranking was on his mind as well as winning the title. "I am here to play as well as I can and, hopefully, win the tournament," he said. "But I know I can also finish as No. 1 in the world again so that is an incentive, too. " Federer was speaking at the players' hotel, where one glance out of the window offers a close up view of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament across the river. "Obviously it is good to be playing in London again because I have had so much success at Wimbledon, but to play in an arena that is new to tennis (the O2 Arena) is really exciting." Meanwhile Djokovic, the defending champion and form horse of the tour after winning back-to-back titles in Basel and Paris coming into these ATP World Tour Finals, was chatting to reporters at an adjoining table. The Serb, who is not in the same round robin group as Federer, was asked about the Swiss and his legacy. "Of course, he sets the example," Djokovic said. "The way he keeps going; the way he approaches each match in such a professional manner; he's just so dominant. Probably the best in history. I'll be very happy if I can just win half the Grand Slam titles Roger has won." Djokovic felt that Federer handled the constant pressure of being a top star so well and commended the local favorite, Andy Murray, for the same thing. "At Wimbledon, Murray has unbelievable pressure from his fans and the media but he handles it well," Djokovic said. "But he is one of the most intelligent players and he knows that pressure is just part of an athlete's life. It's what we live with."
Murray kicks off Sunday night's program with a match against del Potro. Neither Murray nor anyone else knows quite what state of fitness the tall Argentine will bring to the court. First it was a wrist injury, following his great effort at Flushing Meadows and then, in Paris, he defaulted with a stomach muscle problem. "I don't know how it will be, but I'm OK to play," said the quiet giant del Potro, who has turned himself into a very formidable world No. 5 with aspirations to go higher.

HawkEye and hand balls

The hot sporting topic in Europe this week has been the handball incident involving French captain Thierry Henry in their World Cup qualifier against the Irish Republic. Henry has admitted he handled the ball before crossing for William Gallas to head in the goal that sent France to South Africa. Henry has since said he thinks the match should be replayed. But the pertinent question is whether soccer should give referees recourse to an instant replay system like HawkEye in tennis. Surprisingly, perhaps, given his antipathy to HawkEye, Federer was in favor of the idea. "Yes, I guess that would be the way to go," he said. "I am surprised that something like that can have such an outcome — everyone knowing it was a hand ball and the referee not seeing it. But I wouldn't blame Henry for playing on. It all happens in five seconds. It's the system that is at fault." Djokovic also said that he would "absolutely support technology for soccer," while Fernando Verdasco, the second Spaniard in the field who will open against Federer, joined the chorus. "The more technology you have, the better the outcome of the matches," Verdasco said. "HawkEye may not be 100 perfect perfect but we accept it. Before it was terrible when you knew the ball had landed 15 centimeters out and the umpire called good. There was nothing you could do. Now it is better." Richard Evans, who commentated at Wimbledon on BBC Radio for 20 years, has been covering tennis since the 1960s and has reported on more than 150 Grand Slams. He is the author of 15 books, including the official history of the Davis Cup and the unofficial history of the modern game in "Open Tennis." He lives in Florida but is still on the tour 20 weeks in the year.

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