- ATP Tour
Nadal backs Federer to reach O2
New world No. 1 Rafael Nadal is convinced Roger Federer will be alongside him at the ATP World Tour Finals, and has backed the Swiss to have a strong end to the season.
Nadal was the first player to book his spot at the season-finale at London's O2 Arena, and the Spaniard will be joined by Novak Djokovic, David Ferrer and Andy Murray - although the British No. 1 is expected to withdraw from the event in the next coming days.
Federer is currently seventh in the Race to London with only eight players qualifying for the event, but with the record six-time champion's participation not yet guaranteed, Nadal believes he will be there.
"He's going to go, he's going to qualify. I am sure of that," Nadal, who is chasing history this week at the Shanghai Masters by aiming to become the first player to win six Masters crowns in a season, said.
"He is not going to have a problem. Even if he doesn't have lots of points of advantage."
Nadal returned to the top of the world rankings on Monday and displaced Djokovic, and he feels that Federer "plays well in this last part of the season" in Shanghai, his home event in Basel and the Paris Masters, and can see the 32-year-old challenging for the trophy at The O2.
"He likes to play in these tournaments. He always had the positive results. I really feel that he will do it. He's a great player and I am sure he will be there and fighting for the title," he said.
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