Federer aiming for strong finish in London

Wednesday, 16 November 2011 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Roger Federer has the momentum and renewed confidence as he sets his sights on a record-breaking sixth World Tour Finals title after claiming his first Paris Masters crown.

He may be set to end the year without a grand slam title for the first time since 2002 but Federer will take a 12-match winning streak into his title defence at the eight-man season finale in London from November 20.

World No.4 Federer brushed aside home favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1 7-6 (7-3) in the Paris Masters final on Sunday to remain unbeaten since his gut-wrenching semi-final loss to Novak Djokovic at the US Open where he squandered a match point.

The 16-times grand slam champion was excited by his resurgence after claiming the 69th title of his career.

“I’m just ecstatic to have played so well this week,” Federer said. “I have had many attempts to win Paris and for some reason I wasn’t able to. It’s a special victory.”

“I have had some really tough losses this year, but I kept believing the year wasn’t over.

“I’m not playing to prove anything to anybody. I play for myself, I play for Switzerland (and) just to enjoy myself.

“I can still finish this year on a high,” he said. “Now I have a massive highlight coming up in a week’s time.”

Federer took six weeks off after the Davis Cup playoff win over Australia in Sydney in mid-September and feels it paid off.

“I always plan in the long term,” Federer said. “I know how gruelling it is out there. Even I need my time away.”

His 18th Masters series title puts him one ahead of Andre Agassi and one behind all-time leader Rafael Nadal.

Federer will be aiming to reach his 100th tour-level final when he makes his 10th straight appearance at World Tour Finals.

He has triumphed there previously in 2003, `04, `06, `07 and again in 2010.

Last year’s victory over Nadal in the final made him only the third player in the tournament’s 41-year history to win the title five times, joining Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras.

And with dominant world No.1 Djokovic troubled by a nagging shoulder injury, Federer will be confident of going clear of that pair in London.

Federer took his career record against Tsonga to 6-3 on Sunday.

“I just wish I could have competed more,” said Tsonga, who beat Federer in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, but lost at the same stage to the Swiss star at the US Open.

“Every time we play each other it’s similar. If I am able to fight back at the start, then I play well,” Tsonga said. “But if I lose the first set like I did today, then it becomes more difficult.”