Federer faces Generation Next at Masters Cup
Saturday, 8 November 2008
SHANGHAI, Nov 7 (AFP): There's no Rafael Nadal, but Generation Next poses a serious threat to Roger Federer's tilt at a Tennis Masters Cup hat- trick from Sunday.
Britain's Andy Murray heads a list of four new faces, including Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Juan Martin del Potro and Gilles Simon, at the least predictable season finale of recent years.
Murray is the man in form after a breakthrough spell in which he reached his first Grand Slam final and won back-to-back Masters series titles to go fourth in the world rankings.
"Since Wimbledon I've played the best tennis of my life, and hopefully I can keep it going," said the 21-year-old Scot.
Federer is chasing the first year-end title hat-trick since Ivan Lendl in 1985- 1987 and his fifth Masters Cup overall at the end of a difficult year.
But the former number one's bid could yet be undone by a stiff back which forced him to pull out of the Paris Masters quarter-finals a week ago.
Top-ranked Nadal has already disappointed Chinese fans by withdrawing, variously citing fatigue, tendinitis and the need to prepare for this month's Davis Cup final.
Britain's Andy Murray heads a list of four new faces, including Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Juan Martin del Potro and Gilles Simon, at the least predictable season finale of recent years.
Murray is the man in form after a breakthrough spell in which he reached his first Grand Slam final and won back-to-back Masters series titles to go fourth in the world rankings.
"Since Wimbledon I've played the best tennis of my life, and hopefully I can keep it going," said the 21-year-old Scot.
Federer is chasing the first year-end title hat-trick since Ivan Lendl in 1985- 1987 and his fifth Masters Cup overall at the end of a difficult year.
But the former number one's bid could yet be undone by a stiff back which forced him to pull out of the Paris Masters quarter-finals a week ago.
Top-ranked Nadal has already disappointed Chinese fans by withdrawing, variously citing fatigue, tendinitis and the need to prepare for this month's Davis Cup final.