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Agence France-Presse

Roger Federer has dismissed Rafael Nadal’s claim that it would be fairer if the ATP World Tour Finals were played on clay courts.
As the world’s most formidable player on clay, Nadal has in the past suggested it would be better if the season-ending Tour Finals at least occasionally took place on his preferred surface.
The prestigious season-ending event has never been held on clay since its inception in 1970 and it is a tournament which world number one Nadal has yet to win.
It has mostly been played on an indoor hard-court, with other stints on carpet, grass and outdoor hard-courts when it was staged in various cities before setting up home in London in 2009.
Federer has always thrived on the indoor hard-court used at the O2 Arena, as he showed once again by kicking off his bid for a seventh title at the event with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) win over Jack Sock on Sunday.

“‘Fair’? I’m not sure if it’s the right word. I think it’s right and fair that it’s indoors, as well,” Federer said.
“There is no Masters 1000s on grass. There is one Masters 1000 indoors: Paris. So I feel like indoors also deserves its place.
“Could it be switched up to clay once in a while? Yeah, maybe. Could we have more 1000s on grass?
“Yeah, we could have that, too. Could we have less on clay, more or hard courts? Could we have more or hard courts, less on clay?
“Yes, it’s all debatable. I think it’s not the time of the year for clay, so there you have it.
“You can do indoor clay, I guess, but that’s a bit silly. But I get his point.”
Federer has enjoyed a remarkable renaissance this year, winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon, as well as five other titles.
Despite that stunning return to form, the 36-year-old will not finish the year on top of the world rankings.
Nadal wrapped up that honour when Federer opted out of the recent Paris Masters.

If world number two Federer had played and won in France, he could have kept the race going into the Tour Finals – where he and Nadal are the leading contenders for the trophy.
“He [Nadal] was better throughout the year. He played more tournaments. He was incredibly successful throughout,” Federer said.
“So, no, I don’t have any regrets because I feel like in my stage of my competition, my age, either it comes to me or it doesn’t.
“He had more gas left in the tank than I did. I couldn’t play as much as I’ve wanted, or I overplayed anyway.
“My only regret was I would have loved to be in contention through the Montreal finals, Cincinnati, US Open.
“But things evaporated very quickly after he won the US Open. That’s when he made his final push, was in Asia. That was it for me really.
“In some ways I’m happy he clinched it because he deserves it. I can focus on playing the tournament, and not having to talk about that at the same time.
“But, sure, I would have loved to be it, but you can’t be it with that many tournaments, so it’s no problem for me.”


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ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)

Roger Federer hits back over Rafael Nadal’s clay talk at ATP World Tour Finals

Rafael Nadal of kisses the ATP World Tour year-end No 1 Trophy at the O2 Arena. Photo: Xinhua

(FILES) This file photo taken on October 15, 2017 shows Winner Roger Federer of Switzerland (L) and second-placed Rafael Nadal of Spain react as they hold their trophies after the men's singles final match at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai on October 15, 2017. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal said they welcome innovation in tennis but warned the game's administrators on November 10, 2017 not to tamper too much with the current format. A series of rule changes and innovations are being trialled at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan, featuring the world’s top 21-and-under singles players. / AFP PHOTO / Nicolas ASFOURI

epaselect epa06325039 Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Jack Sock of the USA during their Men's singles Round Robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 12 November 2017. EPA-EFE/WILL OLIVER

Sport

Tennis

The 19-time grand slam winner dismisses idea it is ‘unfair’ to his Spanish rival that season finale is not played on the dirt


Rafael Nadal

Roger Federer hits back over Rafael Nadal’s clay talk at ATP World Tour Finals

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The 19-time grand slam winner dismisses idea it is ‘unfair’ to his Spanish rival that season finale is not played on the dirt

The 19-time grand slam winner dismisses idea it is ‘unfair’ to his Spanish rival that season finale is not played on the dirt