ATP London World Tour Finals Profile: Roger Federer

London, England – Mister Federer is frightfully questionable for the World Tour Finals after suffering back-to-back losses in the Basel title match and in his Paris Masters opener. And now, he stands in danger of losing his No.1 ranking by the end of the tournament.

When Roger Federer lost to Juan Martin Del Potro in the US Open final, we were willing to make light of the defeat and chalk it to the birth of a new generation in tennis. After all, the tennis gods had bestowed upon Federer the French Open and Wimbledon titles to set a record of 15 Grand Slam wins in the Open Era, and returned his No.1 ranking. All was well in Federerland – which also received the arrival of twins Myla and Charlene in the summer.

Post US Open and poster boy Del Poop has been as hot as tepid English tea –so, so much for the new generation making an appearance. Seems many were hasty on that score. Fed turning into a poopbrain what with flunking against Nole in Basel and then outplayed at the Paris Masters by an unheralded Julien Benneteau – has many thinking that they might have been hasty to make light of Fed’s loss to Del Poop.

Perhaps the US Open final loss was more significant than allowed for at the time. What ails Fed? Fatherhood? Sorry Myla and Charlene: it is the most popular explanation right now and many are rolling out stats to support the theory that fatherhood = anathema to a career.

Whatever it is that ails Federer it is enough to have people seriously concerned: Federer is headed into a two-man battle with Nadal, ill-equipped and unmotivated. Que horror!

Road to London:

BetUS Futures odds for Federer listed at +250

Season win/loss: 52-22

Since US Open win/loss: 9-5

Titles: New Haven

Finalist: Brisbane, Kuala Lumpur

Grand Slam highlights: Aussie Open semis; French Open and Wimbledon R16; US Open quarters

Top ten scalps: Andy Murray (R16 Aussie Open) and Jo Wilfried Tsonga (quarters Aussie Open).

Verdasco Head-to Heads with other World Tour Finals contenders:

• vs. Rafael Nadal: 7-13
• vs. Novak Djokovic: 9-5
• vs. Andy Murray: 3-6
• vs. Juan Martin Del Potro: 6-1
• vs. Nikolay Davydenko: 12:0
• vs. Fernando Verdasco: 3-0
• vs. Robin Soderling: 12:0

Betting Verdict: Roger Federer has a winning record against five of seven of London opponents, three of which he owns a perfect record against – Davydenko, Soderling and Verdasco. A staggering 27-0 edge against this trio. The only two players he trails against lifetime are Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

Prediction: Roger Federer was eliminated last year in the round robin stage. He will aim to avoid a similar fate this time around. Two months ago, nobody would have questioned whether he would not be in the semis. Fast forward to the present, a heartbreaking loss at the US Open final, a disappointing loss at his home event, Basel and a shocking upset in Paris last week, and it is hard to know what to expect from the Swiss Meister.

Nevertheless, Federer has championship pedigree and because of everything he has accomplished in his career and all that he still promises to accomplish, it would be hasty (not to mention rather disrespectful) to dismiss him from the proceedings. He might not be a sure play, but then again, he has proven naysayers wrong before.