Roger Federer insisted Monday he was feeling fine, with the back strain that hampered him at the Masters Cup in Shanghai last week much better. The Swiss great was bundled out of the season-ending tournament by Andy Murray at the round robin stage for the first time, with a stomach bug also hindering his performance.
But after a weekend's rest, the 13-time Grand Slam champion, who saved seven match points in an enthralling third set against Murray despite visibly suffering physically, said he was fine to play again here this week. "My back is much better than it was last week," he said in Kuala Lumpur, where he is winding down his year with an exhibition on Tuesday which also involves James Blake, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg.
"I got sick as well last week and that made me really tired and I had lots of aches and pains all over my body because of that. I'm sort of more recovering because of that. "The back is solid. I'm happy the way it is right now and I should be able to play full out on Tuesday which I think will be great. I'm looking forward to that."
The format will see one set between Borg and McEnroe followed by another set featuring Federer and Blake. This will be followed by a one-set doubles match pitting Federer and Borg against McEnroe and Blake. "This will be a very special event for me," said Federer, who thrilled Malaysian fans last year when he played Pete Sampras in front of packed stadium here immediately after the Masters Cup. "James is a very good friend of mine and then there is John and Bjorn, who I have never played with before. I'm very excited to spend time with them."
ATP final world rankings for 2008: The ATP world rankings at the end of the 2008 season:
=============================================
1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6675 pts
2. Roger Federer (SUI) 5305
3. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 5295
4. Andy Murray (GBR) 3720
5. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 2715
6. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 2050 (+1)
7. Gilles Simon (FRA) 1980 (+2)
8. Andy Roddick (USA) 1970 (-2)
9. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 1945 (-1)
10. James Blake (USA) 1775
11. David Nalbandian (ARG) 1725
12. David Ferrer (ESP) 1695
13. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 1510
14. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 1475
15. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 1420
16. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 1415
17. Robin Soderling (SWE) 1325
18. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 1270 (+1)
19. Igor Andreev (RUS) 1245 (-1)
20. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 1215
=============================================