Roger Federer will be 'happy' if Wawrinka pips him to World Finals

Roger Federer was effusive in his praise of his compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka’s performance this year and even went on to suggest that he’d be delighted if his countryman pips him to reach the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

Federer, 32, who is going through his worst season in the last ten years and coupled with Wawrinka’s impressive end-of-season form, is languishing below his countryman in the ATP Race- a points system that determines the participation of the top eight players in London. Federer is on the eighth spot while Wawrinka is a spot above him in the race.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion needs a strong showing in Basel and Paris to confirm his particpation in London for the twelfth straight year.

However, the Swiss was unaffected by the current predicament, saying: ” I’ll be happy if Stan qualifies.

“If that meant I would miss it, I honestly don’t care: It means he was the better player for the year.

“I’m always happy for his results, to the degree that I’m almost happy if he beats me, like the one time in Monaco.

“So for me, I don’t see it as a rivalry as such—or that I have to do better than him. We’ll see at the end of Paris how it’s all going to pan out. But clearly with Murray not playing, it gives an extra spot and a little more air for both of us.

“But like I said, I hope he plays well, hope he plays a great tournament. I think he’s on the other side of the draw, so far away—and clearly I hope we can play in the finals, because that means I’m in the finals.

“I’m happy, and I would be happy for him as well because that would also means he had gone far.”