Federer shows his class

Despite the most cynical of his critics suggesting publicly that Roger Federer is nothing but a spent force in the world of tennis, the man himself carries a vastly different belief and is currently aiming to show that he can triumph in this year's ATP World Tour Finals in London.

Despite the fact that Federer is now looking to add a fifth end of season trophy to his already bulging trophy cabinet, some have suggested that he is starting to head into tennis wilderness after only winning one Grand Slam this season (the Australian Open). However, with Federer making a ninth successive appearance at the end of season event, and clearly able to show that he still has both the fight and desire to add a Slam or two to his already impressive final total, it would take a brave man to suggest that he is at the end of what has been a truly successful career.

This becomes particularly obvious if you look at the credentials of his next opponent in the current event at the O2, Andy Murray, a man who despite all the promise and undoubted ability he has shown since his career began is yet to win a Grand Slam event.

If roles were reversed and Murray had ‘only’ won a single Grand Slam event this year, then we would surely be talking about how successful his season had been. It therefore is a little strange that people who regularly bet on tennis are discussing a 'disappointing' year for the Swiss legend.

It is perhaps a result of the player's stunning record and the high standards he has constantly set for himself that we are even acknowledging the fact that he may or may not be in a minor slump.

In fact, this alone is an accurate sign of the class that the player has displayed in what so far has been a glittering career and, should he triumph against Andy Murray, surely few would be prepared to place a tennis bet against him winning this year's ATP World Tour Finals.