Federer rejects belief that ATP title gives him edge for 2012

It completed a superb couple of months for the new world number three, who also won titles in his home town of Basle and at the Paris Masters to climb back above Andy Murray in the rankings.

Federer’s record of 17 victories and no losses since his US Open semi-final defeat by Novak Djokovic was in stark contrast to the other members of tennis’ big four.

Murray had a superb autumn with back-to-back titles in Bangkok, Tokyo and Shanghai but that took its toll as he hobbled out of the O2 Arena with a groin injury having played only one of his three scheduled group matches.

The world’s top two Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, meanwhile, made no attempt to hide their physical and mental exhaustion. For Djokovic, the challenge will be coping with the pressure of expectation and defending so many points after his sensational year.

Nadal still has the Davis Cup final between Spain and Argentina to come this weekend, and returning to his favoured clay should provide some much-needed reassurance after a difficult week in London.

But the Spaniard has clearly struggled with his game and his mind this season, fuelled by a series of high-profile losses to Djokovic.

He won only three titles in 2011, his lowest tally since 2004 and all on clay, and has much work to do to rediscover his best form.

Federer said: “I felt like I played great during these last few weeks. I felt I played great here in London. It gives me a lot of confidence for next year.

“But, regardless of how it went here, I would have been in a good state of mind for next year. And I think that counts for all the other top guys as well.

“Novak was the player of the year, which goes without saying. A guy who can win (41) matches in a row from the start of the season completely deserves it until the very end of it.

“I thought Andy played a very good season this year. Just unfortunate he couldn’t finish here strong. I think he’s going to be very tough to beat next year.

“And Rafa with his class, he’s always going to be a threat for the throne, to win all the big tournaments.

“I think the prospects are good.”

Federer failed to win a grand slam title in a calendar year for the first time since 2002, and he knows it will be just as tough to break that run next season.

“Sure, to win grand slams would be nice,” he said. “I’ve missed out on a few occasions now this year, and maybe also some last year. So I feel like it might be around the corner. Maybe not. The other players obviously have a role to play in this.”

It was a big-four lockout in grand slam finals this season, but one man who will be doing his best to break that sequence next year is yesterday’s beaten finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The big-hitting Frenchman certainly moved up another level in 2011 and he hopes some tough physical work in the off season will pay off next year.

Tsonga said: “My biggest achievement was maybe because I was more consistent in my head, and that’s why I was good this year.

“But I lost a bit physically. So I need to improve again. I have to work hard to get my body to be quicker on the court, to move better.

“Maybe if I move better next year, I will have some better results.”

Federer, meanwhile, believes the final of the season-ending event, which he won 6-3 6-7 (6/8) 6-3, should revert back to the best-of-five-set format it had prior to 2006.

He said: “I remember sitting in a room in Shanghai where players were asked, ‘Would you like it to be five sets or three sets, the year-end final?’

“It went in a circle. Everyone said best of three sets. I was the only guy that said, ‘I think we should have best of five sets’. Okay, let’s make it best of three sets. I don’t care. I do care actually. I think it makes for a great year end.”