Why Roger Federer will be LAUGHING at Kevin Anderson before ATP Finals clash - Fleming
ROGER FEDERER will be laughing at claims Kevin Anderson is the favourite for Thursday’s ATP Finals match up.
ATP Finals: Federer plans ’revenge’ against Kevin Anderson
That is according to tennis pundit and former American doubles star Peter Fleming.
Federer goes into the clash at the O2 Arena knowing he could still make the knockout stages even if he loses to Anderson.
The Swiss legend needs to win six games to finish above Dominic Thiem in his group, after the Austrian beat Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-4 this afternoon.
Victory for Federer would mean he would leapfrog Anderson and top the group.
I’m sure Roger Federer is having a bit of a chuckle
Anderson has already qualified for the quarter-final stage after beating both Thiem and Nishikori earlier this week.
Anderson and Federer infamously met at Wimbledon earlier this year, with the South African winning 13-11 in a marathon fifth set.
This will be the first meeting of the duo since then in a singles match.
Sky Sports tennis presenter Marcus Buckland suggested to Fleming that Anderson was favourite for tonight’s clash.
“It’s interesting from Kevin Anderson’s perspective because in many ways he is the favourite going into the match tonight, which is not something he would be used to,” Buckland said.
Fleming agreed Anderson has looked in better shape than Federer this week and is the favourite.
But he thinks that will just urge Federer on to prove the doubters wrong.
“Yeah and I’m sure Roger Federer is having a bit of a chuckle,” Fleming said.
“‘So Kevin’s favourite over me tonight is he? Alright, well that’s interesting’.
“But he is, Anderson has played the best tennis of that group so far.
“But I wonder even if Kevin is coming into the match thinking ‘I’m the favourite’ - I doubt it.”
Anderson's only career win over Federer was the match at Wimbledon in July.