Roger Federer Makes His 13th Consecutive Appearance At Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, Says Current Season Has Been A Big Year For Younger Players

Roger Federer of Switzerland attends a pre-match news conference at the at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai October 5, 2014. REUTERS/Aly Song REUTERS

Roger Federer admitted that some youngsters in the sporting world of tennis have certainly made noise in the current season. The 17-time Grand Slam champion specifically mentioned Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori, and Grigor Dimitrov as the players who he thinks will grow to the top of the world rankings overall as they continue to play on tour.

Speaking via the Association of Tennis Professionals' (ATP) website in Shanghai for the Rolex Masters that he is currently taking part in, Federer has revealed how qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour has always been his very main goal.

The Basel native recalled playing great tennis in the London finale. Federer's 2014 participation in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals will be his 13th consecutive appearance. He is the most successful player to have ever competed in the tour finale, after winning the title in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, and 2011. In 2013, Federer has reached the semifinals of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals before losing to Rafael Nadal in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3.

Federer said that younger breed of tennis athletes were already making name for themselves. He said he was excited to find out who else will qualify for the 2014 tour finale. For the 2014 ATP World Tour Finals, which will take place from November 9 to 16 at the O2 Arena in London, Federer is one of the three players who have been already called to compete in the event. He joins Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

"I always knew it was going to be a big year for some of the players, like Raonic and Nishikori and Dimitrov," Federer said. "I think it's going to be interesting to see who is going to qualify now, and also next year, if they can take the next step and get into the top five, top two maybe at one point, because that's clearly a different animal than just getting into the Top 10," he added.

According to Barclays ATP World Tour Finals official website, Nishikori needs to win the Shanghai Rolex Masters title if he wants to qualify in London. Below are the top players in the latest ATP world rankings. The top eight players at the end of the regular season will qualify in London.

Players (Points)

Novak Djokovic (8,650) - Already qualified

Roger Federer (7,020) - Already qualified

Rafael Nadal (6,735) - Already qualified

Stanislas Wawrinka (4,795)

Kei Nishikori (4,255)

Marin Cilic (3,980)

Tomas Berdych (3,765)

Milos Raonic (3,740)

Andy Murray (3,565)

David Ferrer (3,535)

Grigor Dimitrov (3,405)