Federer Conquers Paris, Is London Next?

Roger Federer. Roger Federer. I'll say it again. Roger Federer. Normally by this time of year, Federer has begun the fade that does happen to those who are "older" on the tour. It's a long season, and playing at the top of the game every week takes a lot out of you.

At 30-years-old, Federer is the elder statesman on the tour. In the past couple of years when November hit, he would be tired, and his performance in Paris has always fallen short. That is, until this year. Federer took home his first Paris title with a more-than-convincing win over Jo Wilfreid Tsonga. He looked fresh and he looked eager. I'm sure Roger knows that he is on the downside curve of his career, and his chances to walking home with a season-ending championship are going to be lesser with the passing of each year. So I'm sure he knows his time and chance are now.

The final eight men who will meet in London are truly the top of the men's game in 2011. Along with Federer will be world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, No. 2 Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Tsonga, David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych, and Mardy Fish. Yep, American No. 1 Mardy Fish finally gets to compete for the Barclay ATP World Tour Finals. Mardy had a great year (for him) and we will get to see him play. Fish has never lived up to the potential, and this year he has proven that he can be on the top of the list of men's professional players.

But back to Federer. He is always a contender, and even this year he had a shot at all four majors. He came up short in all of them, and was especially surprised at Wimbledon by Tsonga. It must have been hard for Federer to forget that he had a two-set lead only to lose in the AELTC to Tsonga in the quarters. Paris was his revenge, and it was fun to watch, but not close. Tsonga hit the Federer Express.

So Federer rides into London with a 12-match win streak and two titles in the past four weeks, with a win in his home country, at Basel, and then the win in Paris. The draw for Paris had all of the final eight qualifiers in it, and all of them made at least the quarters. Not that past events can predict future success, but it sure does make you wonder.

Tsonga took out Djokovic, who has had probably the best single year a player has had since Federer in his prime. Tsonga has aways been the player you least want to face when the pressure is on, as when his game catches fire, he can beat any player in the world. In Paris, that is exactly what happened. It's more than plausible that he can do it again in London.

So I'll say it again. Djokovic has had the year, and will finish No. 1, I'm sure. Roger Federer, however, may end the year on his highest note of the season.