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Shanghai, China – The world’s leading singles players and Wimbledon finalists, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and the top-ranked doubles pairing of Bob and Mike Bryan, all have secured their places in the prestigious circuit finale, the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai, to be held for the third year at Qi Zhong Stadium from November 11-18.

 

ATP World No. 1 Roger Federer, who has compiled a 36-5 record that includes titles at the Australian Open, Dubai, ATP Masters Series Hamburg and Wimbledon, has made the final of six of his nine tournament appearances this year.

 

"I look forward to returning to Shanghai to defend my Tennis Masters Cup title. Winning there was a perfect ending to last season and I love playing in China,“ said Federer, the winner in 2003-04 and 2006.

 

ATP World No. 2 Nadal leads the ATP circuit with a 51-8 match record this year and has stood atop the ATP 2007 Race standings since April 30, following his third straight title win in Barcelona.

 

The 21-year-old Spaniard captured his first of a circuit-best five titles this season at ATP Masters Series Indian Wells in March and once again enjoyed a stellar clay-court campaign, where he extended his Open Era record-winning streak on the surface to 81 matches. Nadal has beaten Federer in two clay-court finals this year at the ATP Masters Series event in Monte-Carlo and at Roland Garros.

 

"I am very happy to have qualified for the Masters again this year,” said Nadal. “This was one of my goals for the year and I have managed to do it pretty early so that's great. I enjoyed very much playing in Shanghai last year and I am really looking forward to be back there and try to improve the semis I did against Roger. I know it is not going to be easy. I think this is one of the most important events and one of the most difficult to win since from day one you face a Top 10 player. No mistakes are allowed."

 

Nadal added: "I also have great memories of the fans there. Even the year I had to pull out they treated me really well and I am very thankful to them. I am really looking forward to being there in November."

                                                           

Following the Wimbledon final, Nadal has accumulated 886 points from 12 tournaments to lead the ATP 2007 Race with Federer holding second position in the Race with 801 points, 240 points ahead of his nearest rival, Novak Djokovic.

 

"This will be Roger's fourth year in Shanghai at the year-end championship and he has developed a huge and loyal following in China," said Tennis Masters Cup Tournament Director Brad Drewett. "Rafael is of course also very popular and fans will be hoping for a re-match of last year's Masters Cup semifinal where Roger and Rafael played a superb match. These two players are developing one of the great rivalries in sport and fans in China are looking forward to this being continued at the Masters Cup in Shanghai."

 

The Bryan brothers are runaway leaders in the Stanford ATP Doubles Race, 266 points ahead of their nearest rivals Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor in second position. The 29-year-old Bryans have an ATP-best 47-6 record in 2007, with six titles from nine finals.

 

We're very excited to be back in Tennis Masters Cup and to be going to Shanghai once again,” said Mike Bryan. “To be able to play in the year-end championships is a great thrill, and we hope we can compete for the title there this year."

 

Added Bob Bryan: "Qualifying really shows that you've had a solid season, not just a good tournament or two. It's an event we certainly look forward to, and one that we get very motivated to play."

 

Said Drewett: "The crowds in Shanghai love watching the Bryan brothers perform both on-court at the tournament and at their annual rock concert which draws thousands of fans each year. They will have to put out their own CD this year."

 

The top seven players in the ATP 2007 Race and the top seven teams in the Stanford ATP Doubles Race following the BNP Paribas Masters qualify for the circuit finale, with one spot reserved for Grand Slam champions finishing within the Top 20.

 

 

ATP 2007 Race                                                          Stanford ATP Doubles Race

1^st     Nadal, Rafael/ESP             886 *                         1^st     Bryan/Bryan                     873 *

2^nd   Federer, Roger/SUI            801 *                         2^nd   Knowles/Nestor              607

3^rd    Djokovic, Novak/SRB         561                           3^rd   Santoro/Zimonjic             466

4^th    Roddick, Andy/USA            329                           4^th    Damm/Paes                    454

5^th    Davydenko, Nikolay/RUS   325                                     5^th   Hanley/Ullyett                   407

6^th   Gonzalez, Fernando/CHI    293                           6^th   Clement/Llodra                368

7^th    Ljubicic, Ivan/CRO             280                           7^th   Bjorkman/Mirnyi               330

8^th    Gasquet, Richard/FRA       257                           8^th  Dlouhy/Vizner                  298

9^th   Ferrer, David/ESP              255                           9^th   Erlich/Ram                      283

10^th  Youzhny, Mikhail/RUS        249                           10^th Aspelin/Knowle                243

                                                                                                                                                                                   

* Qualified for 2007 Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai