Federer, Nadal and Djokovic qualify for Masters Cup

Roger Federer, Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal and Australian Open holder Novak Djokovic are the first three players to qualify for the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai, organisers said yesterday.

Nadal, who ended Federer's five-year Wimbledon reign in an epic final on Sunday, is the leading qualifier for the eight-man event which will be held at Shanghai's Qi Zhong Stadium from Nov. 9-16.

Nadal became the first player since Sweden's Bjorn Borg in 1980 to capture the Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles in the same season.

He has held top spot in the ATP 2008 Race standings since clinching his fourth successive Roland Garros title in June. He currently leads the ATP circuit with a 56-7 match record and six titles this season.

Following the Wimbledon final, Nadal has accumulated 955 points to lead the ATP Race. Federer, who has won the season ending event four times, is second with 685 points and Djokovic third with 649 points.

The top seven players in the ATP 2008 Race following the Paris Masters in October qualify for the circuit finale, with one spot reserved for grand slam champions finishing within the Top 20.