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ATP Finals: Greg Rusedski backs Kevin Anderson to knock Roger Federer out

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Roger Federer has won a record six ATP Finals titles (Picture: Getty)

Greg Rusedski has backed Kevin Anderson to end Roger Federers ATP Finals challenge when the pair meet in London on Thursday night.

Federer, 37, has won this event a record six times but faces a battle to progress to the knockout stages.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion suffered a shock opening-day defeat to Kei Nishikori, before returning to form to beat Dominic Thiem.

Anderson has won his first two matches in style, however, and could knock Federer out of the tournament with a victory on Thursday.

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Federer is the favourite with the bookmakers but Anderson knows what it takes to defeat the Swiss legend, having beaten him at Wimbledon in the summer.

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Former British number one Rudesdki told Sky Sports: Well I think that Nishikori will beat Thiem so hell go two and one so Federer, if he has to qualify, he has got to beat Anderson

But Anderson right now to me is the slight favourite because hes looking confident.

If I had to call it right now Id give it to Anderson at the moment.

Kevin Anderson has been in superb form at the O2 (Picture: Getty)

Responding to Rusedskis comments, Annabel Croft added: Its a good call from Greg because were all so impressed with Anderson.

I think that some of the tennis weve seen from him, he said himself, almost the best match hes ever played [against Nishikori].

Its quite difficult to come out and repeat a performance like that and also theres a real certain hunger and something to prove for Roger Federer after that very, very painful defeat.

Hes mentioned it so many times since that loss at Wimbledon having had match points against him out on Court 1, he would like to set the record straight.