Roger Federer Books ATP World Tour Berth With Title Win at Cincinnati

Swiss champion Roger Federer qualified for a record 13th consecutive ATP World Tour Finals after beating David Ferrer to clinch the Cincinnati Masters title.

The 33-year-old Federer claimed a win in Cincinnati, the last 'warm-up' tour before the US Open, to become the third man- after Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal- to qualify for the eight-member ATP World TOur Finals.

The father of two sets of twins joked that it was about time he brought his brood a substantial trophy to play with. (Nadal to miss US Open with wrist injury)

"I finally got a big trophy for kids," he said Sunday. "I've been bringing home some smaller ones. I keep telling them they are still trophies, but this one should satisfy them." (Leander Paes drops out of top-10 in latest rankings)

After a finals loss a week ago in Toronto to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Federer said Sunday that he had considered not playing this event and saving himself for the US Open.

"I had to try to back up a tough week from last week, I didn't think it was possible," he said.

"For just a day or so on Monday, I was considering not playing. We don't need to take chances here.

- 'I played with less pressure' -

"I need to be smart about how much I play, when I play, and how do I feel.

"In practice I felt like I was recovering quickly, and I gave it to a go. I played with less pressure. You never know how you will end up feeling midway through the week."

Federer said his decision to carry on proved to be the right one.

"It got better and better as the week progressed. I served clutch when I had to," said the 17-time Grand Slam champion. "So I'm very happy about the week, overall it went from good to great."

(With inputs from AFP)