Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal influenced Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray this way – Croft

Those are the thoughts of Sky Sports pundit Annabel Croft.

Nadal, who was confirmed as the world number one yesterday in the latest rankings, is a serious doubt to play at the ATP World Tour finals on Sunday due to a knee injury.

Federer, meanwhile, who skipped the Paris Masters, is expected to take his place in the glittering tournament in London.

Meanwhile, Federer and Nadal’s rivals Djokovic and Murray shut down their schedules early due to injury.

And Croft thinks they chose to do so, because Federer and Nadal afforded themselves extended breaks last year.

“What Roger and Rafa have done by taking that time off last year has made everybody think,” Croft told Sky Sports

“That’s why so many of the players have pulled out of tournaments so they can get themselves ready. 

“It’s a very demanding tour, it’s not easy.”

And Croft reckons Nadal, who won two Grand Slam titles this season, will skip the World Tour Finals, adding: “When I listen to that interview it does have a sense that maybe he is thinking more towards not playing than playing.

“I thought initially he’ll definitely want to be there and it’s a big event. 

“All these players are so proud when they make that end-of-season championships. It’s what makes so many of them hunt for it at this time of the year.

“But when you consider he took time off after Shanghai last year, he used all of that time to work at his game, improve his game, get fit and ready and look what he achieved in 2017 generally.”