Roger Federer has offered his backing to London’s bid to retain the ATP Finals from 2021 as the capital prepares to battle with as many as 40 other cities for the rights to host tennis’ season finale.

Next week’s tournament at the O2 will be the 10th year that the Finals have been hosted in the UK after previous stints in Shanghai and Houston but it may prove to be the penultimate staging of it, with the venue’s current contract due to expire in 2020.

London will likely still be in the reckoning when a shortlist of three to five cities is revealed next month, not least because the Finals consistently draw huge crowds to the Docklands to see the likes of Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

Federer said: “I think if they stay it’s definitely a good choice. I don’t know what the options are, I think it’s important to look at them. I know this is the biggest yearly event they have at the O2, if the O2 is happy, if the crowds keep flocking here and the tour has a good deal why not stay here?

“I don’t see a reason to change unless there’s a city that really wants it badly and is willing to come in and support the tour in a major way for years to come like we have seen in Shanghai or maybe also London in the beginning.

“It has been a winning formula here, I’ve enjoyed playing tennis in a city that knows tennis very well, that has a strong media following. It has been a good place for us players to showcase our talents to be honest.”

Federer arrives in London with 99 career titles to his name, including a record 20 Grand Slam singles victories and six ATP Finals wins, also the most by anyone in history.

However the 37-year-old has been winless in the capital’s indoor tournament since 2011 and has seen Djokovic move up to five titles. The Serbian world No.1 is favourite to draw level with Federer on six after an inspired second half of the season that has seen them victorious at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Though London would be a fitting spot for eight-time All England Club champion Federer to reach triple figures in career titles he is sanguine over where and when the 100th will come.

“I don’t think it matters really where I win my 100th as long as it happens at one point.”

“If I won here it’s more about winning the World Tour Finals than my 100th. I love playing this event, I always have ever since I qualified in 2002. That was a massive highlight in my career, to be among the best eight and I actually had a great run too that very first time in Shanghai.

“I know it goes hand in hand at this point but the focus is on trying to have a good tournament here. The 100th happens when it does. I hope it’s sooner rather than later but I’m happy to wait.”