The end of another ATP season may be just weeks away, but there is still plenty to play for before 2014 is a wrap.  A number of players are still vying for a coveted spot in the ATP World Tour Finals, but they are not the only competitors keen to finish this year with a string of strong results.  Roger Federer, who has already qualified for London, knows that not only does he have a good look at ending his 2014 with a bang, but he can place himself in a prime position heading into 2015.

Despite failing to a win a major this year, it is safe to say that Federer’s 2014 has been a huge improvement on his discouraging performances of the prior year.  In addition to his spring finalist appearances at both Indian Wells and Monte Carlo, he was particularly sharp this summer.  He gave Novak Djokovic all he could handle in the championship match at Wimbledon, reached the finals of both North American Masters events – winning the title in Cincinnati – and made it to the final four of the US Open before losing to eventual champion Marin Cilic.  Those results have catapulted the Swiss back up the rankings and boosted his confidence.  With the start of his last charge of the season underway this week in Shanghai, Federer has plenty of reason to believe that his upward trend is bound to continue. 

Historically, Federer has been one of the best hard-court players in the history of the sport.  He has been equally, if not more devastating, on the faster indoor hard courts.  With those being the only type of tournaments that remain on the docket for this year, he has to like his chances for success.  In addition to that, Federer has been especially impressive at the year-end championships.  Only once in 12 appearances has he failed to advance beyond the round-robin stage, and he has reached the final on eight occasions, winning six of them. 

Federer’s cause may also get some help from his fellow competition.  Despite his title run in Shenzhen, Andy Murray remains far from his best.  Players such as Kei Nishikori, Stanislas Wawrinka, and Cilic are nowhere near as seasoned as Federer at capping off a year, and the Swiss should be capable of taking advantage of their inexperience, especially if they square off in London.  One of his biggest obstacles, Rafael Nadal, is playing subpar tennis thanks to a bad bout of appendicitis, and though Novak Djokovic once again looks to be playing dominant tennis, with the Serb soon to become a first-time father in the very near future, it is Federer who appears to be in the best place to mentally focus on the weeks ahead. 

While Federer may be getting some help from the opposition, however, he will also be driven to do his own part towards putting together a successful finish.  A big key to him pulling off that level of success begins this week in Shanghai, an event where he has significantly less to defend than Djokovic or Nadal.  His quarterfinal showing coupled with Nadal’s early exit already guarantees that he will overtake the Spaniard for the No. 2 spot in the rankings next week.  But he could potentially face Djokovic in the semifinals at the Chinese event, and a victory over the current world No. 1 would certainly send a warning shot to the rest of the field.  Additionally, It would give Federer an added dose of confidence for the remaining tournaments on his schedule, and should he find a way to post a title run at just one of them – particularly if it were another ATP World Tour Finals Championship – he would firmly put himself right back in the conversation as one of the heavy favorites to win a major in 2015.

What can be and what is are often two different things, but Federer has definitely given pundits, his fans, and most importantly himself, hope to believe that he still has plenty of game left in the tank to win the biggest titles in the sport.  It will be vital that he put together a strong autumn, beginning with his campaign this week in Shanghai.  If he can manage that, he should be considered a force to be reckoned with when the 2015 season gets underway.