Wilander doubts Fed's desire

Former world number one Mats Wilander feels Roger Federer will struggle to reclaim his place at the top of the rankings.

Swiss ace Federer was recently deposed as world number one by Rafael Nadal, who has claimed two of the three Grand Slam titles this season, including an epic victory over Federer at Wimbledon.

Both players are into the semi-finals of the US Open, with Nadal set to face Britain's Andy Murray and Federer up against world number three Novak Djokovic.

Whatever the outcome at Flushing meadows, Wilander, who claimed seven 'Slams in his illustrious career, feels that Federer will never again be world number one as he is not interested in building up ranking points at smaller tournaments around the world.

"I do not believe Federer will be world number one again," he told German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung. "That is due to the way the ATP rankings are calculated, because you have to be powerful week after week.

"If Federer wants to be world number one again, he will have to win lots of small tournaments and I don't believe that interests him.

"What he is interested in doing is winning the grand slam tournaments and beating Nadal."