ATP Tour Finals: Alexander Zverev says 'it's an honour to play there in London'

German, 20, drawn in Pete Sampras group alongside world No 2 Roger Federer, beaten Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic and Paris Masters winner Jack Sock

Alexander Zverev returns the ball to Stefanos Tsitsipas during an exhibition match at the ATP Next Gen tennis tournament finals, in Rho, near Milan, Italy. Luca Bruno / AP Photo

Six-time champion Roger Federer was paired in the same group as German debutant Alexander Zverev for next week's ATP Tour Finals when the draw was made in host city London on Wednesday.

World No 1 Rafael Nadal, who is hoping to recover from a knee injury to play in the season-ending showpiece, heads the other group and will face Belgian David Goffin, Bulgarian debutant Grigor Dimitrov and Austrian Dominic Thiem.

Also in the Pete Sampras group with Federer is Croatian Marin Cilic, the man he beat in this year's Wimbledon final, and American Jack Sock who crept into the tournament after winning the Paris Masters.

Zverev, 20, has taken men's tennis by storm this year, rocketing up to No 3 in the world rankings after winning five titles, including two Masters 1000 events.

"It's an honour to play there in London, it's my first time and hopefully not my last," Zverev said in Milan where he took part in an exhibition match at the Next Gen Finals, having dropped out to concentrate on London.

"I will try to prepare myself as well as I can and try to win many matches there."

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Read more:

• Graham Caygill: Golden chance for Jack Sock to build on Paris Masters title victory
• Analysis: Djokovic's challenge against Federer and Nadal will make for exciting 2018

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He is one of three first-timers with Dimitrov finally qualifying after being long-predicted to become a regular member of the men's elite. Sock is the first American to qualify since Mardy Fish did so in 2011.

Goffin has qualified for the first time also, although last year he played a match as an alternate.

The draw, which took place on BBC Radio, was delayed because Boris Becker, who Nadal's group is named after, was held up by traffic on his way to the studio.

Several big names are missing this year through injury including 2016 winner Andy Murray, four-time London winner Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka.

The draw (world ranking in parentheses):

Pete Sampras Group

• Roger Federer - Switzerland (2)
• Alexander Zverev - Germany (3)
• Marin Cilic - Croatia (5)
• Jack Sock - US (9)

Boris Becker Group

• Rafael Nadal - Spain (1)
• Dominic Thiem - Austria (4)
• Grigor Dimitrov - Bulgaria (6)
• David Goffin - Belgium (8)