Federer focus shifts to top spot in Cincinnati

CINCINNATI (Ohio) (AFP) - Roger Federer moves into the ATP Masters Series event starting here Monday downshifting to survival mode as Rafael Nadal chips away at his world number one ranking.

In any other year, the top-ranked Swiss would either be coming to the steamy American Midwest as a tournament champion the prior week or aiming to fine-tune after another successful edition on the grass of Wimbledon.

But this time will be radically different, with Federer forced to fight to hold his four-year reign on the top spot as the Nadal juggernaut continues to steam through the season.

The event is the last chance for major players to boost their game before the long flight to China for the August 8 start of Beijing Olympics, to be followed by a trans-Pacific dash to US Open just over a fortnight later.