Masters Cup for London?

The season's finale for the top eight players in the ATP Race will be staged in Shanghai for the second consecutive year next month.

Shanghai is contracted to host the tournament for the next two years with an option for another year.

The head of men's tennis made it clear, however, that he wanted Europe, and in particular London, to have the event from 2009.

Asked whether the Masters Cup would be staged in Europe from 2009, De Villiers said: "I'm hoping (staging the Masters Cup in Shanghai) was the right thing to do for the development of the sport and of the Chinese market," he told reporters in the French capital, where he was attending the Paris Masters tournament.

"Our Chinese partners have done an incredible job of promoting the tournament and growing the sport in China.

"I don't regret the fact that the Masters Cup went to Shanghai but we must take the development of tennis in China to the next level which is to give them a bigger tournament, give them a Masters (Series) event in exchange for bringing the Masters Cup back to Europe.

"The Masters Cup needs to be where most of the fans are. The Masters Cup needs to follow the natural course of the European indoor season. It would make a lot more sense to have it in Europe.

"London is where I would like it to go to", he added.

"Lisbon and Prague have expressed a real interest as well as a couple of cities in Russia and there's a great facility in Madrid but my preference, quite honestly, would be for London.

"It's an Olympic City. In the run-up to the 2012 Olympics there's that phenomenal facility, the Dome. There's a lot of support from the City of London, from the Lawn Tennis Association, the All England Club, broadcasters and sponsors.

"It's an open process but I'd love it to go to London."