TENNIS – Roger Federer claimed a straight-set win with 7-6 7-6 over Frenchman Giles Simon in the final of the Shanghai Rolex Master, the penultimate Master 1000 Tournament of the season. Federer won one of the three Master 1000 titles missing from his trophy cabinet. The 33-year-old Swiss Maestro collected the fourth ATP title of the year after Dubai, Halle and in Cincinnati and his 23rd Master 1000 win of his career. Federer will return to World Number 2 place in the ATP Ranking after Shanghai overtaking Rafael Nadal. Diego Sampaolo
Roger did not play his best tennis. He was tired after his impressive 6-4 6-4 win over Novak Djokovic in the Saturday’s semifinal and had to dig deep in the first set where he was broken in the first game of the opening set as he made three unforced errors and he fell behind 3-5 but he fought back to draw level. Simon did not face any break points until 5-4 when he was serving for the first set. Federer earned two break points but squandered the first with an unforced error. He converted it at the second opportunity as Simon hit his backhand into the net.
Federer could not convert on two set points at 6-5 40-15. Simon saved two set points on his service game and managed to force the tie-break.
In the tie-break Simon recovered from 3-5 by winning three consecutive points to earn a set point at 6-5 but Federer came up with a serve and a backhand pass winner to clinch a hard-fought first set with 8-6.
At the end of the first set Simon received treatment during a medical time-out due to a groin injury but on his return to the court the Frenchman fended off two break points in the third game and another in the seventh game.
Simon saved three break points before getting a chance to win the second set and force the match to the decider in the 11th game when he led 40-15 on Federer’s serve at 5-6. Federer saved the two set points by reeling off four consecutive points as Simon made two forehand errors and forced the second set to the tie-break. Federer pulled away to a 6-2 by winning four points in a row from 2-2 in the breaker with big serves and winners before converting his first match point as Simon hit a return into the net.
Federer clinched his 23rd Master 1000 title and his 81st overall win after one hour and 53 minutes. It is his second consecutive Master 1000 title after beating David Ferrer in Cincinnati last August. The only two Master 1000 tournaments missing in his impressive collection are Rome and Monte-Carlo.
Federer hit 21 winners to 36 unforced errors. Although he did not win any Grand Slam tournaments, Federer is the best player on the ATP Tour with 61 match wins, 13 top-ten wins and nine finals.
Federer has improved his record in the head-to-head matches against Simon to 5-2. Simon, who played his second Master 1000 final six years after finishing runner-up to Andy Murray at the 2008 Mutua Open in Madrid, will return to the top-20 in the 19th place of ATP Ranking next week. It was a good week for Simon who beat two two top-ten players Stan Wawrinka and Tomas Berdych
Simon played a good match but he missed his chances on the most crucial moments of the match.
Federer crowned a great week which began with a scare when he had to save five match points in his second round match against Leonardo Mayer.
“It was a dream week for me. It means a lot to win this tournament. I have always enjoyed coming here. I have come close a couple of times. I am extremely happy with the way I am playing”, said Federer.
“We had a close match. I had a set point in the first and two in the second. It’s just a few points deciding it and he was really good on these points. He played some good shots”, said Simon.
Federer followed up his impressive win over Djokovic in yesterday’s semifinal where the top-to players played their re-match of the epic five-set Wimbledon final. Federer is 990 points behind Novak Djokovic in the ATP Race.
Federer and Simon could renew their rivalry in one month’s time in the Davis Cup Final between France and Switzerland in Lille.
