Federer basks in Shanghai glory
Print Edition
ROGER Federer claimed one of the few titles to have previously eluded him after he overcame a sluggish start to beat injured Frenchman Gilles Simon in the final of the Shanghai Rolex Masters yesterday.
The 17-time grand slam singles champion triumphed 7-6 (6), 7-6 (2) to register his 23rd Masters Series title and first in China, where strong winds saw the roof on the Stadium Court closed for the hardcourt final at Qizhong Tennis Stadium in suburban Minhang District.
The 33-year-old let off a huge roar and threw both fists into the air after a battling Simon could only net a return to hand the Swiss a fourth title of the year and 81st of an unparalleled career.
It had all begun so well for the unseeded Frenchman, who broke a sloppy, error-strewn Federer in the opening game and comfortably held firm until he felt the pressure of serving for the set at 5-4 and began to creak.
With his first serve and accurate groundstrokes deserting him, Federer had two break points but wasted the first with an alarmingly high 14th unforced error only for Simon to hand him the game on the next point after netting a backhand.
A wobbling Simon fought off two set points on his next service game after finding his range with his first serve again to force a tiebreak with a booming ace as he refused to buckle in search of his first Masters Series title.
The world No. 29 then had a set point of his own in the tiebreak but Federer came up with an unreturnable first serve to snuff out the danger before producing a near-perfect backhand winner down the line to take the breaker 8-6.
Suspected groin problem
Simon, who had knocked out Australian Open winner Stan Wawrinka and sixth seed Tomas Berdych en route to the final, took a time-out for treatment on a suspected groin problem at the end of the set and looked uncomfortable upon his return.
And though the Frenchman fought on admirably, pushing the set into a tiebreak, Federer was in imperious form as he held four championship points with Simon folding on the first.
Federer, who will move above Rafael Nadal into second spot in the world rankings behind Novak Djokovic, whom the Swiss beat in the semifinals, when they are updated today, has now won seven of the nine different Masters Series events with only the claycourt Monte Carlo and Rome tournaments eluding him.
Earlier, American twins Bob and Mike Bryan added another accolade to their lengthy resume after taking the men’s doubles title to become the first pair to win all nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments.
The 35-year-old siblings beat French Open champions Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-2, 7-6 (3) to take an unprecedented 101st career title in their 152nd final.
The victory was their fifth Masters 1000 title of the season, a joint personal best, after they secured the year-end doubles No. 1 ranking earlier this week for the 10th time.
“It’s another great milestone,” Bob Bryan said. “This week was full of them for us. To come and get in the title match, have a shot at winning the tournament that’s eluded us, complete the Golden Masters, is amazing.
“It was really the last thing left for us to do. We can definitely shut it down today and be happy guys.”
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