Federer sprung something of a surprise in Shanghai last week when he won the Shanghai Rolex Masters ATP 1000 event. The tennis review looks back on Federer’s winning week.
For many tennis pundits, Roger Federer’s Shanghai run was supposed to end against Novak Djokovic in the last four. The Serbian, the the two time defending champion, was on a 28 match winning streak in Asia by the time he made the semis. He also had gotten the better of Federer in their two biggest matches of the season- in the Indian Wells and Wimbledon finals- and was coming into the event on the back of a dominating display in Beijing.
However, in the first round, Federer looked to be going out much earlier than his scheduled semi-final as he was five match points down facing Leonardo Mayer. The first one was the most dangerous as Mayer brought Federer into the net, moved forward and got the space and time to pass him with his backhand only to hit the net and the ball to land back on his side of the court.
That piece of luck seemed to be the defining stoke of Federer’s tournament as he saved the other match points, took the match and landed in the third round with a bump. After winning the event, Federer acknowledged how lucky he was to be holding the trophy. But if anyone has worked hard to deserve their luck in 2014, it is Roger Federer.
Once Federer landed and got back on his feet, it was plain sailing. In the third round, he faced fourteenth seed Roberto Agut-Bautista. The previous round’s scare seemed to have knocked the Swiss into form as he swept past the Argentine 6-2, 6-4.
Up next was Julian Benneteau, the French man who had attacked Federer to great effect in the 2013 Rotterdam tournament and knocked him out. Benneteau did push Federer all the way in the first set, taking it to a tiebreak, but the second set was another story as Federer blitzed the Frenchman to the tune of 6-0.
That flawless display set Federer up for the last four clash with Djokovic. Federer came out firing, taking the match 6-4, 6-4, dusting off the world No.1 with the aggressive tennis he needed to avoid a three setter. The Swiss never let the Serb play his game and strode into his second consecutive ATP 1000 final.
Gilles Simon was his opponent, and the Frenchman took Federer to two tiebreak sets as he went down 7-6, 7-6. The Swiss played attacking tennis all the way through, winning 24 of 35 points at the net, and his aggression compensated for his high error to winner ration (36-21).
The Shanghai title was Federer’s fourth of the year (Dubai, Halle, Cincinnati), and improved his chances of finishing the year end No. 1. That would be as much a surprise as the legend’s Shanghai win, and one which will be fascinating to see play out for the 33 year old.
Commentary by Christian Deverille
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