Federer Faces Nadal in SFs

Roger Federer will meet arch rival Rafael Nadal in Saturday's semifinals after blitzing Andy Roddick 6-4, 6-2 in his final group match.

The Swiss claimed his 11th consecutive win over Roddick, who will meet David Ferrer in the other semifinal.

Nikolay Davydenko defeated Fernando Gonzalez 6-4, 6-3 Friday to send the Chilean tumbling out of the Tennis Masters Cup and ensuring that he would not go winless at the circuit finale.

From: www.atptour.com

Federer Bounces Back; Roddick First to SFs

ATP World No. 1 Roger Federer remains in strong contention for a Tennis Masters Cup semifinal slot after defeating Nikolay Davydenko 6-4, 6-3 in Shanghai Wednesday.

Federer improved to 11-0 lifetime against the Russian, against whom he has won 13 straight sets.

American Andy Roddick became the first player to qualify for the semifinals with a powerful

6-1, 6-4 win over Fernando Gonzalez, who suffered a letdown after his win over Roger Federer.

From:http://www.masters-cup.com/1/home/

Nadal loses to Ferrer at Masters Cup; Gasquet beats Djokovic

By PAUL ALEXANDER, Associated Press Writer November 13, 2007

SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic learned friendship doesn't count for much at the Masters Cup.

Both lost to buddies Tuesday in the round-robin phase of the season-ending tournament featuring the top eight players. Nadal lost to David Ferrer 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a match between Spaniards. A weary Djokovic lost to Richard Gasquet of France 6-4, 6-2 and was eliminated from contention for the semifinals with one match left in the Gold Group.

In the Red Group, top-ranked Roger Federer and No. 4 Nikolay Daydenko lost their first matches Monday and will play each other Wednesday, followed by Andy Roddick against Fernando Gonzalez.

Nadal, ranked No. 2, said there really are no upsets in this tournament, given the elite field.

"We play against the best always, every match, so anything can happen," Nadal said after his nearly three-hour struggle against Ferrer that divided the loyalties of Spanish fans, who draped national flags around the indoor arena.

"We have a very good relationship," Nadal said. "But when you are on court, you try your best."

Nadal held a 4-2 advantage in head-to-head meetings. Ferrer said his only advantage against the man he called the best player in Spanish history comes when they face off in video games.

"Just in the PlayStation I'm better than him," Ferrer said, laughing.

With Nadal a left-hander, the two men played like mirror images with their preference for the baseline, sharply angled winners and refusal to yield on shots.

Showing little respect for each other's serves, they combined for five breaks in the first set and 11 for the match. Ferrer didn't hold serve until his fourth attempt. Nadal finished off the set on Ferrer's 14th unforced error off his usually reliable forehand.

Ferrer pulled himself together and served for the second set at 5-3, only to be left muttering to himself after Nadal broke at love, the last three points coming on clean winners. But he shrugged it off to break right back the next game to even the match.

From 1-1 in the third set, Ferrer ran off four straight games. With both men breathing hard, Ferrer served for the match, only to see Nadal break and fend off a match point in his next service game to pull within 5-3.

Ferrer then held at love, finishing the match when Nadal tried a drop shot that hung up a little too long, giving Ferrer enough time to smack a backhand crosscourt winner before dropping onto his back in relief.

"I was very nervous because I was a little bit cramping from the tension, from the nerves," Ferrer said of Nadal's last service break. "And Rafa is unbelievable. He's a fighter all the match. I play perfect in the third set. If I don't play perfect, I cannot beat Rafa."

Ferrer ran his record to 2-0 in the Gold Group, while Nadal fell into a tie with Gasquet at 1-1.

"Today I had nothing to lose," Gasquet said. "I just had to enjoy the moment to play in the Masters Cup and just to play my game. I did a perfect match. I played a lot of amazing shots with my backhand."

Djokovic, ranked No. 3, looked off in every phase of his game, overhitting his usually reliable forehand and having trouble with his strong serve to fall to 0-2. He started off listlessly and was increasingly disconsolate as the match wore on. He was mathematically eliminated from reaching the semifinals.

Djokovic said he had nothing left after playing more than 100 matches this year.

"Unfortunately again, I couldn't be even close to my level," he said. "I was frustrated because of that. I didn't feel so well physically, and mentally I just couldn't ... be so confident on the court. I didn't find any solutions."

"He was playing well, " Djokovic added. "He's a very talented player and he's playing smart."
Djokovic, who tossed his racket in frustration twice, won only six of his 19 service points in the second set and hit a backhand wide for his 27th unforced error on match point.

"I probably burned out a little bit and had too much pressure on me," Djokovic said, referring to his rapid rise in the rankings and the demands on his time off the court. "Of course, I know the cost. The biggest cost is that I'm really exhausted."

Gonzalez Rocks Roger, Snaps Losing Streak

Fernando Gonzalez ended almost four years of torment against Roger Federer at Tennis Masters Cup Monday night, snapping a 10-match career losing streak against the World No. 1 with a 3-6, 7-6(1), 7-5 victory.

Andy Roddick made an impressive start to his campaign and improved his unbeaten record against Nikolay Davydenko to 5-0 with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win over the Russian.

From:http://www.masters-cup.com/1/home/

Nadal, Ferrer kick off with wins in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- Second-ranked Rafael Nadal overcame self-doubts and a sluggish start to beat France's Richard Gasquet 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 Sunday in the opening match of the season-ending Masters Cup.

No. 3 Novak Djokovic wasn't as lucky, getting broken in the first game and never recovering as he fell to No. 6 David Ferrer of Spain 6-4, 6-4 in the other Gold Group round-robin match at the tournament that features the top eight men's singles players and doubles pairs.

Nadal looked uncharacteristically slow and subdued as eighth-ranked Gasquet fended off an early break point, then broke Nadal as he served at 3-4 in the first set. Nadal fell behind 0-40, won the next two points, then saw Gasquet send a stinging forehand winner down the line. The Frenchman finished off the set with a pair of service winners.

Even though both of his knees were taped, Nadal claimed he was feeling "perfect," but said he was a little nervous at the start in the season-ending Masters Cup, which features the top eight men's singles players and doubles pairs.

"Every match is very difficult because you play only against the best," he said. "So I start the match with, well, little bit doubts. But later I play a little bit more aggressive. I finish much better than I start."

Gasquet's downfall began when he shanked an overhead into the net on game point while serving at 1-2 in the second set. Nadal rallied to break when Gasquet tried a drop shot that fell well wide, and Nadal was suddenly fired up, pumping his fists while tracking down the Frenchman's array of groundstrokes, volleys and spins.

Gasquet's serve, so strong in the first set, let him down, too. He got only 53 percent of his first serves in during the second set, and Nadal picked on Gasquet's second serves, winning 10 of 13.
"It was important to serve well against Rafa," said Gasquet, who claimed his spot here by jumping five spots in the rankings after reaching the Paris semifinals last week. "My strategy was to go to the net every time ... because if you play at the baseline with him, with a lot of long shots, it's really hard."

Gasquet, who saw his pro record against Nadal fall to 0-4, broke back in the next game, but Nadal broke again to pull ahead 4-2 and held serve to finish off the set and level the match.

With unforced errors piling up, Gasquet served at 30-30 at 2-2 in the final set. He thought he had an ace, challenged the out call and lost, then double-faulted. He saved one break point, but back-to-back forehand errors then handed Nadal the last break he needed.

After the Spaniard cracked a clean winner on match point, he leaned back and shouted, his fists clenched.

Ferrer never let up after getting the early break against the 20-year-old Djokovic, who won five ATP titles this year and reached his first Grand Slam final, losing in the U.S. Open to top-ranked Roger Federer.

"It wasn't my day," Djokovic said of Ferrer. "He proved that he's a great player and absolutely he deserved to win."

Ferrer never gave Djokovic an opening in the first set, broke the Serb for a 5-4 lead in the second and fended a break point while serving for the match. It ended when a Djokovic forehand hit the tape and ricocheted well wide.

"I play with confidence all the match," Ferrer said. "I played really, really good."

Federer, the defending champion, and the rest of the Red Group open play Monday at 15,000-seat Qi Zhong Tennis Stadium.

From:http://www.tennis.com/news/news.aspx?id=108054