The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Gonzalez masters Federer

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Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007
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Gonzalez masters Federer

TENNIS / Disastrous display by the Swiss after a blistering start

— Photo: AFP

GUTSY DISPLAY: Fernando Gonzalez was in his element as he scripted an amazing come-from-behind win over Roger Federer.

SHANGHAI: World number one Roger Federer suffered a shock defeat to Fernando Gonzalez to put his Masters Cup defence in doubt on Monday.

The Swiss triple champion raced to a one-set lead but then lost a second-set tie-breaker by a mile before being edged out by the gutsy Chilean 3-6, 7-6 (7/1), 7-5 in front of a disbelieving Qi Zhong Stadium crowd.

It was a disastrous display from the 12-time Grand Slam winner, who had never lost a round-robin match at the season finale and enjoyed a 10-0 record against the seventh-ranked Chilean.

Ruthless fashion

Federer started in typically ruthless fashion, breaking Gonzalez in his first game before wrapping up the first set in just 29 minutes.

However, Gonzalez stalled the charge, taking the second set to a tie-breaker where Federer suffered an uncharacteristic implosion, fluffing an overhead and playing a panicky lob.

In the deciding set, Federer staved off break points in the third and fifth games but was broken for 6-5 as Gonzalez hammered ground strokes at the Swiss before finishing with a deft volley.

Gonzalez, 27, raced to 40-0 in the next game and sealed a famous victory as Federer hooked a forehand wide.

Federer’s second defeat in as many matches — after losing to David Nalbandian in the Paris Masters quarters — adds rare spice to the season finale, where the overwhelming favourite was considered a shoo-in for his fourth title.

The 26-year-old Federer won the Masters Cup in 2003, 2004 and 2006, falling to Lleyton Hewitt in the 2002 semifinals and losing a marathon final to Nalbandian in 2005.

Gonzalez is making his second appearance at the Masters Cup after playing as an alternate in 2005.

Horror season

Earlier, troubled Russian Nikolay Davydenko’s horror season continued when he was hammered by racquet-breaking Andy Roddick.

Davydenko, the subject of an ATP betting probe, rallied from a set down to win the second, prompting the angry American to smash his racquet on the floor.

But the Russian collapsed in the decider, losing 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 in two hours and two minutes.

It was an impressive performance from the fifth-ranked Roddick, who has been labouring with foot and knee problems, playing only one tournament and the Davis Cup semifinal since the US Open in August.

He shrugged off the racquet incident, saying tantrums were part of his game.

“As far as smashing racquets, you know, for as many times as it’s helped me, it’s hurt me that many times also,” Roddick said.

“But, you know, it’s just part of my personality. I’ve always been pretty expressive and emotional on the court. Sometimes it helps, sometimes not so much.”

The results: Red Group: Singles: Andy Roddick bt Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 4-6, 6-2; Fernando Gonzalez bt Roger Federer 4-6, 7-6(1), 7-5. Doubles: Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor bt Arnaud Clement and Michael Llorda 2-6, 7-5, 10-5 tiebreak. — AP

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