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Federer survives Ljubicic scare at Shanghai Masters
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-15 00:14
Roger Federer survived a scare against Ivan Ljubicic at the season-ending
Masters Cup on Tuesday, prevailing 6-3 2-6 7-6 to close in on the semi-finals.
Roger Federer of
Switzerland reacts after wining his match against Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia
in the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, China November 15, 2005.
[Reuters] |
The world number one, who has just recovered from a six-week injury layoff,
bounced back from a poor second set to make it two wins out of two at the
troubled $4.45 million event in Shanghai.
Federer squandered three match points at 5-3 and 5-4 in the third before
sealing victory 7-4 on a tiebreak to stay on course for a third straight Masters
Cup title.
Only Ilie Nastase in 1971-73 and Ivan Lendl in 1985-87 have won three in a
row.
Federer was assured of finishing the second round of matches on top of the
Red Group with Argentines Guillermo Coria and David Nalbandian, who lost their
openers, playing later on Tuesday.
WINNING STREAK
Federer extended his winning streak to 33 matches and his mark for the year
to 79-3.
The Swiss had beaten Ljubicic four times already this year, including finals
in Doha, Rotterdam and Indian Wells, and he was forced to work for his fifth by
the towering Croatian.
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