Roger Federer of Switzerland serves to David Nalbandian of Argentina during their tennis match at the Masters Cup in Shanghai November 12, 2006. Nov.13 - US Open finalists Roger Federer of Switzerland and Andy Roddick of America both made flying start at the Masters Cup Red Group tussles while the Bryans met early defeat in the doubles' action on Sunday.
Roger Federer of Switzerland serves to David Nalbandian of Argentina during their tennis match at the Masters Cup in Shanghai November 12, 2006.[Reuters]
Top seed Federer, who came into Shanghai with an impressive 11 titles this season, rallied from one set down to destroy Argentine nemesis David Nalbandian 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 in a blockbuster opening match of the 2006 circuit finale.
While Roddick, the beaten finalist at the US Open, also battled in full sets to subdue the Croatian number one Ivan Ljubicic in two hours and 29 minutes, one more hour than what Federer spent.
"Probably a couple of years ago I don't know what to do (while trailing behind), but through the mental and physical strength I was able to overcome all these problems. Now I just hang in there and hope for the best," said Federer at the press conference after beating Nalbandian.
In doubles' action, American Bob and Mike Bryan, the world's best doubles team, lost 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-1 to Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram, who won four titles this year and are the first Israelis to reach the Tennis Masters Cup field.
World number one Federer, who attended the season-ending jamboree for the fifth consecutive time, did not hit the top gear in the opening set, allowing seven seed Nalbandian two breaks to concede a 6-3 loss in 45 minutes or so.
"In the first set he (Nalbandian) can really take my second serve easily, also from the baseline he had an upper hand at the moment. He is a top player and keep a good consistency, and he won the set."
The Swiss mogul, however, woke up in time to draw first blood in the second set capturing an early break to go up 2-0 and never looked back before taking the set at 6-1.
Nalbandian, who came back from a two-set deficit to wrest the crown from Federer here last year, lost his steam dramatically before collapsing in the third set 6-1 too.
"It is very happy to come through a guy like Nalbandian. You know, it is difficult to play against him. I don't feel much revenge because he can come back and beat me again in semifinals or the final if he played well. Let's see what happen in the next few days."
Fifth-seeded Roddick, who had gone ten months without a title since he reeled in the Masters Series Cincinnati trophy in August, squandered two match points in the second set tie-break before beating fourth seed Ljubicic 6-4, 6-7(9), 6-1 in the Red Group dubbed as the "Group of Death".
"I hear that everybody was calling this group 'the Group of Death'. The way I see it, only two people are dying, so I don't want to be one of them," said Roddick.
"I thought I served well and I thought I returned well. I still think I can hit the ball a little bit better from the baseline. Overall it was a pretty solid performance."