By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Roger Federer did not face a break point topping Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-2, 7-6(5) to avenge his last Shanghai loss to the Spaniard and reach the round of 16.
Photo credit: Rolex Shanghai Masters Facebook
The Shanghai roof was closed as Roger Federer felt the wall of surround sound.
A swarm of Federer fans clad in identical red t-shirts chanted "Roger! Roger!" late in the second set.
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Answering the call, Federer played accurate avenger charging back from 1-4 down in the tie break bouncing Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-2, 7-6(5) to roar into the Rolex Shanghai Masters round of 16.
Federer fired 32 winners—20 more than his opponent—and delivered a near flawless first-serve performance.
The second-seeded Swiss served 80 percent, pumped 8 aces, won 91 percent (39 of 43) first-serve points and did not face a break point avenging his lone loss to the Spaniard at the same Shanghai stage four years ago.
In this rematch, a fired-up Federer, who yelled "come on!" in the opening game, played with positive energy from the first point before a packed crowd that included his parents, Robert and Lynette, watching from the support box.
"I thought it was good you know," Federer said afterward. "I really tried to have good energy out there. Sometimes when you travel around the world and you play your first match you're a little flat.
"So I really tried to put a extra emphasis on energy and it worked very well. I got out of the blocks quick played a good match."
The 38-year-old Swiss raised his 2019 record to 46-7 scoring his first tournament win since permitting just four games in a US Open round of 16 thrashing of David Goffin.
Federer could face the 14th-ranked Belgian in the round of 16.
The 28-year-old Goffin repelled Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-3 earlier today and will play Mikhail Kukushkin next with the winner facing Federer for a place in the quarterfinals.
Two-time Shanghai champion Federer posted his 380th career Masters 1000 victory which puts him one win behind all-time Masters victory leader Rafael Nadal.
Today, Federer won the toss, elected to receive and applied pressure immediately earning two break points in the opening game that Ramos-Vinolas denied.
Continuing to pressure the left-hander's serve, Federer deployed his variety to break through in the fifth game. Teasing the Spaniard with a low, slower slice, Federer followed slamming a fast forehand into the corner rattling out the first break for a 3-2 lead.
Stamping three straight love holds to open, Federer permitted just two points on serve soaring through the 33-minute opening set without any turbulence.
Credit Ramos-Vinolas for more proactive play in the second set.
Whipping the wide serve frequently in the first set, the Spaniard started the second set sliding an ace down the T to hold.
A free-flowing Federer unleashed a flurry of three forehand drive volley winners in a row blasting through the second game.
Federer needed only a minute to breeze through a love hold—his fifth of the match—leveling the second set at 4-all.
Lifting his level of play Ramos-Vinolas earned the first mini-break of the tie break when Federer nudged a backhand volley into net. Protecting his second serve with vigilance, Ramos-Vinolas exploited a netted backhand for 4-1.
When Federer held his serve, a swarm of Fed fans clad in identical red t-shirts were chanting "Roger! Roger!" exhorting the two-time champion toward the finish line.
Ripping a forehand into the corner, Federer responded streaking forward for high backhand volley regaining mini-break for 4-all.
The Spaniard's shot clipped the top of the tape and sat up for Federer, who swooped forehand and flashed a forehand in the corner earning match point at 6-5.
Dancing around his backhand, Federer fired a forehand down the line, streaked to net and knocked off a high forehand volley closing with a flourish in one hour, 26 minutes.
"Ramos had his chances at 4-1 so it was a nice comeback for me at the end," Federer said. "I've been coming here for a long time and I do appreciate the support here in the city. Sometimes I feel like as the years go by the excitement has grown more and more."