By Chris Oddo | Saturday, October 11, 2014
Roger Federer got past Novak Djokovic in Shanghai, 6-4, 6-4, with a sublime display of attacking tennis.
Photo Source: Zhong Zhi/Getty
Roger Federer ended Novak Djokovic’s 28-match winning streak on Chinese soil with a crisp, commanding 6-4, 6-4 victory on Saturday at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. The 33-year-old, who saved five match points en route to an opening round victory on Wednesday, will bid for his first title in the Chinese metropolis in Sunday’s final against Gilles Simon.
More: Federer, Nadal Named to Forbes Fab 40 List
Federer increased his lifetime record against Djokovic to 19-17 with the victory.
After breaking for a 3-2 lead in the opening set, Federer held serve the rest of the way, closing the opener in 38 minutes with an ace down the T.
Federer, who will rise to No. 2 in the ATP rankings on Monday, broke immediately in the first game of set two, then held his serve the rest of the way even as the world No. 1 pressured to level.
Federer saw a huge opportunity to expand his lead fall by the wayside in the fifth game of the second set, as Djokovic saved four break points, including two on spectacular back-to-back backhand passes, to stay within striking distance.
Djokovic would need to save two match points at 3-5, one with a neatly executed serve and volley and the second with an ace, to earn one more chance to attempt to break Federer’s serve.
But in the end Federer was too strong. He closed the match with a clean backhand volley winner, having faced only one break point all evening.
Federer’s 35 net forays yielded only 20 successful points, but the kamikaze tactics were enough to keep Djokovic off balance for much of the match. Though Djokovic regularly produced sublime passing shots, he was unable to maintain enough consistency to avoid falling behind in both sets. With Federer winning more than 60 percent of his second serve points, Djokovic never had the opportunities to crawl back in.
“He played the perfect match,” the Serb would later opine.
Notes, Numbers
Federer reached the 60-win mark for the 11th time in 12 seasons with the victory.
Federer will bid for his 23rd Masters 1000 title in Sunday’s final; Simon will bid for his first.
In the past 41 Masters 1000 events, the quartet of Federer, Djokovic, Nadal and Murray have won 37.