Shanghai - Roger Federer saved an heroic seven match points
against Andy Murray as he fought for his life only to drop from the
group stage for the first time in his career at the Masters Cup,
ending the season with a 15th loss on Friday.
Murray's 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 comeback win over the four-time
champion lifted French debutant Gilles Simon into the weekend
semi-finals along with the Scot.
'Of course I'm disappointed, I wish I could have played the
matches I played here this week under better circumstances,' said
Federer. 'But I tried, I almost made a miracle happen.
'I can't believe how close I got, to be honest. So I'm actually
very happy.'
Federer had won four of the last five editions of the year-end
spectacular, losing in 2005 to David Nalbandian and reaching the
semis upon his debut in 2002 at Shanghai.
Murray will play Nikolay Davydenko on Saturday while Simon faces
Novak Djokovic.
Federer was twice treated for back pain in the dramatic third set,
with the Swiss ending his 2009 campaign with a 15th loss. It took a
shade over three hours for Murray to claim the nail-biting win.
'The back was OK, under the circumstances, but obviously also
getting stiffer,' said the Swiss. 'I guess there's a lot of
compensation going on already the last few days.
'The body was hurting. Normally, a best of three match - it's
peanuts. So it was a pity I couldn't handle it today.'
Federer managed 11 aces in his losing effort, with 65 unforced
errors while Murray was successful on six of 18 break point chances
in the thriller which left Murray on a perfect 3-0 record in the Red
group.
'I came out today and played, offensive, aggressive,' said
Federer. 'I took the chances and it worked well.
'He didn't get the serves past me like he did in Madrid (final),
so that was good for me. I was mixing it up well from the baseline.'
Federer claimed the first set and looked like clawing back from
2-5 in the second, saving a pair of Murray set points in the eighth
game and breaking the Scot on a double-fault for 5-all.
Murray staggered into a tiebreaker where he squared the match at a
set each before Federer called for the trainer to massage the back
which had forced him to quit in Paris a fortnight ago.
Simon pounded alternate Radek Stepanek 6-1, 6-4 in 65 minutes,
breaking three times and never in danger against the Czech who filled
in at the last minute at mid-week for injured Andy Roddick.
Federer dropped the first of his three group matches to Simon,
then subdued Stepanek while fighting a stomach virus to level at 1-1
and stay in the title hunt.
Federer now stands 27-5 at the season wrap-up while Murray has
qualified for the first time.
USA
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