Federer Madrid win turns on computer replay

By Bill Scott Oct 19, 2006, 18:44 GMT

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer reacts after defeating Swedish Robin Soderling in their match of the Madrid Masters Series 2006 at the Madrid Arena, Thursday 19 October 2006. Federer won 7-6 and 7-6. EPA/SERGIO BARRENECHEA

Madrid - Roger Federer fought off a challenge from inspired Swede Robin Soderling, earning a 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (10-8) win into the quarter-finals of the Madrid Masters in a match decided by an appeal to a computer Thursday.

The Swiss, playing in the event for the first time since 2003, insisted that even though a Hawk-eye ruling confirmed his match point, he still does not endorse the system which he feels detracts from the game.

'I don't know if it's going to make a difference on the score in the end, said the 79-5 top seed. 'Without Hawk-eye I would have broken him in the first set because (a previous) call would have stood.

'I would have won the first set probably easier. It turned out to be a crazy end. I thought it was really funny, especially waiting like this for the match point.'

Federer only achieved the victory in which he fired 13 aces and struck 32 winners after a successful appeal showed that Soderling's final shot landed wide instead of good as called by a human linesman.

The Swiss next takes aim at American Robby Ginepri, who beat Spain's seventh-seeded Tommy Robredo 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) in a win also decided by instant replay.

Robredo, contending for a place in next month's Masters Cup, missed his chance to launch past provisional sixth-placed James Blake, a loser on Wednesday.

Federer stands 2-0 over Ginepri, beating him for the last time in 2005.

'He's a tough player, especially indoors. He serves pretty well and returns aggressive. I have to make sure I play another good match and serve well.

'If you serve well here, it really pays off.'

Masters Cup hopeful Andy Roddick lost ground in is qualification chase and could miss the rest of the regular season after hurting his right ankle Roddick, provisional fourth in the race to next month's eight-man season-ender in China, limped through to a 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 losing conclusion against Czech Tomas Berdych, with the ankle problem surfacing in the second set.

Chile's Fernando Gonzales, lingering on distant 12th position for Shanghai, advanced without firing a shot when huge-hitting Swede Joachim Johansson pulled out before their match with a sore throat.

Roddick said his ankle now throws his playing schedule in doubt, hinting that he migfht leave Europe to heal.

'I'm in pretty good qualifying shape (for Shanghai), I'm pretty close to confirmed,' said the American. 'The priority right now is to get the ankle healthy.

'I'm not totally sure what the upside is to trying to play on a bum ankle. We're just going to have to play it day-to-day.

'I'm not going to make any decisions right now or this afternoon. We'll probably see how it pulls up tomorrow and the day after that.'

Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, last year's losing finalist to Rafael Nadal who lost in the second round, has pulled out of next week's tournament in Lyon with a viral infection in his throat.

His qualification for Shanghai remains in the balance, with it likely to come down to the Paris Masters starting a week from Monday.

Marat Safin won a day match after two late nights on court as he finally claimed an easy win with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Belgian Kristof Vliegen.