Roddick holds his head high after another loss to Federer

By Bill Scott Nov 14, 2006, 15:56 GMT

Shanghai - Relentless Roger Federer failed to crush the spirit of Andy Roddick despite a 12th victory in their 13 meetings which put the winner into record prize money territory at the Masters Cup on Tuesday.

The Swiss superman became the first player - man or woman - to earn more than seven million dollars in a single season.

His narrow victory over Roddick nosed him over the money line from a performance which featured three aces in the final game.

Federer had to battle to maintain his perfect mark in round-robin play at the season wrapup as he claimed his eighth straight win against the American 4-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4 in the Red group.

'I think he played the perfect match for two sets,' said Federer, 89-5 this season. 'Maybe he lacked one serve in the end, so it was unfortunate for him.

'I tried my best, it's always hard to control against Andy when he's serving so big like in the first two sets.

'I got a bit lucky in the end. In the third set I was pretty much in control from the start.

'I'm really, really happy to not be under pressure like he is now.'

Federer stands an impeccable 14-0 at the group level in five participations in year-enders dating back to 2002 in Shanghai.

Roddick went to the attack after winning the opening set. And the former number 1 refused to bow down after the close defeat.

'I played well enough to win tonight. Let's not let that be lost. I felt like I was the better player for two sets.'

Roddick dropped to 1-12 in the series with his only victory coming in 2003. Federer polished his own mark this week to a perfect 2-0 with a match to play against Ivan Ljubicic.

Roddick forced the Swiss to save three match points in a dramatic second-set tiebreaker before Federer turned up the heat in the third to move through.

'If I don't believe now, then I never will,' Roddick said of ultimate victory dream. 'With the progress I've made over the last four or five months, I feel like I'm only getting better each time I step out there on the court.

In later play, Argentine defending champion David Nalbandian was looking for his first victory at this edition in Shanghai as he took on Ljubicic.