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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| Federer fightback sinks Roddick | Federer fightback sinks Roddick |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| World number one Roger Federer saved three match points to beat Andy Roddick in a thrilling Masters Cup match. | World number one Roger Federer saved three match points to beat Andy Roddick in a thrilling Masters Cup match. |
| Roddick took the first set 6-4 and had three match points in the second-set tie-break, but Federer saved them all and took the set to level the contest. | Roddick took the first set 6-4 and had three match points in the second-set tie-break, but Federer saved them all and took the set to level the contest. |
| And one break early in the third set was enough to give the Swiss star a 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 victory in Shanghai. | And one break early in the third set was enough to give the Swiss star a 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 victory in Shanghai. |
| Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic beat David Nalbandian of Argentina 5-7 7-6 (9-7) 7-5 in the second Red Group match. | Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic beat David Nalbandian of Argentina 5-7 7-6 (9-7) 7-5 in the second Red Group match. |
| Federer, the 2003 and 2004 champion, has now won 12 of the 13 matches he has played against Roddick, including the last eight. | Federer, the 2003 and 2004 champion, has now won 12 of the 13 matches he has played against Roddick, including the last eight. |
| And his 14th straight Masters Cup win means he is virtually assured of reaching the semi-finals, having also won his opening round-robin match against defending champion Nalbandian. | And his 14th straight Masters Cup win means he is virtually assured of reaching the semi-finals, having also won his opening round-robin match against defending champion Nalbandian. |
| I don't know if he got nervous or it just went my way in the end, but it was really close Roger Federer | I don't know if he got nervous or it just went my way in the end, but it was really close Roger Federer |
| Nalbandian, on the other hand, is on the verge of elimination after his loss to Ljubicic. | Nalbandian, on the other hand, is on the verge of elimination after his loss to Ljubicic. |
| Federer said: "It's hard to control against Andy when he's serving so big like he did in the first two sets. I know I got a bit lucky. | Federer said: "It's hard to control against Andy when he's serving so big like he did in the first two sets. I know I got a bit lucky. |
| "Early on in the tie-break when I was down 4-1 and him serving I thought, well, I'm not playing that great and he's not giving me a chance, so I guess that's it. | "Early on in the tie-break when I was down 4-1 and him serving I thought, well, I'm not playing that great and he's not giving me a chance, so I guess that's it. |
| 606 DEBATE: Can Federer win the Masters Cup? | 606 DEBATE: Can Federer win the Masters Cup? |
| "But I told myself maybe I can make him nervous by just staying in the match. | "But I told myself maybe I can make him nervous by just staying in the match. |
| "That's what happened. I don't know if he got nervous or it just went my way in the end, but it was really close." | "That's what happened. I don't know if he got nervous or it just went my way in the end, but it was really close." |
| World number five Roddick was left to rue his missed chances, and rounded on a Chinese journalist who suggested his tactic of coming to the net was a liability. | World number five Roddick was left to rue his missed chances, and rounded on a Chinese journalist who suggested his tactic of coming to the net was a liability. |
| With the progress I've made over the last four or five months, I feel I'm getting better each time I step out on the court Andy Roddick | With the progress I've made over the last four or five months, I feel I'm getting better each time I step out on the court Andy Roddick |
| "My serve-and-volley game put me one point away (from winning) and you're saying it didn't work?" asked Roddick. | "My serve-and-volley game put me one point away (from winning) and you're saying it didn't work?" asked Roddick. |
| "I suggest learning something about tennis before you comment on it." | "I suggest learning something about tennis before you comment on it." |
| However, Roddick said his disappointment was tempered by the improvement in his game since he has been working with Jimmy Connors. | However, Roddick said his disappointment was tempered by the improvement in his game since he has been working with Jimmy Connors. |
| "With the progress I've made over the last four or five months, I feel I'm getting better each time I step out on the court," he said. | "With the progress I've made over the last four or five months, I feel I'm getting better each time I step out on the court," he said. |
| "It's tough right now, but at the same time I remember where I was four or five months ago as far as my career. It definitely feels like it's on the upswing. | "It's tough right now, but at the same time I remember where I was four or five months ago as far as my career. It definitely feels like it's on the upswing. |
| Ljubicic is overcome after winning an epic match | |
| "For the first time in a while, I'm not getting further away," he added. | "For the first time in a while, I'm not getting further away," he added. |
| Nalbandian and Ljubicic exchanged early breaks before the Argentine broke for 6-5 and served out for the first set. | Nalbandian and Ljubicic exchanged early breaks before the Argentine broke for 6-5 and served out for the first set. |
| The title-holder broke immediately in the second and was two points from victory when the Croat broke back before clinching the tie-break with an ace. | The title-holder broke immediately in the second and was two points from victory when the Croat broke back before clinching the tie-break with an ace. |
| Ljubicic broke for 6-5 in the final set and wrapped it up with the first of three match points when Nalbandian netted. | Ljubicic broke for 6-5 in the final set and wrapped it up with the first of three match points when Nalbandian netted. |
| "When you serve 30 aces it's a pretty hard for him," Ljubicic said. | "When you serve 30 aces it's a pretty hard for him," Ljubicic said. |
| "It's sweet revenge for last year. I lost 6-2 6-2. He destroyed me, so it's nice to come back in the same court after 12 months to get my revenge." | "It's sweet revenge for last year. I lost 6-2 6-2. He destroyed me, so it's nice to come back in the same court after 12 months to get my revenge." |
| Red Group: Roger Federer (Swi), Ivan Ljubicic (Cro), Andy Roddick (USA), David Nalbandian (Arg) | Red Group: Roger Federer (Swi), Ivan Ljubicic (Cro), Andy Roddick (USA), David Nalbandian (Arg) |
| Gold Group: Rafael Nadal (Spa), Nikolay Davydenko (Rus), Tommy Robredo (Spa), James Blake (USA) | Gold Group: Rafael Nadal (Spa), Nikolay Davydenko (Rus), Tommy Robredo (Spa), James Blake (USA) |