Roger Federer overcomes Gilles Simon for year's fourth title
Roger Federer edged a resilient Gilles Simon 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-2) yesterday to win the Shanghai Masters and claim the 81st title of his career and fourth for the year.
The 17-time grand slam winner had blown away world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, but he found a stubborn final opponent in Frenchman Simon.
And the 33-year-old needed two tie-breaks and saved set points in each set before making it back-to-back Masters victories following his win in Cincinnati in August.
Putting my hands on the trophy for the first time is a good feeling, I must say. I'm very happy with the way I'm playing
"I feel unbelievable prestige to win this event," Federer said.
"Especially putting my hands on the trophy for the first time is a good feeling, I must say. I'm very happy with the way I'm playing. Overall, I'm just extremely happy right now."
The Swiss veteran started poorly against 29th-ranked Simon's confrontational baseline play and lost his serve in the very first game.
Federer changed tactics midway through the first set, tentatively approaching the net in a bid to regain the initiative. But Simon was unfazed, slamming his shots with power when Federer was in a forward position and forcing him to reconsider the tactic.
Shouts of "Come on Roger" were being drowned out by "Allez Gilles!" as the crowd sensed an upset could be on the cards.
But as Simon served for the set at 5-4, Federer broke back and he was in the ascendancy as he earned two break points in Simon's next service game.
The pair were evenly matched during a tight tie-break, but Simon lost the set.
The players fought to a stalemate in the second set, but Federer took a firm grip on the decisive tie-break to win it 7-2.
Federer will now celebrate his 23rd Masters victory as he moves up one place to world No 2, displacing Rafael Nadal, in the new rankings released this week.
Simon will return to the top 20 on the back of reaching only his second Masters final. "He played some great shots ... I mean, he just played always good in the right moment," Simon said.
