The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Federer survives Ljubicic scare

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 16, 2005

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Sport - Tennis

Federer survives Ljubicic scare

SHANGHAI: World number one Roger Federer survived a third-set tie-breaker to keep his Masters Cup campaign on track with a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(4) win over Croatian Ivan Ljubicic on Tuesday.

Federer, seeking his third successive Masters Cup title on his comeback from injury, wasted three match points before closing out with a classic backhand winner.

It was the second time he had been run close in the injury-hit season finale after dropping a set against David Nalbandian. However, he extended his winning streak to 33, the best of his career.

Federer, the only top-five player left here after a string of high-profile withdrawals, broke the six-foot four-inch Croatian in the fourth game.The Swiss champion, his right ankle strapped, after missing the Madrid Masters, Swiss Indoors and Paris Masters with ligament damage, wrapped up the set with an ace and a forehand winner for 6-3.

But Ljubicic, who has taken Federer to three sets in three finals this year, recovered in the second set to break for 3-1 as the top seed put his forehand into the net.

The Croatian took it to 5-2 before a loose Federer forehand gifted him three set points. A backhand volley into the net took the game into a decider.

As tension grew in Qi Zhong Stadium, Ljubicic fell 0-30 behind with the scores at 2-2, eventually double-faulting to go a break down.

Federer held to love, finishing off with a big serve, before another love game took it to 5-3.

Ljubicic saved two match points on serve but put returns into the floor and net in the next game as Federer apparently closed on victory.

Johansson drafted in

Sweden's Thomas Johansson has been drafted in by the organisers as cover after a spate of injuries, ATP Tour officials said.

The world number 14 has been called in after French Open champion Rafael Nadal and eight-times Grand Slam winner Andre Agassi pulled out.

Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt all withdrew before the start of the tournament.

Leander Paes and Nenad Zimonjic were one set away from a semifinals berth after a straight-set win over giant-killing Aussie pair Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley at the doubles competition on Tuesday.

The Indo-Serbian pair came through two nerve-wracking tie-breaks for a pulsating 7-6(3) 7-6(8) win over Arthurs and Hanley to put themselves atop the Red Group in the year-end championships featuring the top eight in singles and doubles.

Paes and Zemonjic are now 2-0 in the group and will be guaranteed a spot in the semifinals if they win at least one set in their final round robin match against the Bryan brothers.

The results: Red group: Roger Federer bt Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(4);

Doubles: Leander Paes/Nenad Zimonjic bt Wayne Arthurs/ Paul Hanley 7-6(3), 7-6(6); Bob Bryan/ Mike Bryan bt Mark Knowles/ Daniel Nestor 6-4, 6-4. — Agencies

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