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Shanghai Rolex Masters Final

Shanghai Masters Men’s Singles Final Sunday Oct 12

3-Roger Federer beat Gilles Simon 7-6(6) 7-6(2)

 

Shanghai Masters Men’s Doubles Finals Sunday Oct 12

1-M.Bryan/B.Bryan beat J.Benneteau/E.Roger-Vasselin 6-3 7-6(3)

Federer Overcomes Simon in Thrilling Final, Lifts First Shanghai Masters Trophy

shanghairolexmasters.com: October 12 2014 Shanghai, China - There are not many occasions these days when Roger Federer wins a tournament for the first time but the Swiss was celebrating his maiden Shanghai Rolex Masters title.

 

Federer, who beat France’s Gilles Simon 7-6 (6), 7-6 (2), is hugely popular in China and his delight at rewarding his army of fans was evident at the end of a match that was tight throughout.

 

Federer won the Tennis Masters Cup twice when it was staged here, but since the Qi Zhong Tennis Center started hosting the Masters 1000 tournament in 2009 his best result had come in 2010, when he finished runner-up to Andy Murray.

 

However, the 33-year-old Swiss, who was the second oldest player in the tournament, has played like a man on a mission ever since he saved five match points in his opening encounter with Leonardo Mayer.

 

Federer, who will replace Rafael Nadal at No 2 in the world rankings tomorrow, played superbly on Saturday to end Novak Djokovic’s remarkable run of 28 successive victories in China and in the final had the edge on nearly all the big points. Simon, who was playing in only the second Masters 1000 final of his career, had set points in both sets but could not convert them. The world No 29 had a hamstring problem which hampered his serve throughout the match, though he refused to blame his defeat on the injury.

 

“I feel unbelievable prestige to win this event,” Federer said afterwards. “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.”

 

Casting his eyes over the new tournament trophy, which reflects the magnolia-leaf design of the main stadium’s retractable roof, Federer said: “I like this trophy very much.  It's unlike any other on tour. To me it seems like that anyway.  I think it's nice.  It's the magnolia leaves from the roof.  It's got that design, which I think is so cool.  It was very, very nice holding up a new trophy for the first time today.  I think you could see how happy I was.  I can't wait to come back again next year.”

 

Simon had not played in a final for more than a year, but went into the match drawing encouragement from his victories here over two top 10 players in Stan Wawrinka and Tomas Berdych and his win over Federer on this court six years ago in the Tennis Masters Cup.

 

Despite the warm and dry weather the stadium roof was kept shut throughout the final due to high winds which had played havoc with the floodlights during the doubles final. Federer is often at his best in indoor tournaments or under closed roofs, but on this occasion he started slowly, winning only one point in the first two games as Simon went 2-0 up.

 

Federer finally broke back when Simon served for the set at 5-4 as the Frenchman made a series of errors. Simon saved two set points when he served at 5-6 and had a set point of his own when he led the tie-break 6-5. However, Federer promptly hit two service winners in succession and on the next point took the set with a superb backhand winner down the line.

 

At the end of the first set Simon left the court to take a medical time-out for treatment on his hamstring problem.  He hung on well in the second, saving break points at 1-1 and 3-3, and had two set points when Federer served at 5-6 and 15-40.

 

Federer, however, saved both to force a second tie-break, in which he never trailed. A forehand return winner took the Swiss to match point, upon which Simon netted a forehand. Federer let out a roar and pumped his arms in the air in celebration.

 

Simon thought the match had been decided by just a few key points. “He was always really good on those points,” the Frenchman said. “He just always played well at the right moment.”

SWISS

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