Roger Federer Rolls Novak Djokovic To Reach Shanghai Final

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Roger Federer Rolls Novak Djokovic To Reach Shanghai Final

Shanghai Rolex Masters ATP
- Official Site
- Order of Play
- Singles Draw
- Doubles Draw
- Live Scores

HP Japan Women's Open WTA
- Official Site
- Order of Play
- Singles Draw
- Doubles Draw
- Qualifying Draw
- Live Scores

Generali Ladies Linz WTA
- Official Site
- Order of Play
- Singles Draw
- Doubles Draw
- Qualifying Draw
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By Alberto Amalfi
© Natasha Peterson/Corleve

(October 16, 2010) Match point came again and this time, Roger Federer finished the job. A month removed from their dramatic five-set US Open semifinal, Federer and Novak Djokovic squared off again today with Federer posting a 7-5, 6-4 victory in one hour, 42 minutes to advance to the Shanghai final and avenge his US Open loss.

Federer raised his career record to 11-6 against Djokovic, who fought off two match points with a pair of bold forehand winners in fighting past Federer into the US Open final last month.

Andy Murray awaits Federer in Sunday's final that is a rematch of both the Australian Open final, which Federer won, and the Toronto final, which Murray won.

World No. 4 Murray stormed into the Shanghai Rolex Masters final with a 6-4, 6-1 sweep of 41st-ranked Argentine Juan Monaco.

Murray has not dropped a set in four tournament victories. The Australian Open finalist reached his first Masters 1000 final since he beat David Nalbandian, Rafael Nadal and Federer in straight-sets succession to win the Rogers Cup in Toronto in August.

Djokovic extended his winning streak to nine matches with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in Friday's quarterfinals and came out striking with confidence against Federer and earned four break points in the fourth game but could not crack Federer's serve. Djokovic converted just one of five break points, while Federer cashed in on three of four break points.

The second-seeded Serbian had break point at 1-2, but dumped a backhand drop shot into net. Federer sent a serve into Djokovic's right hip to elicit a return error and save the second break point. A serve down the T followed by a crunching crosscourt forehand winner erased the third break point.

Federer fought off the fourth break point with the shot of the set. He was completely off the court when Federer rifled an absurdly acute angled backhand winner crosscourt for deuce. Djokovic hit a backhand beyond the baseline as Federer held for 2-all after an 11-minute, 25-second game that was the longest of the match.

At 5-all, Federer flicked a forehand drop shot winner that brought squeals from the crowd and gave him a 15-30 lead. At 30-all, Fed attacked net, blocked a backhand volley and Djokovic, who was in prime position for the pass, tightened up slightly netting his backhand crosscourt to hand Federer his first break point. Djokovic saved in after a 12-shot rally.

Showing his anticipation, Federer ran down a drop shot and lifted a running forehand winner and Djokovic followed netting a backhand to give Federer a second break point. On the sixth shot of the ensuing rally, Djokovic again found the net with his backhand as Federer broke for 6-5 after a near seven-minute game.

A brilliant Federer stab forehand drop volley followed by an overhead gave him a 30-15 lead. Two points later Federer fired an ace down the middle to take the first set, 7-5.