Roger Reaches Fourth Straight Cup Final
© Getty Images By Bill Scott
Roger Federer notched his second straight victory over Rafael Nadal on Saturday, ending with a vicious cross-court winner to post a 6-4,
7-5 victory into a fourth consecutive final at the Tennis Masters Cup on Saturday.
The world No. 1 Swiss maintained control over his toughest rival with his semi-final win against the Spaniard in just under two hours.
Watch ATP Masters Cup TV | Groups, Schedule & Results
Federer managed his third victory against six defeats versus the double French Open winner and will play James Blake in Sunday's best-of-five final after the American took out defending champion David Nalbandian 6-4, 6-1. (Match Report)
Federer beat Nadal five months ago to lift the Wimbledon title, ending a five-match loss streak against the 20 year old.
"All our last matches have all been in finals, so I think it's kind of good that it was maybe in the semis also," Federer said after dispatching his rival. "I think it lived up to the expectations, it was a great match. We'll see another good match tomorrow.
"It was nice that we played each other because he was on the verge of not qualifying for the semis. So I'm happy to have played him today."
The Swiss struck seven aces and had 13 break point chances, converting on three. Nadal missed on one of his two opportunities against an opponent who struck 29 winners.
The win lifted Federer to 91-5 on the season.
Federer, year-end No. 1 for the third season in a row, becomes the first player to reach four consecutive finals at a circuit-ending championship since Ivan Lendl, who played a record nine finals in a row between 1980-1988.
The Swiss is now a win away from his 12th title of the season.
Federer broke Nadal early in the opening set and clinched it with a second break of the Spaniard after 49 minutes.
The second set stayed tight as Federer and Nadal traded body blows at the Qi Zhong stadium.
Nadal got out of jail twice on match points in the tenth game from Federer errors, but could not hold off the world No. 1 as Federer wrapped up the win two games later.
Nadal could do little on the day. "I played a great match, but Roger is playing at an unbelievable level. I'm happy with my game and with my tournament," he said.
"My knee injury (from Friday) is okay, but I did lose
against the No.1."
Exclusive Audio
Bjorkman-Mirnyi, Knowles-Nestor Qualify for SFs
|
