Nalbandian Upsets Federer to Claim Crown
Nalbandian celebrates his title win. By Bill Scott
David Nalbandian scored a stunning upset of two-time champion Roger Federer 6-7 (4-7), 6-7 (11-13), 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) to end the Swiss player's two-year reign as champion at the Tennis Masters Cup Sunday.
Nalbandian claimed the biggest win of his career in a tiebreaker after four hours, 33 minutes. Federer had won his last 24 finals and 35 straight matches.
He had been seeking a third straight trophy at the year-end event, playing his first tournament since an ankle injury six weeks ago.
Nalbandian, who won a Mercedes CLK convertible and $1.4 million, praised Federer, his longtime rival from junior days. The Argentine will stand sixth in the final ATP rankings for 2005.
"You played an incredible match as usual Roger," said the Argentine, who lifted his fourth career title at one of the biggest venues in the game.
"After knowing you a long time - don't worry, you'll win a lot more trophys. Let me keep this one."
The champion won the first two sets but ran out of puff in the third and fourth.
Federer looked like pulling it out as he recovered from 0-4 in the fifth, only to fail when he had the chance to serve it out leading 6-5 when Nalbandian blasted a winner down the line.
The tiebreak was cloaked in drama, with Nalbandian firing form the baseline and Federer straining to match his rival. The Swiss netted a backhand to yield three match points - Nalbandian converted on the first from a final Federer error, 72nd of a frustrating marathon.
"It's never easy to play David - he got me this time," said Federer, who still finishes atop the rankings by a comfortable margin. "He totally deserves to win tonight."
Federer still called his season "fantastic." The defeat was only his fourth loss this season against 81 wins.
He had been bidding to become the first man since Ivan Lendl (1985-1987) to lift three straight year-end tournaments.
Federer won the last two editions in Houston and had not lost a final since Gstaad, 2003, to Jiri Novak.
The loss leaves Federer just shy of John McEnroe, whose 1984 season ended 82-3.
The Swiss came to Shanghai fighting for fitness after rolling his right ankle during training in early October.
After spending time on crutches Federer and coach Tony Roche were almost able to work their magic in Shanghai, with Federer still keeping his round-robin record at the Tennis Masters Cup level unblemished after four editions.
His only other defeat in the elite eight-man competition came in the 2002 semifinals - also in Shanghai - when he lost to Lleyton Hewitt.
His last defeat in 2005 came more than five months ago against Rafael Nadal in the semifinals of Roland Garros.
Federer has lost only one other match in his career while leading two sets to love. That setback came against Hewitt in the Davis Cup semis in Melbourne in 2003.
Exclusive Audio | Press Transcripts
Saturday: Federer Reaches Shanghai Final
Friday: Gaudio Saves 3 M.P. to Reach Semifinals
Thursday: Federer Again Needs 3 Sets to Win
Wednesday: Davydenko Remains Perfect in Shanghai
Tuesday: Federer Pushed to Limit by Ljubicic
Monday: Davydenko Defeats Injured Agassi
Sunday: Federer Wins Masters Cup Opener
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