Federer Maintains Perfect Round Robin Record
Federer is 80-3 this season. By Bill Scott
World No. 1 Roger Federer kept his career round-robin slate at the Tennis Masters Cup perfect at 12-0 with a fighting win over Argentine Guillermo Coria 6-0, 1-6, 6-2 Thursday.
The Swiss standout, already through into his fourth semifinal in as many appearances at the year-end event, nudged a season win streak to 34 consecutive matches as he won his 80th of the season.
His only loss at the Tennis Masters Cup came in the 2002 semis here in Shanghai when he was defeated by eventual champion Lleyton Hewitt. Federer stands a lifetime 16-1 in the season-wrapup competition.
But it was not the standard victory stroll for Federer, who ripped through the first set only to face a fightback from fourth seeded Coria.
The South American broke the Swiss twice to level at a set apiece. But that kind of form faded in the third, with Federer calmly regaining control.
He broke for a comfortable 4-2 margin and concluded the win to end his Red group play with another break as Coria produced his ninth double-fault of the evening on a Federer match point.
"I got off to a bad start in the second set," said Federer. "If I had kept things under control it would have been a lot easier. I'm glad I came through in the end.
"That's what counts."
Federer now stand 80-3 on the season, his last loss coming in the Roland Garros semifinals to Rafael Nadal.
The Swiss will hope to clean up his form for Saturday after 33 unforced errors against Coria, who faced 14 break points.
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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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