Roger Federer defeats Rafael Nadal to win Shanghai Masters final
Roger Federer defeated Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-3 to win the Shanghai Masters final. The final was highly anticipated as these are the top two male tennis players in the world. Federer was seeking a 5th straight win over Nadal while Nadal took an impressive win streak into the final against Federer.
Roger Federer started the first set at an extremely high level and there were already ominous signs for Nadal as Federer went up 15-40 on Nadal’s opening service game. Nadal then clawed back two points to get back to deuce however Federer was not to be denied as he succeeded in breaking Nadal’s serve with an amazing backhand down the line to go up 1-0. Federer then easily held his serve to go up 2-0. The first set then proceeded with both players holding serve. Then Federer was able to close out the first set with great serving to win the serve game at love.
Both players started the 2nd set strongly and the set proceeded on serve until Nadal was broken serving at 2-2. It was a hard fought service game. Federer initially reaching 15-30 with a beautiful backhand crosscourt winner. However, Nadal fought back and got a game point leading 40-30. However, Federer responded with another sublime backhand winner down the line. Then Federer got a break point when Nadal sent a backhand into the net. Then Nadal got back to deuce with a hard serve that Federer was unable to return. Federer then earned another break point with a stunning volley that Nadal watched helplessly bounce twice on his side of the court. Then Federer finally won the game and the break when Nadal sent a backhand wide on the next point. The set then proceeded on serve until Nadal was serving at 3-5 to stay in the match.
Federer started the game by winning the first point with a sharp crosscourt forehand winner. Then Nadal sent an easy backhand long and Federer was up 0-30. Then Federer got three championship points when Nadal sent an overhead smash tamely into the net. Nadal saved the first point with a running volley to get back to 15-40. However, Federer won the match when Nadal sent a forehand into the net on the 2nd championship point. Thus Federer was the Shanghai Masters champion for the 2nd time.
