Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer (4-6, 3-6)
If there’s one thing live betting fans learned in the Shanghai Masters final, it’s to never underestimate Roger Federer even if he’s showing signs of vulnerability.
Betting odds were stacked against Federer ahead of his 38th match with arch-nemesis Rafael Nadal. However, he didn’t let it stop him from showing the Spaniard who the best tennis player is this 2017.
Playing with the motivation of reducing the gap for the year-end World No.1, Federer stepped up on the big stage and rallied to beat Nadal in straight sets amid the torrential rain that drenched the Qi Zhong Tennis Center.
More amazingly, Federer did it against an opponent brimming with confidence after winning 16 straight matches and dropping only a single set in the whole tournament.
The 30-year-old Nadal never really had the chance to dictate the pace of the match as Federer dominated right from the start, jumping to a 4-2 lead in the first set. The Swiss Maestro controlled the game and piled pressure on his great rival with a series of accurate backhands and forehands.
Not to mention that Federer’s service game was also on point, winning 83 percent of his first serve points to close out the opening frame.
Nadal saw some hope come the second as he managed to stay close with the 36-year-old at 2-2. However, it didn’t last long after Federer claimed the break at 3-2 with a beautiful drop volley winner that forced Nadal to misfire.
It was all Federer from there on, punishing Nadal for not changing tactics to counter his game plan centred on his forehand-to-backhand game.
With the win, Federer claimed his 27th Masters 1000—his second in the tournament—and stopped Nadal from breaking the record with the most titles in the category. He also stays in the hunt for the World No.1 and has the chance to get closer to it at Basel and Paris where 1500 points are at stake.
“I’m not thinking about it. I just try to be healthy now. I’ll go back to Switzerland tomorrow with my team and decide what I’m going to play, whether I’ll go to Basel and Paris. I’m focused on London and winning there. If I play like this, maybe, who knows I’ll get close to it (the No 1 spot),” Federer said after the match
Moreover, the victory marks Federer’s fifth straight win over Nadal, having already beaten him four times this 2017—in the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami, and now Shanghai.
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