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SHANGHAI: World number one Roger Federer claimed his fourth Masters
Cup title with a virtuoso display against David Ferrer of Spain on
Sunday.
The Swiss defending champion dominated his fifth
consecutive year-end final from the outset, winning 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in
just one hour and 38 minutes.
Federer leaves with $1.2 million dollars in
prize money, pushing his season earnings to a record $8,630,620, and
a Mercedes-Benz car.
“I’m so happy,” Federer beamed. “This is
the year-end tournament championship where only the best play so for
me to have won this yet again is a great experience.
“I’m looking forward to some vacation and
then come back hopefully stronger next year.”
Ferrer was left in no doubt about the quality of
his opponent.
“Roger is the best in history,” he said.
Federer entered the final as strong favorite
against the sixth-ranked Ferrer after routing Andy Roddick and
Rafael Nadal to reach the final.
He volleyed his way out of a break point in his
first service game and turned the tables with a mesmerizing
lob-and-volley in Ferrer’s next game, converting the first breakpoint
as the Spaniard netted.
Ferrer was wilting visibly in the face of
Federer’s all-round onslaught and double-faulted to go two breaks
down, and then netted a backhand to give up the set in just 26
minutes.
The terrier-like Ferrer is known for his chasing
but it was Federer who was covering the court, cracking unerring
backhands past the Spaniard, who hit a wild forehand to go 3-4 down
in the second and was broken again to lose the set.
Federer fended off three break points at the
start of the third and bent a running forehand past Ferrer to go 3-1
up, then completed the demolition by breaking again with another
forehand winner.
Federer won the Masters Cup in 2003, 2004 and
2006. Only three players—Ilie Nastase, Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras—have
won the season-ending tournament four times or more.
It was Federer’s 70th career final against
just nine for Ferrer, highlighting the gulf between them.
Ferrer, who was competing in his biggest ever
match, has taken just one set off Federer in their eight meetings,
all of which he lost.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed his best season yet,
winning three tournaments and reaching a career-high sixth ranking.
He was unbeaten in reaching the final, shocking compatriot Nadal
along the way.
--AFP
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