Federer's Feet To The Fire In Shanghai

Did you take a look at Roger’s [Federer] draw in the Masters Series Tournament in Shanghai? Maybe they should ask him to play blindfolded with one hand tied behind his back, too! Oriental outrage here! 

Well, you do know that the season-ending Master’s Cup begins on Sunday. The top eight players in the men’s game meet in a round robin format—four players, two teams—to decide who is the best of the best. 

Unfortunately, Rafael Nadal had to pull out of the tournament with tendinitis in his right knee. Sayonara, O’ Great Spaniard! 

The withdrawal means Roger Federer is seeded number one and Novak Djokovic becomes the number two seed.

The tennis gods of 2008 constructed a mine field of obstacles for Federer to negotiate in order to hoist the Waterford trophy once again.  He has accomplished this feat in four of the last five Master’s Cup tournaments.

Those who nag that the event is pure spectacle remain clueless. There is much at stake in terms of ranking points and momentum.

While it is meaningless to try to explain the mind-numbing details of the ATP point system in this short article, it is sufficient to say that an undefeated champion can accrue 750 points. 

No small accomplishment—as Roger seeks to reclaim his number one ranking. These points become critical.

Traditionally, Federer has been a rock in this tournament. Not many have shoved him aside in the past five years, although David Nalbandian snatched the trophy away in 2005. 

That guy Nalbandian is a real pain in the keister for our good man! Always ruining Roger’s runs…

Only Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras have won more Masters Cup Championships with five each. A win this year would propel Roger to five wins, allowing him to join these two former number ones. 

Federer with four titles is tied with Ilie Nastase, the mad Romanian.   

Since 2000 Roger holds the record for the most appearances in the tournament with six—and the highest winning percentage at 89.6%. 

He is the only man to have won the tournament three times going undefeated. Along the way, Federer overcame Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi, James Blake and David Ferrer in the finals in 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007, respectively. 

This year Roger, as the number one seed in the Red Group, faces baby-faced Gilles Simon in the first round.  

Ironically, Simon knocked Federer out in the opening round of the Roger’s Cup in Toronto. This will be their first meeting since that rueful day.

He must also face Andy Murray—the hottest player since the U.S. Open—and Andy Roddick in trying to win out in the Red Group. These players have all defeated Roger this year. 

The members of the Gold Group led by the second seed Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Juan Del Potro have all lost to Roger this year! So why couldn’t he have drawn these players? The fates are conspiring.

Sigh—Roger will have his hands full – but then he always does.  We are speaking of the top ranked men in professional tennis.  I suppose if you are number one—you should beat everybody else. That stands to reason. 

But luck has got to sit on your shoulder sometimes…

It is going to be interesting to see which players break out early. The action begins on Sunday with the Gold Group. Monday Federer and the red group are in action for the first time. 

Gold Group:  Sunday, November 9, 2008
N. Djokovic (SRB) vs JM del Potro (ARG)
N. Davydenko (RUS) vs JW Tsonga (FRA)

Red Group: Monday, November 10, 2008
R. Federer (SUI) vs G. Simon (FRA)
A. Murray (GBR) vs A. Roddick (USA)

 (photo by Quentin Shih)