Federer is the man to beat. The others may be eager, but as the US Open proved, Federer’s hunger has not dimmed.
Federer is the man to beat. The others may be eager, but as the US Open proved, Federer’s hunger has not dimmed.
The big question appears to be, now that World No. 1 Rafael Nadal is out of the Shanghai masters with a tricky knee, is the tournament wide open or a sure shot for world number 2, Roger Federer? It’s a lame question, actually. For one thing, Nadal has never made it to further than a semi-final in the two showings he’s made in final prestigious tennis event of the year - the Masters Cup. Both times Nadal was defeated by Roger Federer. Federer is not only the defending champion — he has four Tennis Masters trophies (defeating David Ferrer in 2007, James Blake in 2006, Lleyton Hewitt in 2004 and Andre Agassi in 2003). He lost the final once to David Nalbandian in a thrilling five-setter in 2005.
That would make Federer the clear favourite, whether Nadal plays or not. But the rest of the field is not to be scoffed at. In Andy Murray, Juan Martin Del Potro and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga it contains three of the hottest young names in men’s tennis today.
There are two war-horses - Andy Roddick and Nikolay Davydenko. There’s the world number 3, Novak Djokovic. And the surprise of the year, Gilles Simon, whose dogged determination on display lately has impressed many.
Tsonga was runner-up at the Australian Open at the beginning of the year, Murray at the US Open, the last slam of the year. Del Potro has had a dream run, winning four titles in a row. Davydenko with three titles, including the Masters in Miami, has had a good year. And Roddick is Roddick, who also has three titles to his name having just won the China Open.
The Masters Cup is a round robbin tournament and the Gold Group plays on Sunday, where Djokovic will meet Del Potro and Davydenko meets Tsonga. Federer heads the Red Group, where the only player he has a winning record against is Roddick (you could say he has Roddick’s number). He was defeated by Simon the only time they played in Canada this year and has a 2-3 win-loss against Murray, who just defeated Federer in Madrid.
As is his won’t — the travails of this year notwithstanding — Federer walks out on to the courts of Shanghai as the man to beat. If he wins five, he joins an elite club of Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras. The others may be eager, but as the US Open proved, Federer’s hunger has not dimmed. The best man will win.
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