2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters 1000: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic prepare for battle
As predicted, expected and hoped, Switzerland's Roger Federer got through with Sweden's Robin Soderling in the quarter-finals of the 2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters 1000, to be opposed by Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals
of the championship.
Seeded no. 5 at the tournament, Soderling lost a humiliating 1-6, 1-6 to Federer in the quarter-final match played between the two. Earlier, the Swede defeated Spain's David Ferrer, 7-5 and 6-4, two sets in a row, to make it through
to the next round.
Meanwhile, Djokovic deleted Spain's Guillermo García-López from the tournament, thrashing him 6-2 and 6-3, to mark a straight set win. López had annihilated Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych 7-6 and 6-3 in the third round, prior to
his quarter-final loss.
Not long ago, Djokovic proved that his on and off court buffoonery isn't all he has to offer, as he triumphed over Federer in the semi-finals of the 2010 U.S. Open. Seeded no. 2 at the championship, Roger got off to a good start,
taking the first set 7-5. Novak however, reciprocated with a 6-1 win in the second. Similar to his first set win, the Swiss man bagged the third set 7-5.
Unfortunately for Federer, it was all downhill from there on, as Djoko took the fourth set 6-2. Furthermore, it was the 7-5 win in the deciding fifth set that brought a close to the historical match.
Prior to making it through to the semis, Roger eliminated Soderling in the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open to face Nole. Robin was defeated, 6-4, 6-4 and 6-5 by the Swiss maestro. Along the side of which, Djokovic got rid of Frenchman
Gael Monfils in his draw, beating him 7-6, 6-1 and 6-2, in straight sets to proceed at the championship.
Djoko went on to play the championship final against Spain's Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard initiated the match, taking the first set 6-5. Nole responded with a 7-5 win in the second. However, that seemed to have been all he had to
offer, as Rafa went on to take the third set 6-4, followed by a 6-3 win in the deciding fourth set, to clinch the championship title.
In spite of Federer's wounds still being fresh and Nole being in top form, the Shanghai Masters semi-final could swing either way. The professional to make it through will either be opposed by Argentina's Juan Monaco or Britain's Andy Murray in the finals.
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