2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters; Roger Federer versus Novak Djokovic – Match Preview
The 2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters will feature two top ranked players in action for the second semi final clash on Saturday. World number three Roger Federer will take on the second ranked Novak Djokovic of Serbia on the Stadium
Court in Shanghai. They previously faced each other in the semi final round of the year’s final Grand Slam, the United States Open in New York where Djokovic toppled the Swiss in five sets to confirm his spot in the finals. Roger however leads the pair’s
head to head encounter at 10-6.
The twenty nine year old Federer has reached the semi final round in Shanghai without even dropping a single set this week. He lost his serve only on a single occasion in twenty seven games. The Swiss is playing in Shanghai for
the very first time in his career and started off his tournament’s campaign with a two setter victory over John Isner from the United States of America. The final match score was 6-3, 6-4.
He made his way into the final four battle after surpassing the world number five Robin Soderling on Friday. Federer has lost against the top ten players only on ten occasions in his 127 lifetime victories. He enjoys a good record
in the Qizhong Tennis Center, when the Tennis Masters Cup was contested here from 2005 to 2008. The Swiss captured the trophies back in 2006 as well as in 2007 while reached the finals back in 2005.
The Swiss native is competing in his ninth semi final or better in fourteen events in 2010. He stands at 5-3 in the semi final clashes whereas 2-3 in the title battle this season. The right hander enjoys a match record of 47-11
on the year and a lifetime mark of 127-63 against the top ten foes. This is his first championship since making his way into the semi final round of the United States Open last month in New York where the Swiss was eventually defeated by the world number two
Novak Djokovic in five sets.
Prior to his Flushing Meadows appearance, Federer won the title in Cincinnati. It was his 90th career ATP World Tour title. He also advanced into the finals of the Rogers Cup back in August this season in Toronto where
he was toppled by Andy Murray in two sets. It was his first championship of the United States summer season since advancing into the quarters at Wimbledon back in June.
The Swiss maestro, who is the owner of sixteen Grand Slam titles, is currently ranked number three in the world. He is the only contender in the history of the game to end number one or two on seven occasions in a row.
Djokovic on the other hand, stands at 6-1 mark at the championship and lost a total of thirteen games in his opening three victories over Ivan Ljubicic, Richard Gasquet and Guillermo Garcia Lopez. The Serbian last year advanced
into the semi finals here after getting the better of Gilles Simon before losing to Davydenko in three sets.
The World number two is appearing in his eighth semi final or better this year in his 16th championship. He enjoys a record of 3-4 in the semis in 2010. Djokovic is coming off his title victory in Beijing where he brushed
aside David Ferrer in the final of the China Open to successfully defend his title in a rain delayed match. Earlier in March, he also triumphed in Dubai after surpassing Youzhny in straight sets. The Serbian was also a finalist in this season’s U.S Open and
has a lifetime record of 37-46 versus the top ten players on the tour. Both, Federer and Djokovic have grabbed two titles each so far this year.
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