Shanghai Rolex Masters 2010: Roger Federer versus John Isner - Match Preview
A total of eight top ten contenders will be in action at the Shanghai Rolex Masters on today’s schedule of the play.
First up on the stadium court will be Ernests Gulbis from Latvia who will take on Richard Gasquet of France in an all unseeded encounter. The Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer will take on the court in the final battle of the
day against big serving John Isner from the United States of America. The twenty nine year old Federer has triumphed in the pair’s only clash and has also performed extremely well in Shanghai before, capturing the crown on two occasions back in 2006 as well
as 2007. The Fed Express also reached the finals here back in 2005.
The Swiss is playing his first match of the tournament which would also be his first appearance since making his way into the semi final round of the year’s final Grand Slam, the United States Open in New York where he was defeated
by Novak Djokovic of Serbia. Prior to that, Federer grabbed his 90th career title by winning the Cincinnati masters after getting the better of Mardy Fish. He currently enjoys a match record of 44-11 on the season. His other crown came towards the
start of this year in Melbourne when he secured his sixteen Grand Slam trophy at the Australian open after beating Andy Murray.
In August, the right hander made his way into the finals in Toronto where he was bundled out by Andy Murray in straight sets. It was his first championship of the United States summer since advancing into the final eight at the
grass court Grand Slam back in June. Federer was also a finalist in Madrid and Halle. The Swiss tennis ace has contested in a total of nine competitions since capturing his Australian Open crown. He has been ranked number one for a record two hundred and eighty
five weeks in his career. Federer dropped down to number two after his quarter final defeat at the French Open. He further went down to number three after his final eight loss at the grass court Grand Slam back in July.
The heavy hitting American John Isner on the other hand prevented a total of seven match points in his opening match at Shanghai Rolex on Tuesday against Lukasz Kubot. The final match score was 46 76(9) 76(7). The twenty five year
old American has reached a career high four finals in 2010. The Tampa resident currently enjoys a match record of 35-20 on the season. He is coming off his semi final appearance at the China Open Men’s singles competition in Beijing where he was defeated by
the ultimate winner Novak Djokovic in straight sets. Isner also lead the ATP tour in number of aces as he has fired a total of nine hundred and thirty one so far in 2010. The American won his first career crown in Auckland after dismissing Clement and next
month reached the finals in Memphis where he was crushed by his compatriot fellow Sam Querrey.
Isner has a lifetime record of 4-12 against the top ten foes and he registered his first top ten victory of the season in the quarter final battle at the China Open last week against Nikolay Davydenko. He was also voted by his
fellow contenders as the ATP Most Improved Contender of the season back in 2009 after improving his ranking from number 145 to number thirty four in the world.
Other notable players taking the courts on Tuesday include the World number one Rafael Nadal, Robin Soderling of Sweden, last year’s winner Nikolay Davydenko, David Ferrer, Andy Roddick along with Mikhail Youzhny.
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