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SPORTS Monday 16 october 2017

Federer beats Nadal to win Shanghai Masters title

By SANDRA HARWITT moving him into a tie with
Associated Press Ivan Lendl in second place
SHANGHAI (AP) — Roger on the Open era list.
Federer extended his win- Nadal arrived on court
ning streak over Rafael with a bandage under his
Nadal this year to four right knee, the same leg
matches after beating the he twice smacked with his
top-ranked Spaniard 6-4, racket after losing his serve
6-3 to win the Shanghai for the first time this week in
Masters on Sunday. the semifinal.
The Swiss 19-time grand Federer said he was sur-
slam winner, who still trails prised to see the wrap and
Nadal 23-15 in their over- didn’t feel Nadal was strug-
all head-to-head record, gling with his movement.
didn’t face a break point In his post-match press con-
and started and ended the ference, Nadal elected not
match with service breaks. to discuss the knee injury,
“I don’t know what my ex- saying, “I don’t want to talk
pectations were going in,” about that now, sorry, but
Federer said. “I thought I after losing final is not the
might struggle early on be- moment.” When asked if
cause it was a late finish last he would play upcoming
night. Roger Federer of Switzerland poses with his winner trophy after defeating Rafael Nadal of Spain in tournaments in Basel, Swit-
“I had no nerves before the the men’s singles final match of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports zerland and Paris, Nadal
match, surprisingly. I think I City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. refused to confirm his par-
was pretty clear about how Associated Press ticipation. Federer took
I wanted to play the match. nals at the moment... You last five encounters be- match for me of the week. advantage of a third break
I started off very well and can’t win them all against tween the pair dating back When somebody plays bet- point in the first game of
relaxed from then on.” Rafa, to be honest. He’s to the 2015 Basel final, also ter than you, sport is not the match with a winning
Despite his dominance in too good of a player,” Fe- beat Nadal in the Austra- very difficult. That’s the real backhand passing shot. He
2017, Federer doesn’t rate derer said. lian Open final, a round of thing, no? When you play broke Nadal’s serve again
his chances of catching Federer took advantage of 16 match at Indian Wells against somebody that is on a second break point in
Nadal in their head-to- three of seven break point and the Miami final this better than you in most of the fifth game of the sec-
head record. opportunities in the match year. the things that really mat- ond set when Nadal sailed
“It’s not going to happen. to snap Nadal’s 16-game “Have been a very difficult ters in this sport, in this kind a backhand crosscourt
We don’t have enough winning streak, which in- match for me,” Nadal said. of surface, then it’s tough- wide. In the final game,
years left on the tour. We cluded his China Open vic- “He played very fast and er.” Nadal netted a forehand
ranked too good so we tory last week. he played well. The Shanghai Masters is at 15-40 to end the 72-min-
play each other only in fi- Federer, who has won the “Of course was not the best Federer’s 94th career title, ute match.q

Pavlyuchenkova overcomes bad

weather to win in Hong Kong

HONG KONG (AP) — An- was maybe lucky a little seeded Gavrilova fought
astasia Pavlyuchenkova of bit in the end.” The match back to break Pavlyuchen-
Russia won her third WTA started after 9 p.m. local kova in the seventh game
singles title of the year on time after it was delayed and again in the ninth
Sunday, beating Daria by several hours because when Pavlyuchenkova was
Gavrilova of Australia 5-7, of a typhoon warning that serving for the set. Finding
6-3, 7-6 (3) in the Hong lasted most of the day in her stride, Gavrilova took
Kong Open final. “This Hong Kong. the opener. Pavlyuchen-
morning we were ready The windy conditions made kova again had a 3-0 lead
to share this trophy and I late-night play difficult at in the second set before
actually think we both de- both ends of the court with receiving medical treat-
serve this trophy,” sixth- a total of 103 unforced er- ment at the changeover. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia celebrates after defeated
seeded Pavlyuchenkova rors — 62 by Pavlyuchen- Gavrilova tried once again Daria Gavrilova of Australia winning the final match at the Hong
said after the match lasting kova. The 21st-ranked Pav- to come back but went off Kong Open tennis tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday, Oct. 15,
3 hours, 11 minutes. “It was lyuchenkova went ahead court to receive treatment 2017.
a really close match, just I 3-0 in the first set. Seventh- at 5-2 down.q Associated Press