Published>Fri, Nov 26 10 03:26 AM
Roger Federer rarely requires luck but he enjoyed a helpful slice of that precious commodity as he reached the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals on Thursday with a 7-6 6-3 victory over Sweden's Robin Soderling.
The arithmetic of Group B at the eight-man tournament meant unbeaten Federer only needed a set against Soderling to become the first player into the last four and he achieved that when his opponent's judgement error gifted him the opening tiebreak.
Soderling, who can now head for a rest in Monte Carlo after being eliminated, had pinned Federer into the corner with a powerful forehand at 5-6 but instead of simply volleying away the Swiss's floaty backhand he elected to leave it.
To his horror it did not drift long but caught the sideline.
"It was just one of those kind of floater balls," Federer, whose game looks in great shape, explained. "It wasn't a slice. Wasn't a topspin. The problem is you doubt yourself for a second... it's the worst feeling in the world when you leave a shot like that, you have a split second to decide, and then see it go in. I got lucky on that shot."
"Unfortunate for him but I should have maybe closed the set out earlier. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened at 6-6."
Federer's next stroke of luck came on his serve at break point down in the opening game of the second set when Soderling fired what appeared to be forehand winner. The 16-times grand slam champion promptly challenged the call.
VIDEO VERDICT
The thumping "pulse" sound effect reverberated around the darkened O2 Arena as the fans and players waited for Hawkeye's video verdict and again Lady Luck favoured Federer as Soderling's effort was shown to have missed by a fraction.
"Against a player like Roger you need to have a little bit of luck to win," Soderling said. "I definitely didn't have the luck on my side today. I'm not saying I would have won but those two points were really big and I needed both of them."
Federer, whose only blip in 15 previous match-ups with the world number four had been in the quarter-finals of this year's French Open, had plenty in reserve and he treated the fans to some sublime shot-making as he closed it out in 88 minutes.
In the eighth game of the second set he reached break point with a forehand winner after sending Soderling side to side across the baseline with a barrage of spin and he converted it with a dipping backhand that his opponent scuffed into the net.
Minutes later the players were shaking hands with world number two Federer confirmed as Group B winner and still on track for the $1.6 million jackpot for an undefeated champion.
"I'm happy I was able to come out today and play a good, tough, solid match against a player who I thought was in good shape," Federer, who can match Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras by winning the season-ender for fifth time, said.
"I purposely didn't want to know the calculations before today's match. Losing is never a solution to trying to win a tournament. That's why I'm happy that all three matches, straight sets, no wasted energy. I'm playing really well.
"But the tournament's not over yet. This is really when it starts for me," added Federer, who was knocked out in the semi-finals by Nikolay Davydenko last year.
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