LONDON: Roger Federer stayed in the hunt for a semi-final spot at the ATP World Tour Finals yesterday when he beat Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-3 in round-robin play.
The 81-minute win meant that Federer avoided the embarrassment of losing two straight group matches in a row for the first time at the year-end event after the six-time champion was beaten by Novak Djokovic in his opening match.
Federer still needed six match points to get the job done in an afternoon of 29 winners and 30 unforced errors as he broke Gasquet in a marathon final game.
The 17-time Grand Slam winner wasted his first five match points with unforced errors before Gasquet put a return wide.
“Today was just a battle for myself, making sure I move the right way, I play the right way, I have the right shot selection,” said Federer.
“Richard does a good job of making you feel uncomfortable; he uses heights, spins really well. He likes extended rallies.
“But I guess those are the kind of matches I need right now -- straight sets against a good player. It clearly comes at the right time.”
Federer, playing the season finale for the 12th consecutive year, earned his 11th win over the Frenchman from 13 matches.
He has now won a record 43 matches at season wrap-up tournaments; Gasquet dropped to 1-4 at the finals on his second appearance.
Federer will fight for his spot against del Potro, whom he beat in Paris last weekend.
“That win was big for me, he did beat me three times indoors straight, the Basel finals twice, and also here last year,” said the Swiss.
“I’m glad I got one back in Paris because I knew we could be again in the same group, we could be playing each other. Think that win for me in Paris psychologically was very important. I could beat top 10 guys, I beat Richard, I beat Juan Martin last week.
“My confidence is higher, and that’s what I need to beat the best, and Juan Martin is part of that group honestly.”
Federer was momentarily rocked at the start as Gasquet won the first six points before the Swiss gathered his resources in the must-win contest.
The 32-year-old came from 0-30 in the second game to hold and then seized a break for 2-1.
Federer lost his lead in the eighth game as he saved one break point but sent a backhand wide to bring Gasquet level at 4-4.
The Swiss broke straight back for 5-4 and set up three set points a game later with his third ace.
The longtime London crowd favourite converted on his first to take the early lead after 34 minutes.
Federer began the second set with a break and stayed in charge throughout despite struggling with his consistency before closing out victory.
The win was his 44th of the season.
Meanwhile, Federer called for more drug tests in tennis on Thursday, claiming players are not tested enough.
The Swiss took time yesterday to reflect on the fall-out from the Viktor Troicki affair after beating Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-3 to keep alive his hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals.
“I just feel like we’re not getting maybe tested enough,” said the six-time year-end champion.
“I didn’t get tested in Basel, in Paris (October). I got tested here after the first match.
“I feel there needs to be more testing done. I feel like I used to get tested more, I think I was tested 25 times in 2003, 2004. Ever since, I think it’s been clearly going down this season.”
Federer spoke after outrage from Djokovic over the ban handed to his fellow Serb Troicki for skipping a blood test after feeling poorly and coming back to do it the next day in Monte Carlo.
It was a transgression which originally cost him an 18-month suspension before it was cut to 12 months earlier this week.
Croatian Marin Cilic last month completed three months out of the game for accidentally ingesting a banned substance through glucose tablets.
While Djokovic said he no longer trusts the anti-doping system, Federer took the opposite approach, along with Andy Murray, out injured from the year-end event, who tweeted: “Read and respect the rules and everything is very simple.”
Federer added: “Overall I trust the system. I think they’re all very professional. I just think it’s very important that they treat us like normal human beings, not criminals.
“It’s fine to treat a guy bad if the guy tested positive, the guy needs to feel the pain, but not if you haven’t done anything yet. That, to me, seems like that’s the case. So I appreciate that.”
AFP
