ATP Finals Flashback: Roger Federer downs James Blake to restore the order

After a dominant display in 2004 and 2005, Roger Federer went even further in 2006. The Swiss claimed 12 titles and 92 victories from 97 matches, standing far ahead of Rafael Nadal and other rivals and turning the men's professional tennis into a one-person show. Roger won three Majors and four Masters 1000 crowns, conquering the season's final 29 encounters following the Cincinnati loss to Andy Murray. Federer was the last man standing at the US Open, Tokyo, Madrid, Basel and the Masters Cup in Shanghai, where he reclaimed the trophy lost to David Nalbandian in a thrilling final a year ago. Interestingly, Federer lost the opening set against Nalbandian in the 2006 Masters Cup campaign before winning sets two and three with ease for a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory and a positive start. The second round-robin clash was even tougher, and Roger prevailed against Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 in two and a half hours. The Swiss fended off three match points in the second set to extend his winning streak before a 7-6, 6-4 triumph over Ivan Ljubicic to top the group standings and set Rafael Nadal clash in the semis. Rafa fought well (he defeated Roger four times that year), although it wasn't enough to overpower the Swiss, who claimed a 6-4, 7-5 triumph in an hour and 53 minutes.

Thus, Federer advanced to his fourth straight Masters Cup final, becoming the first player to achieve that since Ivan Lendl in 1987! There, Federer took down James Blake 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 37 minutes on November 19 for the third title at this event in the last four years, finishing the season on a high note. It was the sixth meeting between Roger and James and the sixth win for the Swiss, already the fourth and most dominant one in 2006 after triumphs at Indian Wells, Miami and the US Open. The American had a great season behind him, playing in the eighth final and standing right there with Rafael Nadal and Nikolay Davydenko despite missing a chance to lift the sixth title in what was the most important clash of his career. Roger was the player on the mission that day, winning 33 points more than his rival and fending off ten out of 11 break chances in three different service games to keep the pressure on James and wrap up the victory in no time.

In 2006, Roger Federer claimed the third Masters Cup title in four years.

Blake hit only four aces and lost half of the points in his games to play against 13 break chances and suffer six breaks, making the worst start and failing to convert the opportunities he created later in the encounter. They had a similar number of unforced errors, but Roger was much more efficient in the winners department, hitting almost 40 and keeping Blake below 20. The Swiss cemented his backhand to have the upper hand in most rallies, blasting 30 service winners against only 16 from James. The former champion forged the lead in the shortest points and an even bigger one in the mid-range exchanges, where he completely silenced Blake's forehand. The more experienced player kicked off the match with a break in the second game, cementing it with three winners in the next one for a 3-0 lead.

James was 40-15 up in the fourth game but was yet to get his name on the scoreboard, suffering another break after a backhand winner from Federer, who fended off five break chances a few minutes later, closing the game with a service winner to keep his serve intact. The set was over after the Swiss' return winner at 5-0, wrapping up the first part of the encounter in 26 minutes and setting the perfect ground for the remaining sets. Roger held at love with a service winner at the beginning of the second set and missed a chance to clinch the eighth straight game after squandering two break opportunities in game two, with Blake finally placing his name on the scoreboard. James could have moved in front for the first time, but Roger stayed focused in game three and repelled four break opportunities - three with winners - to keep his serve intact.

Gathering momentum, Federer moved 3-1 up after breaking the American and clinched the set with a forehand winner at 5-3, looking sharp and determined to finish the job in set number three. The third set's third game secured another break for Roger, overpowering James in the backhands exchange to win all four points and make another big step towards the finish line. Blake saved a break chance the next time he served to avoid an even more significant deficit, but Federer secured that second break with a backhand down the line winner in the seventh game, jumping into a 5-2 lead and serving for the title in the game that followed. That turned out to be the worst service game from Roger in the entire match, spraying a forehand error to get broken at 15 and allowing Blake to reduce the deficit to 4-5 with four winners in game nine. There were no mistakes from Federer in game ten, delivering four winners to take the set 6-4 and finish his 2006 duties with the Masters Cup trophy in his hands. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3li4q31