Timeless Federer puts one over great rival

– Roger Federer (right) said he “saved the best for last” after he beat great rival Rafael Nadal for the fifth time in succession here to win the Shanghai Masters yesterday.

The surprisingly one-sided 6-4, 6-3 victory over the world No 1 from Spain brought a 94th title for the Swiss legend, drawing him level with the great Ivan Lendl.

Nadal, who admitted afterwards he had been defeated by the better man on the night, was ahead in their overall head-tohead record going into the clash – 23 wins to Federer’s 14.

But this time he was up against it almost right away.

No 2 Federer put broke the Spamiard in the first game.

Another break to 36-year-old Federer in the fifth game of the second set put him in reach of a second Shanghai Masters crown – and a sixth title in 2017.

Federer, who has been managing his schedule to wring the best out of his ageing body, said he had improved as the week went on and felt he had hit peak form.

“It’s been a tough week, five straight matches is always a test and a challenge for anybody’s body,” he said.

“I felt I was playing well all week and that settled my nerves because I was returning well from the match here against (Diego) Schwartzman (in his opener).”

Nadal, 31, was fresh from winning the US Open and China Open.

Somewhere in the stadium somebody rattled a cow bell and Federer responded by making it 4-2 with two booming aces in a row.

In contrast, Nadal – a 16-time Grand Slam winner who has never won here –was labouring through his service games.

There were suggestions that Federer might not be quite as fresh as his younger foe, having been pushed to three sets a day earlier in the second semifinal against Juan Martin del Potro.

The timeless Federer rubbished that notion as he seared his way to a 5-3 first-set lead.

Nadal sent down his fourth ace for 5-4, only for Federer to seal the set with his seventh ace of the match.

There was little between the great rivals in the early exchanges of the second set until the fifth game.

Nadal saved the first break point but could not survive the second one, which put Federer in touch of the title. – AFP