Roger Federer back from brink to seal No. 1 record
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SHANGHAI (AFP) - Roger Federer survived a huge scare on Thursday to reach the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals and guarantee a record 300th week as world number one as Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray showed ominous form.
The Swiss 17-time Grand Slam champion came into the match against compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka with an enviable 11-1 head-to-head record but struggled to impose himself and was forced to dig deep before winning 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0.
In a gripping contest lasting nearly two hours, Wawrinka missed a golden chance when he failed to make the most of a break point opportunity at 4-4 in the second set that, if taken, would have left him serving for the match.
"I consider myself a little lucky. I never stopped believing, pushed till the end, then got off to a good start in the third set. Basically that was it," said Federer, bidding to win a record 22nd Masters crown.
