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Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer LIVE: Updates from the Shanghai Masters final
Nadal and Federer are back at the top of tennis after some time in the background.
And after a clean sweep of the Grand Slams between them this year they have stepped up again in Shanghai.
Nadal, world No1, came into the week having won in Beijing at the China Open last week.
And the Spaniard has roared through this week beating Marin Cilic in the semi-final yesterday.
Federer dispatched Juan Martin Del Potro in a three-setter to set up the blockbuster final.
Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer LIVE updates
Rafael Nadal 2 – 4 Roger Federer
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Federer romps to a hold to love.
His serving too good and too brutal for Nadal in this one.
Rafael Nadal 2 – 3 Roger Federer
Nadal is getting into this a bit more now. He’s finding the back of the court and making things harder for Federer.
The Swiss sends a few loose ones array and goes long and gets the net before a hammer of an ace brings the hold to 30.
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Rafael Nadal was taken aback by Roger Federer’s explosive start
Rafael Nadal 1 – 3 Roger Federer
Federer is gliding over the court right now.
A beautiful overhead smash has the crowed crowing again before a trademark backhand has Nadal looking desperate already.
He needs to get hold of this.
Federer does send one long for his first mis-hit of the day. A glimmer for Rafa?
Not in this game as Federer holds again to go 3-1 up.
Rafael Nadal 1 – 2 Roger Federer
Nadal starts his second service game well and looks on course to get himself on the board but it turns on its head in one fell swoop from Federer.
A mammoth return from from wide goes across Nadal and he can’t get anywhere near it. Sublime.
Nadal goes long again on the next point but manages to drag himself back ahead to hold and get on the scoreboard.
Rafael Nadal 0 – 2 Roger Federer
Incredible start from Federer. He protects the early break with a routine hold to 15.
Nadal is yet to find his line and goes long again and again.
Federer just needs to get these back in at the moment.
He has the advantage with the roof closed and he’s ramping up the pressure early on.
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Roger Federer started the Shanghai Masters final well
Rafael Nadal 0 – 1 Roger Federer
FEDERER BREAKS!
Nadal first to serve in the Shanghai Masters final.
His knee strapped as ever as he throws down the first couple of big serves to test out Federer.
Federer sends a wonderful baseline shot back beyond the Spaniard. Game on early here. No time to ease into it.
And Nadal comes up against an early break point at 15-40 after some wayward striking.
He fights back on the first one sending the Swiss into one corner then finding the other.
An ace gets Nadal out of trouble and back to deuce.
Federer has found his rhythm early on though and finds the line on one that looked long to bring up another break point. Nadal challenged but it was good.
And he coverts the break with a brilliant back hand down the line.
Here we go!
09.45: The players are ready to begin.
Should be a thriller.
The roof is shut!
09.40: Big development this morning as the roof in Shanghai is shut due to horrendous weather.
That makes Roger Federer big favourite this morning.
The players are out and warming up before this one now.
But Nadal will be disappointed to see the roof shut and know that he’s up against it now.
Do they hate each other?
09.30: TV coverage of the match is just about to start while we expect the action in about half an hour or so.
But before it gets underway we explore Nadal and Federer’s relationship and if they get on.
Nadal vs Federer: Do they hate each other?
Greg fancies Fed
09.15: Greg Rusedski fancies Federer – especially if the roof is closed.
“It is difficult to call,” Rusedski told Sky Sports.
“But you look at the stats – 5-1 indoors, if the roof is closed you’ve got to think Federer.
“The 5 is a little bit deceptive for Nadal because Federer has won the last three this year and I think the most important one was down under in Australia when he beat Nadal in that final.
“That gives him a little bit more authority. Plus the court surface is a little bit quicker.
“Will it go the distance? Possibly but I have a feeling it’s going to be Mr Federer’s day.”
Who is favourite?
09.00: Nadal and Federer are 5-5 over their last 10 meetings but Federer has claimed the last four in a row, not losing a match up since 2014.
But Nadal is on the surge this year and is back as world No1.
Annabel Croft thinks Nadal’s transformation over the last few months puts him in pole position.
“It’s such an exciting match and I feel that Nadal is a way better player than at the start of the year,” she said on Sky Sports.
“I think his tennis has gone up several degrees since we saw him in Miami and at Indian Wells and that five set thriller in the Australian Open.
“The key in those two matches in Miami and India Wells was the backhand side of Federer.
“Coming over that backhand and stepping in and taking charge of it. The court may help Federer tomorrow but I’m not sure, I think Nadal’s in a different place now.”
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Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer LIVE udpdates
Nadal on how he needs to play
08.45: Nadal believes he has to play at his highest level to stand a chance today.
Federer is favourite on hard courts but Nadal insists if he plays at his best he will get chances to get through.
“I’m going to do my thing,” he said.
“I know what I have to do. I know it’s very difficult, and especially in this kind of surface. But the most important thing for me is play at my highest level.
“If that happens, I hope to have my chances. If that doesn’t happen, the chances will be much less. But I am playing well, and I am focused on trying to make that happen.”
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Rafael Nadal has been in stunning form this season and hopes to get another win under his belt
Federer on Nadal
08.20: Federer admits Nadal helped him become a better player because he had to change and adapt things from his game to keep ahead.
“I don’t want to thank him for that, but he made me maybe rework my game and go back to the practice courts and think about what I could change maybe to become a better player,” Federer said.
“I think for that I’m happy about the losses I took. Took them on the chin and kept moving forward.
“It’s nice at this late stage of the career that we still have these matches going on.”
The breakdown
08.00: Nadal leads the head-to-head 34-14 but Federer has won the last four meetings between these two.
Both are indisputably greats in the sport and could go down as the greatest ever players.
Federer is closing in on 100 titles and hopes to secure more this season before wrapping up.
Today gives him the opportunity with most pundits giving him the slight edge.
Greg Rusedski thinks if the roof is closed Federer is in the driving seat.
And Juan Martin del Potro thinks the court benefits Federer.
Nadal though has come into his own and has cranked up a level or two over the last few months.
ATP
Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer LIVE updates
7.45: Welcome to our coverage of the Shanghai Masters final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
This is all set to be a thriller after a great week of tennis.
Federer has won the last four meetings between these two but Nadal has gone up another level over the last few months.
He won the US Open in spectacular fashion and has risen to No1 in the world again.
Both men will feel they have the edge making it another fascinating match up.
Stay tuned for it here.
