Federer survives Roddick scare in Shanghai

World number one Roger Federer survived a three match point scare to keep his perfect record in Masters Cup round robin matches intact in a 4-6 7-6 6-4 win over a fired-up Andy Roddick yesterday.

American Roddick served as only he can to hustle Federer out of his comfort zone and win the first set before earning three match points in a thrilling second-set tiebreak, forcing the Swiss to come back from 4-1 down to win 10-8.

"Early on in the tiebreak already when I was down 4-1 and him serving I thought, well, probably not my day, I'm not playing that great and he's not giving me a chance, so I guess that's it," said Federer.

"But I told myself maybe I can make him nervous by just staying along and in the match... but it was really close, that's for sure."

After the 2003 and 2004 champion virtually assured his passage to the semi-finals, Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic kept his hopes alive with a 5-7 7-6 7-5 victory over 2005 champion David Nalbandian.

All four players in the Red Group still have a chance of reaching the semi-finals but Roddick described his eighth successive defeat by Federer as "very frustrating".

The 24-year-old strode on court with a clear sense of purpose and was soon dashing to the net behind his big serves in an attempt to unsettle Federer.

Sometimes it worked and sometimes it opened him up to the nine-times grand slam winner's shots, which were particularly devastating from the backhand.

Federer had three set points at 5-4 in the second set but Roddick grabbed three of his own in the tiebreak, which the Swiss saved before levelling the match when the American charged the net only to fluff his volley.

Another backhand winner gave Federer a break early in the third set and he converted his second match point with an ace after just under two and a half hours.

Ljubicic, who lost his opener to Roddick, also came from behind to beat Nalbandian in a tough contest which went on well past midnight.

The Argentine broke for 6-5 before serving out to claim the first set and went a break up in the first game of the second.

Ljubicic forced his way back into the contest, however, by breaking back and claimed a close tiebreak 9-7 with one of the 30 aces he served in the match.

The deciding set was also close and went with serve until an error from Nalbandian gave Ljubicic a 6-5 lead and he served out to love when the world number seven netted a return.

Kim Clijsters said again she would retire next year and scoffed at a suggestion she might play in the 2008 Olympics. The 23-year-old Belgian, who has been blighted by a wrist injury, said she would select some "nice tournaments" for 2007 "which will become my final year for sure". Next year, Clijsters plans to marry American basketball player Brian Lynch, who is with her home team Bree in the east of Belgium.