Masters Cup

Red Group:

G SIMON (Fra) bt R FEDERER (Swi

4-6 6-4 6-3

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the action

By Piers Newbery

1222:That's your lot for Federer and Simon, but my colleague Chris Bevan will be taking you through Andy Murray's opening match against Andy Roddick in a few minutes' time.

1221: "Simon never doubted his own talents, played absolutely beautifully and thoroughly deserves his place here. What an upset on day two. It doesn't get much better than this."
Times correspondent Neil Harman on 5 Live Sports Extra

Third set:

Federer 3-6 Simon
It's the same story for Federer, who sticks a volley in the net and a forehand long to put Simon in charge at 30-0. The Swiss keeps the pressure up with a chip and charge, forcing the error from Simon. The Frenchman shocks everyone with a serve-volley and it pays off when Federer puts an attempted backhand pass in the net. An ace follows and it's a huge upset for Simon.

Federer 3-5 Simon
Guess what - Federer gets himself in trouble at with a desperate forehand at 15-15. Simon then smashes a cross-court backhand to earn two break points and takes the second with a forehand into the corner. It looks like the Frenchman is going to score the biggest win of his career.

1214: Disappointingly, we have had no repeat so far of yesterday's blaring music at the changeovers. My Sunday was brightened up with the cutting edge sounds of Bon Jovi, Huey Lewis, and Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, among others. Hopefully the PA will be back up and running for Murray and Roddick, who will be on after this match.

Federer 3-4 Simon
It's so often the way - after missing three break points a despondent Simon double-faults and shanks a forehand to fall 0-40 down. Federer attacks the net and Simon does brilliantly to get his feet out of the way and hook a forehand pass down the line, before hitting an ace. One more chance for Federer, and the dodgy forehand returns as he endangers the ball boy with a wild one. Simon then lifts a beauty of a backhand lob over the in-rushing Federer, and the Swiss hits woeful forehand number 367 of the day to give up the game. The tennis is alternately brilliant and dreadful - fantastic entertainment.

Federer 3-3 Simon
The Federer forehand fails again. He's had real trouble today with what is usually his best shot - arguably the best in the game. Simon then finds an outrageous winner for 0-30, and forces a volley error for 0-40. Federer digs deep with a big serve, a forehand winner, and a sublime backhand volley. Great stuff from the champion. With the pressure on, the first serves are suddenly flowing and Federer grabs what could be a crucial hold.

1202: "If Federer manages to play all his games, I predict he will lose all. I suspect all is not well with his back and its better he withdraws after today's loss."
From Aussie_Ahmed on 606

Federer 2-3 Simon
Having started the day volleying like me, after one hour and 47 minutes of practice, Simon is now doing a good impression of Pat Rafter at the net. He plays the sweetest of backhand drop volleys followed by a solid forehand volley and moves ahead again.

Federer 2-2 Simon
Federer opens with a double-fault, to groans from around the Qi Jhong Stadium and a look of absolute disdain from girlfriend Mirka in the stands. She's had enough of watching her man struggle, surely. Oh for the days of three Grand Slams a year. Still, Rog gets back on track with a stunning forehand into the corner and he holds to 30.

Federer 1-2 Simon
A beautiful wrong-footing forehand gets Federer to 15-15 but Simon cracks away a drive-volley and a big serve on his way to another comfortable hold.

Federer 1-1 Simon
Simon fails to put any pressure on the Federer serve just when the Swiss appears vulnerable. It's a very welcome love hold for the defending champion.

Federer 0-1 Simon
Simon holds with ease to 15 and strolls to his chair looking a lot happier. Federer, meanwhile, seems a bit forlorn.

1055: "Federer hasn't had a bad year by his extremely high standards but the one that took us by surprise was the French Open final, when he was completely annihilated by Nadal and won just four games."
Times correspondent Neil Harman on 5 Live Sports Extra

Second set:

Federer 4-6 Simon
It's been a strange, strange morning. Federer tanks yet another forehand to find himself 30-40 down but takes control of the crucial rally at set-point down. He gets two chances to punch away volleys but takes neither, and Simon capitalises by drifting a backhand volley of his own into the corner. Cue a huge leap and "Allez!" from the French debutant.

1141:Our friends at the ATP inform me that poor old Andy missed out on the photo opportunity because of travel arrangements. Still, he's been in his fair share.

1139: "I noticed that Roddick was missing (see 4-4 entry) while checking out the official website last night. He was in other photos though, does anyone know where he went?"
From Sarah A via text on 81111

1139: "Alas poor Andy R. where is he?"
From anon via text on 81111

1139: "Yes i noticed that they left out the A ROD! Hilarious as he is the most marketable of them all!"
From John via text on 81111

Federer 4-5 Simon
Federer finds his volleying, er, hands (?) to get to 15-30 with a deft sliced forehand that Simon cannot keep in court. The Frenchman recovers coolly though, sealing the game with an unplayable forehand volley of his own. He's getting better at those, you know.

Federer 4-4 Simon
Yikes. Federer plays two points that I would be embarrassed by. Honest. On the first he sticks a very straightforward smash into the middle of the net, and on the second he plays a woeful forehand volley that barely reaches the net. Simon runs around his backhand at 15-30 and absolutely hammers a forehand down the line, and it's two break points. The Frenchman misses by a whisker with a backhand on the first and by a mile on the second, when Federer has given him a chance with another dodgy volley.

Things get no better for the Swiss at deuce though, as he sticks a drive-volley into the net, but on the third break point of the game Simon falters first in a lengthy rally. Simon gets back to deuce two points later with some fantastic scrambling, returning a Federer smash before passing the Swiss at the net with a fizzing cross-court backhand. Federer finally gets out of trouble with some decent serving but it's hard going.

The official photo for the ATP Tennis Masters Cup

And for those of you who didn't see it yesterday and have the relevant technology, here is the official publicity photo for the Masters Cup. Can you spot the error?

Federer 3-3 Simon
Better stuff in this game, Federer thumping an unstoppable forehand down the line for 30-15 and taking the game with a trip to the net.

Federer 2-3 Simon
As the match gets scrappier it gets more exciting. Both players are struggling to string together winners at the moment and from deuce, a couple of wayward Federer groundstrokes give Simon the game.

Federer 2-2 Simon
It's Federer's turn to feel the pressure at 15-30 but the Swiss rises to the challenge, taking control of the rally, although Simon does hit the net post with an attempted pass. The Swiss follows up with a shocker of a forehand and it's break point for Simon, but Federer hits a huge serve. Deuce - and Federer plays another dreadful forehand. This time Simon takes the initiative, forcing Federer backwards and prompting the error. We're back on level terms and anyone who thought this is as good as over is, frankly, a fool.

1107: Jonathan Overend has Andy Anson, the ATP's chief executive for Europe, in the 5 Live Sports Extra commentary box. The big question is will he take over from departing chief exec Etienne de Villiers at the end of the year? "I can't comment on that, lovely though it would be," says Anson. "Whoever comes in has to ensure continuity and they've got to work with the players."

Federer 2-1 Simon
A double fault sees Simon slip 15-30 down and he then spins over a gentle second serve, but Federer sticks his sliced-backhand return into the net. Simon does not take advantage of the let-off as he then finds the net and chucks his racquet in frustration for the first time today, but Federer nets a forehand of his own on break point. No matter, two more poor Simon forehands give up the break of serve and this one looks as good as over.

Federer 1-1 Simon
Federer responds in double-quick time, holding serve to 15 with another ace down the middle.

Federer 0-1 Simon
Simon does not look out of this one quite yet; he plays a couple of absolute beauties including a fierce cross-court backhand winner on game point.

First set:

1055: "At times Federer was sublime there. Simon is making his debut and Federer has just had a little too much."
Times correspondent Neil Harman on 5 Live Sports Extra

Federer 6-4 Simon
Federer makes a forehand error and looks to have repeated the trick on the second point, but Hawkeye does him a favour again and he doesn't look back from there, taking the set with a second-serve ace.

1050: Great news! Our team in Shanghai are up and running on 5 Live Sports Extra, which you can access through the tennis page.

Federer 5-4 Simon
A quick scout round the stands finds Fererer's girlfriend chewing gum madly, as ever, Andy Murray's mum, Judy, a picture of concentration, and Radek Stepanek presumably hoping someone will pull out so he can take up his place as an 'alternate' and make some serious cash. Meanwhile, Simon holds to love.

Federer 5-3 Simon
Fair play to Simon, he's prepared to keep coming to the net to try and utilise the indoor conditions but when he sticks a forehand approach in the net it's further evidence that he has some work to do there. Federer fires a huge serve down the 'T' on game point and is halfway to his chair when it's called out. He goes to Hawkeye and finds it caught the line but only gets a first serve as Simon clipped it with his racquet. Ridiculous. Federer doesn't care and just hits another winner.

Federer 4-3 Simon
A very cheeky wrong-footing forehand gets Simon off to a good start - he takes all the pace off and leaves Federer stranded. From the sublime to the ridiculous, Simon then plays a great rally and forces a defensive backhand but inexplicably leaves it thinking it's going wide. It lands about two feet in. We've all done it, just not at the world championships. The Frenchman, making his debut here, does well to recover and stay in touch.

Federer 4-2 Simon
Simon makes another trip to the net and Federer arrows a backhand down at the Frenchman's feet, forcing the error. From 30-0, the world number two lets his concentration slip badly with successive errors and he's suddenly 30-40 and break-point down. No problem - big serve, mid-court forehand, "C'mon!" A drive-volley and a big serve give Federer the game.

Federer 3-2 Simon
Simon make a rare trip to the net - and you can see why he doesn't do it very often. With his nose hanging over the net he takes a huge swipe at a forehand volley and sticks it in the tramlines. Federer then shows him how it's done with a smooth backhand volley and the Swiss earns break point number four. The US Open champion then plays the kind of rally only he can - sending Simon scurrying around behind the baseline with a succession of punishing groundstrokes before swiping away a forehand down the line. Classy.

Federer 2-2 Simon
Federer is looking keen to come forward when he takes control of the rallies behind his serve and he punches away a high forehand volley as he takes the game to 30.

Federer 1-2 Simon
Great game. Federer hits a second successive forehand winner to kick off the game in style but Simon has been serving superbly during the indoor season and gets back to 30-15. A couple of patient rallies from Federer earn him a first break point but Simon fires his third ace of the day, and he saves a second with another big service winner. Federer again goes for a long, patient rally that forces Simon to try for too much, but again the Frenchman saves a break point with a big serve and, this time, a volley. Federer finally goes long with a backhand and Simon holds on.

Federer 1-1 Simon
Federer makes a slightly edgy start and finds himself 15-30 down but the serve that was the bedrock of his US Open win gets him back on level terms, and he takes the game with a flowing forehand into the open court.

Federer 0-1 Simon
Simon looks in good shape when he smacks down an ace for 30-15 and takes the game when he puts a backhand right o the baseline and forces an error from Federer.

1011: The players are are ready to go, Federer in a sober all-blue outfit and Simon in a slightly less sober blue shirt and yellow shorts. Simon to serve first.

1005: It sounds like Federer is still struggling to come to terms with losing his world number one status to Rafael Nadal. "I just don't like the ring of it when I'm being introduced on Centre Court saying, 'and this is the number two in the world,'" he said.

"It just sounds wrong. Either I'm number one or I'm a Grand Slam champion, but I'm not number two."

1000: On a surprisingly packed Monday morning of live sport we've already seen India complete a 2-0 series win over Australia in the cricket, while Ireland and Tonga play-off for the dubious pleasure of facing the Aussies in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals. All of which has left 5 Live Sports Extra stuffed to the gills and means they won't be in Shanghai for the tennis until 1045 GMT - but rest assured they will be up and running in plenty of time for Murray and Roddick.

0955: Morning everyone. It's 6pm in Shanghai and time to kick off the action in the Red Group at the Masters Cup. Andy Murray will be taking on Andy Roddick at 1200 GMT, but first up is world number two Roger Federer against surprise package Gilles Simon of France.

The tournament got under way in fine style on Sunday, with Novak Djokovic beating Juan Martin del Potro and Nikolay Davydenko winning a cracker against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Gold Group.

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