Roger Federer has defeated Rafael Nadal in straight sets to win the Shanghai Masters title. The Swiss at his brilliant best was far too good for his old rival with the world number one going down in straight sets 6-4 6-3 in just an hour and 12 minutes. The victory, a 15th of his career over the Spaniard and a fourth of 2017, makes it 94 career titles for the 36-year-old and ends Nadal's 16-match winning streak this year.
Federer took advantage of three of seven break point opportunities in the match to snap Nadal’s 16-game winning streak, which included his China Open victory last week. Federer, who has won the last five encounters between the pair dating back to the 2015 Basel final, also beat Nadal in the Australian Open final, a round of 16 match at Indian Wells and the Miami final this year.
Federer took advantage of a third break point in the first game of the match with a winning backhand passing shot. He broke Nadal’s serve again on a second break point in the fifth game of the second set when Nadal sailed a backhand crosscourt wide. In the final game, Nadal netted a forehand at 15-40 to end the 72-minute match.
Nadal arrived on court with a bandage under his right knee, the same leg he twice smacked with his racket after losing his serve for the first time this week in the semifinal.
Federer said he was surprised to see the wrap and didn’t feel Nadal was struggling with his movement. Federer is the only man who can deny Nadal the number one ranking at the end of the year, but he said the ATP Finals at London's 02 Arena next month was his main focus.
