So Federer got through against last minute Shanghai alternate Stepanek today....just.
By the way, can someone explain why we had to go all the way to the 26th player in the Race to find someone willing to attend Shanghai? I can understand the Spaniards or Nalbandian not attending what with Davis Cup coming up, but where were the likes of Cilic, Monfils, Berdych...!?
Stepanek was apparently missing his contact lenses, socks and racquets moments before coming on court - credit to him for making the match as competitive as it was.
It was over in straight sets, but we saw emerging again from Federer some of the frailties of earlier on this year: that unstable forehand and the occasional dumped volley. As mentioned yesterday, I'm still hoping he gets through, so we still have a chance of a Murray-Federer final, but without that forehand you really have to wonder.
It's amazing how vulnerable he can look without his best shot.
As compared to Federer, Murray once again looked the more comfortable in his match against Simon. Simon's been great for the tour this year, but I have to say I disagree with certain quarters casting him as a "poor man's Murray". Yes he defends superbly well and doesn't try to win the point in the first three shots, but there the similarity ends. Murray's got a huge service advantage and mixes play much more effectively with his backhand slice.
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