Hewitt, Ferrero Set up Final Showdown in Masters Cup

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, November 17, 2002

Hewitt, Ferrero Set up Final Showdown in Masters Cup

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Australian Lleyton Hewitt moved one step closer to the trophy after crushing Roger Federer of Switzerland 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 in a wonderful semifinal Saturday at the Shanghai Masters Cup, the 2002 version of the men's year-end tennis championship.

Hewitt's win sets up a final showdown against Spanish Juan Carlos Ferrero, who outplayed countryman Carlos Moya 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-4 in another semifinal earlier this afternoon.

Defending champion Hewitt, already the youngest year-end No. 1,became the seventh player in ATP rankings history to seize the year-end top position in second consecutive year upon Andre Agassi's loss Thursday at this Masters Cup.

The semifinal clash, filled with dramatic turns, saw the exchange of breaks by the two players, both at 21. In all, there were 10 breaks in the three-hour marathon.

"I'm a little bit tired. It was obviously tough out there and Ihad to fight extremely hard,"said Hewitt. "But Juan Carlos has had tough matches as well. So we're got normally pretty fit guys and it's going to be a grind tomorrow."

In the opening set, Hewitt, who grabbed five wins of their seven previous encounters, shaped up to break back Federer twice after broken in the second game to lead the score.

Hewitt had just dismantled the Masters Cup debutante 6-4, 6-4 in the last Masters Series tournament at Paris two weeks ago.

It seemed that Hewitt was going to repeat the history as he, leading Federer 5-4 in the second set, had a match point in hand at 40-30 in his own service game.

But a determined Federer held his nerve to save the match point and went on to hold his serve before breaking Hewitt on the fourth game and set point to level the score.

The third set was as breathtaking as the previous two as Federer again saved two match points to break Hewitt in the 10th game, leveling at 5-5.

But the pacy Australian soon broke back and held his advantage through in the twelfth game to settle the tight battle on his second match point.

"We both had a lot of opportunities at different times to win different sets and it all screwed up for both of us at different times. I think we both got a little bit nervous in some of the big situations," Hewitt explained why they squandered so many opportunities.

Hewitt was respectful of his close opponent. "Roger is a great player. He plays better and better this year. He will win a Grand Slam sooner or later."

Federer said:"I am really tired because it was a tough match but I am satisfied with my performance here."

Earlier, Ferrero surged past the semis at a Masters Cup for thefirst time after losing in the last four a year ago in Sydney as a debutante.

As is usual in a match between compatriots who know each other's games well, all was on show in a tightly-balanced contest which lasted well over two hours.

It was only six weeks ago the "the Mosquito" stung Moya for the trophy in Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of China. The repeated victory stopped Moya's dramatic late-season resurge, but ensured that the 26-year-old Roland Garros winner in 1998 will surely be a major force on the ATP circuit next season.

"The match was very difficult as I said yesterday," said Ferrero, at 22. "I won a good match and I'm really happy to be in the final for the first time."

With both the finalists in their very early twenties, and Federer, at 21, young guns are dominating the Masters Cup. Ferreroviewed it as a welcomed change.

"Sometimes Agassi and Sampras are playing the finals like the US Open and then things are going to change," said the Spanish blonde. "Here we are going to play the young final for sure and I think it's good for tennis. Some changes are always good for everything."

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