MMMM 2007 : 2007


CAÑAS CRUSHED AS FEDERER RE-WRITES RECENT LOSSES

Roger Federer earned autumn revenge after two spring losses to Guillermo Canas, crushing the 13th-seeded Argentina
6-0, 6-3 on Thursday to book a place in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Masters.

Madrid, October 18th The world number one claimed the first seven games before the stunned South American could finally trouble the scorekeeper.

Federer was out for blood after losing twice in as many weeks to the on-fire Canas at March Masters events in the US at Indian Wells and Miami.

Those two setbacks were among only six suffered so far in 2007 by the Swiss holder of a dozen Grand Slam titles.

"I always felt in control," admitted Federer. "It was a good feeling and it's nice to beat him. There was satisfaction in this match.

"To beat him after two tough losses is nice. I played aggressive and took my chances."

Federer put the quick win away in 53 minutes after sweeping the first set and breaking for 4-2 to insure the second.

It was his 56th victory of the season as he bids to repeat as Madrid champion.

"I think the court was slower at Indian Wells and Mimia and that would have helped his game," said Federer. "Plus I didn't know his game so well in spring (with Canas away for 18 months on a drugs ban).

"At Indian Wells, I had a blister on my toe and in Miami I failed to take my chances and lost it in the third-set tiebreak.

"I had to defend points at those two events, os it was tough to lose, it was big news.

"I didn't feel that I played badly, that's why I was able to turn around the season."

Federer is building for the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai, where he qualified months ago for the eight man filed.

The race for the last four places after Federer, Spain's Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Russian Nikolay Davydenko is heating up this week.

All will be decided over the next two weeks which end regular season ATP play.

Djokovic won his seventh match in a row as he followed up on last week' Vienna title, defeating 2003 champion Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

The 20-year-old Serb, seeded third, will face Croatian Mario Ancic, who eliminated Paul-Henri Mathieu of France 6-4, 6-3.

Djokovic has been on a tear this season, lifting five titles including Masters events in Miami and beating Roger Federer in the final to win Montreal.

"I want to finish well here, in Paris and in Shanghai. I've had a long season and I'm very exhausted physically and mentally," said the Serb.

"It's been long year, but I still believe that I can do well here."

Spain's Ferrero saved match points before taking the loss in front of his home public. Djokovic had to overcome 40 unforced errors in a win lasting 2 hours, 11 minutes.

Chilean fifth seed Fernando Gonzalez moved closer to ticket to China after a 6-4, 6-2 win over Argentine Juan Monaco.

Gonzalez lost the Madrid final a year ago to Federer and was beaten in January's Australian Open final by the Swiss.

Gonzalez has been making his move for Shanghai since September, when he won the Beijing title after losing four straight matches following Wimbledon.

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