First round-robin loss at the Masters Cup

Bad news: The Swiss world number one has tasted defeat for the very first time in round-robin play at the Masters Cup courtesy of an in-form Fernando Gonzalez.

Playing against the Chilean whom he has defeated in all their previous ten matches including at this year's Australian Open finals, Federer looked to be cruising toward just another routine win as he handily took the first set on a single break of serve. As usual, the top seed volleyed brilliantly and fired winners on both sides.

But Gonzalez began playing out of his mind in the second set to hold off Federer. With neither player earning a break point, the second set went on to a tie-break which Gonzalez played to near perfection. An unusually lackluster Federer went down 0-6 before saving face by salvaging Gonzalez's first set point. But there was nothing he could do as Gonzalez got back into the match on a second set point.

Gonzalez carried his momentum into the deciding set where he managed to fight off five break points. Federer himself successfully saved three break points but was clearly struggling to hold serve as Gonzales started returning his serves with interest. With the first-time Masters Cup qualifier hitting sublime winners off his powerful forehand, Federer finally succumbed to the onslaught in the eleventh game. The seventh seed then went on to hold serve easily to secure a major upset over the three-time champion in three sets, 6-3 6(1)-7 5-7.

This loss not only sadly breaks Federer's perfect record in the round-robin phase but also jeopardizes his chances of making the semifinal round of the season-ending exclusive tournament. That is, unless he is victorious over the other two players in his group.

In a couple of days, he will face world number four Nicolay Davydenko who likewise lost in three sets to Andy Roddick in the earlier Red Group round robin match.
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