Fed Express eclipses his old foe Rafa again

Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates after winning the singles final match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at 2017 ATP Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai on Oct 15, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

SHANGHAI－Roger Federer got one over on his old rival Rafael Nadal to win the Shanghai Masters 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday in a showdown between the two best players on the planet.

It was a 94th title for the Swiss legend, drawing him level with the great Ivan Lendl, and was a fifth victory in a row against Nadal.

World No 1 Nadal was ahead in their overall record, with 23 wins to Federer's 14, but the Spaniard was up against it almost right away.

No 2 Federer put Nadal under the cosh immediately, breaking his serve in the first game to roars of approval from the majority inside the arena.

Another break to 36-year-old Federer in the pivotal fifth game of the second set put him in reach of a second Shanghai crown－and a sixth title in 2017.

"We didn't think maybe we were going to have the year we did, I definitely didn't," Federer said on court afterward, reflecting on their continued success even at this late stage of their careers.

Looking at Nadal, he added: "It's nice to share this court with you today and I hope there are more to come in the tournaments we've got left.