Federer survives to reach semi-finals

Roger Federer escaped a major upset by Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic at the season-ending Masters Cup yesterday, prevailing 6-3 2-6 7-6 to become the first man to reach the semi-finals.

His place in the last four was sealed when David Nalbandian beat fellow Argentine Guillermo Coria 7-5 6-4 in the second match.

World number one Federer, who has just recovered from a six-week injury lay-off, made it two wins out of two in the Red Group at the troubled $4.45 million event in Shanghai.

He squandered three match points at 5-3 and 5-4 in the third before clinching victory 7-4 on a tiebreak to stay on course for a third straight Masters Cup title.

Only Ilie Nastase in 1971-73 and Ivan Lendl in 1985-87 have won three in a row.

"I arrived here this week basically on one leg," said Federer, who blasted three aces in the tiebreak to crush Ljubicic's resistance.

"I thought I was the worst injured of all. For me to play well is fantastic because this is like a grand slam."

Federer, who also beat Nalbandian in three sets at the weekend, extended his winning streak to 33 matches and his mark for the year to 79-3.

The Swiss played with his right ankle heavily taped and called the trainer for a quick rubdown at the start of the third set, prompting groans from the Chinese fans.

"I felt like my leg was starting to tighten up," said Federer. "Maybe I'm compensating because of my injury. I was never in doubt I was going to finish that match."

Federer added: "I thought maybe he was the slight favourite because of what I've been through. I've only been able to run for basically a week."

Federer had beaten Ljubicic four times already this year, including finals in Doha, Rotterdam and Indian Wells, and he was forced to work for his fifth by the towering Croatian.

But Federer's superior class told in the tiebreak and he closed out the match with a glorious backhand pass after two hours, 17 minutes.

Nalbandian's extra athleticism proved decisive against compatriot Coria as the former Wimbledon runner-up posted his first victory and left Coria winless.

"I never really felt comfortable because of the late start," said Nalbandian. "I had a lot of ups and downs. Against Federer I played well. If I can play like that I have a chance this week."

Swede Johansson drafted in as cover

Sweden's Thomas Johansson has been drafted in by Masters Cup organisers as cover after a spate of injuries, ATP Tour officials said.

The world number 14 has been called in after French Open champion Rafael Nadal and eight-times grand slam winner Andre Agassi pulled out of the lucrative Shanghai event on Monday.

Their places were taken by Argentina's Mariano Puerta and Chile's Fernando Gonzalez, leaving the $4.45 million extravaganza without an alternate.

Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt all withdrew before the start of the tournament.

Johansson was contacted by ATP officials late on Monday and was scheduled to arrive in Shanghai tomorrow morning from his home in Monte Carlo.