RelatedRoddick withdraws with injury THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SHANGHAI, China -- Roger Federer kept his hopes alive for a fifth Masters Cup title Wednesday by beating Radek Stepanek 7-6 (4), 6-4 while defending doubles champion Daniel Nestor of Toronto advanced to the semifinals. Federer, who pulled out of the Paris Masters less than two weeks ago with a sore back, still showed some of the rust that plagued his opening loss to Gilles Simon. His first-serve percentage was higher against Stepanek, but the shots still lacked some of their usual sting. "It's been a tough week for me from the start," said Federer, adding his back felt fine but that he got sick Tuesday and was still feeling the effects. Stepanek was playing in the place of Andy Roddick, who withdrew from the tournament earlier Wednesday with a sprained ankle after losing his opening match Monday. Roddick said his injury did not appear to be serious, but that it left him unable to be competitive in Shanghai. "Maybe I got lucky that Andy withdrew," Federer said. Earlier, Andy Murray of Britain reached the semifinals of the season-ending tournament by beating Simon 6-4, 6-2 in the other Red Group match. In doubles, Nestor and Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic reached the semis with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Jonas Bjorkman and Kevin Ullyett in a re-match of the Wimbledon final. Nestor served out the efficient 65-minute win as he attempts to repeat as champion at the season-ending event. Nestor won the title a year ago with former partner Mark Knowles of the Bahamas. Nestor and Zimonjic captured their first Grand Slam title together over Bjorkman and Ullyett in July, claiming the Wimbledon trophy in four sets. The duo improved to 2-0 with one round-robin match remaining on Friday against Czech Lukas Dlouhy and Leander Paes of India. "We played well, just like we should have," said Nestor. "If we keep it up like this then of course we have a good chance to go all ther way here. "It would be great to win the title for a second straight year with another partner. "That's what we're working for, the trophy." Nestor and Zimonjic are also duelling with Americans Bob and Mike Bryan to end the season atop the ATP doubles rankings. "It all gets tough in the semifinals," said Nestor. "All of the other teams have a chance when you get to that stage." The 26th-ranked Stepanek started slow, winning only three points as he fell behind 2-0 in the first set, then took the next two games. But the Swiss star pulled ahead 4-1 in the tiebreaker and held on to take the set. They were on serve in the second set until Stepanek faltered while serving at 4-3, with Federer breaking with a forehand volley winner off a floater. But Federer, known as one of the best finishers in tennis, was broken back at love as he served for the match, netting a forehand after a long rally on break point. Stepanek pumped his fist and hopped on one leg, but the Czech's celebration didn't last long. He missed a backhand volley to set up match point, then double-faulted. Murray was at his best on the key points, breaking Simon twice in each set and fending off seven of the Frenchman's eight break opportunities. "It was one of my best matches in recent months," said Murray, who recently won 14 straight matches. Murray said he was nervous before the match, knowing that if he lost, he would have to beat Federer in his last round-robin match to qualify for the semifinals. Both Murray and Simon were making their debuts at the tournament for the world's top players, but Murray looked like a veteran, winning the first four games. Simon won only four points in his first two service games. The Frenchman did get one break back to pull within 4-3, but Murray fended off another break chance in his next and easily held to finish off the set. Simon held to open the second set, but Murray took the next five games. On match point, the Briton ripped a deep forehand approach shot that Simon couldn't do anything with. "I just missed all the opportunities I had today," Simon said. "He didn't miss anything." Simon was added to the field when Rafael Nadal withdrew last week with a knee injury that also forced the world's top-ranked player to pull out of next week's Davis Cup final between Spain and Argentina. In the Gold Group, Nikolay Davydenko of Russia will face Juan Martin del Potro, with the winner assured of a semifinal spot. Novak Djokovic, who is 2-0, already has advanced and will meet Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, who has been eliminated after losing his first two matches.
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