This story is from November 17, 2014

Roger Federer does a Houdini again!

Roger Federer, tennis' most decorated champion, is gaining in reputation as an escape artist extraordinaire. Down match points and out for the count, he finds a way.
Roger Federer does a Houdini again!
LONDON: Roger Federer, tennis' most decorated champion, is gaining in reputation as an escape artist extraordinaire. Down match points and out for the count, he finds a way. Bend it like Roger, if you please. Federer followed up that epic comeback against Frenchman Gael Monfils at the raucous theatre of the US Open with his win over Argentina's Leonardo Mayer in the opening round of the Shanghai Masters last month, where he battled five match points.
On Saturday , the 33-year-old played it again, this time on the royal blue carpet of the 02 Arena.
Federer, chasing his seventh title here, had the full house at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals singing with his strokes. He fought off three match points to beat Stan Wawrinka 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8-6) in a little under three hours. Federer, in his 13th consecutive season finale, making a record-equaling 12th semifinal appearance, weighed his three back-from-the-brink efforts. "This was maybe luckier than against Monfils because Stan served three times, whereas Monfils served twice," Federer said.
"Against Mayer, I was just crazy lucky . That maybe was the most lucky overall because I was out of the point and Mayer had the match."
"This is obviously huge in the semifinals of the World Tour Finals. It's not the way you want to win, but I still kept my cool and tried to hang around. I got myself back into it. It was definitely a lucky escape tonight."
Federer, charged by the crowd, but clearly far from his best on Saturday, fought to the finish.
The near three-hour-affair that saw a lot of meaningful glances exchanged across the net, finished with a friendly handshake, where Federer appeared to be apologizing to Wawrinka. The duo will join hands next weekend for Switzerland in the Davis Cup final against France in Lille.
Injured Roger out of final
London: Roger Federer sensationally pulled out of his ATP Tour Finals showdown with Novak Djokovic just before the final was due to start on Sunday because of a back injury. Federer, 33, felt unable to take part in the showpiece clash because he was less than fully fit following Saturday's gruelling semiffinal win over Stan Wawrinka. "I'm sorry I'm here in a tracksuit. I'm not match-fit to play. I wish it weren't so. I didn't want it to end this way but I can't take risks at my age," Federer said.
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