Fighting Federer rallies to cling on to his top spot and keep Rafa at bay

Roger Federer went into survival mode last night, barely edging away from danger with a 6-7, 7-6, 6-0 second-round victory against Robby Ginepri at the Cincinnati Masters.

So the Swiss lived to fight another day with rival Rafael Nadal chipping away at the top ATP ranking that he has held for four-and-a-half-years.

But should Federer fail to defend his title here and lose before the semi-finals, Nadal would become the new top man in the sport.

Still No 1: Federer holds on to his top spo - for now

Federer said: ‘I enjoy the challenge of being No 1, but I’ve had a great run and if I were to lose it, I’d want it back.I know how I can play when I get on to a roll. I’ve been able to do it in the past and I can do it again.

‘I felt Ginepri was getting tired in the third set here, he was breathing heavily, letting his head hang and I felt fine. I knew that once I could turn it around things would swing my way.’

Ginepri, 64th in the rankings, had lost all four previous matches to Federer but he won the first set on a tiebreak 7-2.

Federer fought hard to level through another tiebreak before pulling away in the third in the style which has marked his domination of the game.

He lost just eight points in the set.

Faced with the potential loss of his long-held No 1 spot, Federer took his time in reacting but will be satisfied with the result. His 235 weeks at No 1 is the fourth best in history behind the 286 of Pete Sampras followed by Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors.

Nadal, who has won five consecutive events, including victories over Federer in the French Open and Wimbledon finals, prefers not look into the future.

Fine form: Rafael Nadal has won five consectutive tournaments

The Spaniard said: ‘I don’t think about the No 1 ranking because I’m the No 2. It’s a goal for me. If I’m No 1, it will be nice, but my goal is to continue playing like I have.’

Andy Murray, meanwhile, will put his right knee to a stern test today, playing his opening match against American Sam Querrey. The Scot, appearing in his final event before going to the Beijing Olympics, has undergone a scan on the joint that troubled him in his semi-final defeat by Nadal in Toronto last weekend.

But, carrying his X-rays under his arm following the check-up, Murray’s mood appeared to be lightened. The British No 1 expects to be rolling off court this week as well, after receiving a gleaming black sports utility vehicle to drive.

The tournament here has scores of sleek Mercedes machinery on hand, used by main draw players to commute from their hotel situated amid a motorway shopping precinct five miles away.

Murray has won both his two previous meetings with Querrey, beating the 20-year-old as a junior and two years ago on grass in Newport.