Roddick, Federer lose Masters Cup matches

Roger Federer lost on Monday to Frenchman Gilles Simon at the Masters Cup series in Shanghai, China.

The back problems that forced Federer to withdraw from the Paris Masters on Oct. 31 was not the issue, his game just was not up to par. Although this first lose is a tough one, he still has a chance to win the season-ending event for eight elite players on the ATP Tour.

“I’m definitely in a more positive mind-set today, just because my back feels good,” the world-ranked number 2 said after losing to Gilles Simon of France 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in round-robin play.

In the next Red Group match, Andy Murray of Britain survived a second-set deficit to beat American Andy Roddick in three sets: 6-4, 1-6, 6-1.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, who won their first matches in the Gold Group, play each other after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France and Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina meet in an earlier match.

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal will miss Spain’s Davis Cup final against Argentina because of tendinitis in his right knee.

“The knee said no,” said Nadal, who is expected to miss from three to six weeks.

The Davis Cup final starts Nov. 21 in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

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