SHANGHAI: Shanghai Masters winner Roger Federer was so rusty in his first match back this week after a month-long break that he was close to packing his bags and heading home.

The Swiss star had racked up 57 unforced errors against Leonardo Mayer in the second round and fought off five match points before finally pulling through well after midnight.

Four days after his narrow escape, however, he captured his fourth title of the year.

Federer claimed one of the few titles to have previously eluded him after he overcame a sluggish start to beat resilient Gilles Simon of France 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-2) to claim the 81st title of his career on Sunday.

The 17-time Grand Slam winner had blown away world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals but he found a stubborn opponent in Simon at Shanghai’s QiZhong Tennis Centre.

And the 33-year-old needed two tie-breaks before dousing Simon to register his 23rd Masters Series title and first in China, where strong winds caused the roof on the Stadium Court to be closed.

“I got very, very lucky,” Federer said. “I know what a privilege it is to be here today. I’ve always enjoyed coming here. I’ve come close a couple of times, but I’ve always wanted to win it as a Masters 1000.

“I feel unbelievable prestige to win this event. Especially putting my hands on the trophy for the first time is a good feeling, I must say. I’m very happy with the way I’m playing.”

It’s been a banner year for Federer despite the fact he’s fallen just short at the majors, including a heart-breaking loss to Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.

Federer leads the tour this season in match wins (61), top-10 wins (13) and final appearances (nine). And on Monday, he will leap past Rafael Nadal to second spot in the world rankings for the first time in more than a year.

Federer didn’t play the cleanest match on Sunday, though, finishing with 36 unforced errors to 21 winners but he was the more aggressive player, constantly attacking the net behind crisp approach shots and forcing Simon to try to pass as he won 24 of 35 points at net.

“He was just more opportunistic,” said Simon, who will return to the top 20 on the back of reaching only his second Masters final, and his first in six years after losing to Andy Murray at Madrid in 2008.

“We had a close match. I had a set point in the first, two in the second. It’s just a few points deciding it, and he was always really good on these points. He played some great shots.”

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2014