CINCINNATI, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Roger Federer survived seven match points in his 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (12-10) win over Australian Scott Draper Tuesday at the Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati.
It took Federer four match points of his own to close out the 2-hour, 2-minute encounter.
Federer saved two match points on his serve in the 12th game of the third set and five in the tiebreaker, where he trailed, 6-2.
The 114th-ranked Draper played tough tennis until 10-10 in the
tiebreaker, when he double-faulted and sailed a backhand return
long to lose the match.
While Federer, the reigning Wimbledon champion squeaked by, the 2002 Wembledon winner Lleyton Hewitt was the victim of another demoralizing defeat, falling to Belgian Xavier Malisse 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Hewitt reached the final of Los Angeles two weeks ago -- losing
to South African Wayne Ferreira.
