New Delhi: Roger Federer failed to equal John McEnroe's record of 82 wins in 85 matches after he suffered his fourth defeat of the year at the hands of David Nalbandian in the Shanghai Masters cup final.
Federer came to the final with a 35-match winning streak and looked all set to win his third successive Masters title.
He lead the first set 4-2 before Nalbandian fought back but the world No. 1 took the first set 7-6.
The second set again went to the tiebreaker but Federer replied with some powerful returns to win the second set 7-6.
But the Argentine fought back in the third set, taking a 5-2 lead to win the third set 6-2.
Nalbandian went on to win the fourth set as well and raced to a 3-0 lead in the decider but Federer took the set to the tiebreak.
Nalbandian wasted a chance at 4-2 when he sent an easy volley wide but kept his composure to win the tiebreak 7-3 and end the epic contest.
Nalbandian's win also ended Federer's Open era record of winning 24 consecutive finals dating back to October 2003.
In the doubles title clash Leander Paes and Nenad Zimonjic lost to Fabrice Santoro and Michael Llodra 6-7, 6-3, 7-6.
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