By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Tuesday's play

MASON - Roger Federer has been the future of men's tennis for quite some time now.

But until this summer, the mention of the Swiss player's name brought only a discussion of potential with no major tournament titles to speak of. That all changed when Federer triumphed at Wimbledon in July. Tuesday, Federer moved a step closer to his next goal, a No. 1 ranking, by saving seven match points and winning a 12-10 third-set tiebreak against Scott Draper in the first round of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters.

"I've improved coming from behind," said Federer, who won the match 4-6, 6-3, 7-6. "That's something you have to do when you're on top."

Federer, the No. 2 player in the world, needs to reach the semifinals here to surpass Andre Agassi for the top ranking next week, one week before the U.S. Open begins.

Federer, 22, looked beaten Tuesday after Draper had two match points at 6-5 in the third set. Federer held his serve but promptly faced a 6-2 deficit in the tiebreak.

He broke Draper's serve on that match point with a lob shot that appeared to be heading long but fell a foot inside the baseline.

"That topspin lob on 6-2 in the breaker was such a great shot," said Draper, who had to qualify for the tournament as the No. 114 player in the world.

Federer held his serve the next two points and drew even in the tiebreak when Draper hit a shot near the baseline that the chair umpire called long. Draper had one more match point chance, leading 9-8, but Federer served an ace with a 120-mph second serve. Federer won the match a few minutes later when Draper hit a return long.

"Sometimes you can turn it around, sometimes you don't," Federer said. "But I would say ... because of my confidence, I could turn it around because of the will, the motivation for No. 1."

The confidence to even attempt the lob shot down four match points is something the tennis community has been waiting to see from Federer. Ever since he ended Pete Sampras' 31-match winning streak at Wimbledon in 2000, Federer has carried the label of "the next great player." His game has everything: a devastating serve, quick returns and youthful speed to chase down would-be winners. But he lacked a major championship on his resume. Now that he has taken care of that, the pressure of not winning a Grand Slam is gone.

But the Scott Drapers of the world still exist, waiting for the chance to take down a Wimbledon champion. Draper, 29, is playing the best tennis of his career now that he has recovered emotionally from the death of his wife, Kellie, to cystic fibrosis in 1999. The Australian reached the quarterfinals at Indianapolis two weeks ago, the longest he has stayed in a tournament since Kellie's death.

"It's absolutely essential that I've moved on from my struggles," Draper said. "I have a wonderful girlfriend who I certainly intend to be a part of the rest of my life, and that obviously makes me happier. I'm a happier person than I was 18 months ago, two years ago. ... I wake up in the morning and feel good. It certainly helps your tennis. There's nothing worse than feeling a little depressed or struggling with certain issues. You can't compete, you can't focus."

Once Federer started making shots in the tiebreaker, it didn't matter how well Draper had been playing.

"He's a Wimbledon champion," Draper said. "I threw the kitchen sink at him and I didn't win."