Roger Federer has defeated his compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka in the third round of the Shanghai Rolex Masters 2012. Federer won the match by 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0. With this victory, Federer has reached the quarter finals of the competition.

It was a very interesting match and at one point of time, Federer was on the verge of losing the match. But, the World no. 1 showed his class and made a fantastic comeback to win the match. Federer took almost 2 hours to register the victory. This was the 13th match between these two players and Federer defeated Wawrinka for the 12th time.

In the first six games of the first set, both the players held their service and the scores were levelled at 3-3. Wawrinka got a breakthrough in the seventh game to take a lead of 4-3. The next two games went with the serve and Wawrinka was ahead by 5-4 at the end of the ninth game. Federer had to get a breakthrough in the 10th game to stop Wawrinka from winning the set, but, Wawrinka didn’t let him do so. The Swiss no. 2 served out the 10th game comfortably to grab the first set by 6-4.

In the second set, both the players broke each other’s service once in the first 8 games and the scores were levelled at 4-4. Wawrinka got a breakpoint in the ninth game, but, Federer didn’t let him latch on that breakpoint. He saved that breakpoint and held his service. Neither of the two players managed to get a breakthrough in the first 12 games and the set went into the tie breaker. Wawrinka got a bit nervous in the tie breaker. He played some very ordinary shots and gave Federer ample opportunity to win the tie breaker. Federer was too good a player to miss those opportunities. He won the tie breaker easily and came back into the match.

In the final set, Federer was at the top of his game. He gave Wawrinka no chance whatsoever in that third set. He broke Wawrinka’s service thrice and won the first six games on the trot to finish off the match.

In the quarter final, Federer will take on Marin Cilic of Croatia.