Shanghai, November 14:

Roger Federer saved three match points in a second-set tiebreaker before overcoming Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4 on Tuesday at the Tennis Masters Cup.

Federer extended his winning stretch in round-robin matches at the season-ending championship to 14 and his streak against Roddick to eight. He’s 12-1 career against Roddick

After winning the first set, Roddick saved three set points in the 10th game of the second set and then had match points at 6-4 in the tiebreaker before Federer won three straight points. Federer lost the next two to give Roddick another match point. On set point, Roddick leaped high for an overhead but hit it long.

Having gone so close in the second, a lapse early in the third set cost Roddick the match. Federer got the break serve in the third game and closed out with three aces in the last game.

Federer started his quest for a third Masters Cup title with a win over Nalbandian on Sunday, when Roddick accounted for Ljubicic.