Ekaterina Alexandrova stuns Aryna Sabalenka in world No. 1's first match since Australian Open final

A number of seeded players, including an appendicitis-addled Rafael Nadal, Grigor Dimitrov, Kei Nishikori, and Stan Wawrinka, all lost Wednesday at the Shanghai Masters. Meanwhile, Roger Federer staged what he called his "greatest escape" in saving five match points against Leonardo Mayer. The first, which involved a shot that truly should have fallen in Mayer's favor, is here:

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''I think I got unbelievably lucky today," Federer said afterward. "Let's be quite honest. I think he deserved it. Could be my greatest escape thus far.''

Not bad for a fellow who is nearing 1,000 match victories for his career. Federer had been on holiday in the weeks following Switzerland's Davis Cup victory over Italy, and his relative rust showed in his 57 unforced errors in the bout with Mayer: ''Midway through the third set I was like, yeah, I have been on vacation actually, so it's normal that I'm struggling,'' he said. ''I was trying to go for an all-time record of missed volleys tonight.''

But, as is his wont, the Swiss maestro brushed the ball exquisitely when it mattered most, when he had an outsized chance at snatching the contest. With Mayer reeling in the face of a quintet of blown chances, Federer feathered a perfect backhand lob to seize the day, and the match, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7):

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That's so Fed. Massively entertaining and, according to some, better than free Wi-Fi.

Got a tip or a point to make? Hit me on Twitter at @jonscott9.

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