There are two ways to beat Roger Federer: Defend him (and frustrate him) to death, as Rafael Nadal does so well, or put him on the defensive by bludgeoning him with serves, forehands, and volleys, as Marat Safin did at the Australian Open in 2005.

After Andy Roddick’s narrow loss to Federer in the Masters Cup yesterday, 4–6, 7–6(8), 6–4, Safin remains the last man to beat Federer by hitting through him. But Roddick is getting closer. He had three match points and would have closed the deal if he had not done any one of the following: A) hit a sloppy forehand wide at 4–1 in the second set tiebreaker; B) meekly volley Federer’s high (and fairly soft) backhand on match point (6–4 in the tiebreaker), or C) miss four consecutive first serves in the tiebreaker.

More than any of Roddick’s previous matches against Federer (he’s now 1–12), this one showed how much he can accomplish by pressing the world no. 1 — even with a mediocre volley and approach shots that are serviceable at best (I couldn’t help but think that on this day Pete Sampras would have finished Federer with ease). Roddick came to the net 59 times in all, serving and volleying and charging behind his service return on several occasions. On many points, he didn’t need to hit a winning volley; Federer, feeling the pressure, missed a passing shot, often into the net. For men who are not fantastic volleyers, an attacking game at least has the benefit of making an opponent feel compelled to hit one superb shot after another. That’s tricky business, even for Federer.

Federer made two telling remarks after the match. First, he said he was not surprised by Roddick’s strategy, which, for Roddick fans, is good news. When Federer knows what’s coming and he nearly loses, his opponent is doing something right. Second, he said Roddick “served out of a tree,” noting the power of those serves and Roddick’s high firstserve percentage. Yet Roddick only served 62% in the first two sets and 63% for the match, 4% below his season average, and considerably less than he would expect with a roof overhead (no wind, no sun = no fun for the returner). If Federer thought Roddick’s serve was more potent than usual, some credit should be given to Roddick for backing up those serves with better attacks.

“I’m getting closer as opposed to further away, so that’s a trend I hope to continue,” Roddick said. “If I don’t believe after tonight, then there’s a problem.”

Here’s how the match unfolded. Roddick broke in the third game, taking advantage of two casual errors from Federer and a little luck (his backhand slice at deuce clipped the net, forcing Federer to lunge and giving Roddick an easy volley). Federer double faulted to lose the game. Roddick escaped two precarious moments — 3–2,15–40,when he hit two service winners and two aces, and 5–4, advantage Federer (another service winner) — to take the first set.

In the second set, Roddick had a break chance at 2–2, 30–40, before Federer wiped it away with a service winner. With Federer leading 5–4, Roddick saved three set points, including one with a forehand winner (only his second of the match) as he ran around a backhand and aimed for the near corner. Roddick won the first three points of the tiebreaker and lined up to serve with a 4–1 lead.

Roddick’s first serve abandoned him for his next four service points. Still, he had a chance to win. At 4–1, he tried to repeat the forehand winner that saved set point, but hit it wide (unlike the first one, Roddick found himself in an awkward position). Ahead 6–4, Roddick came to net behind a forehand down the line, and Federer hit a topspin backhand up the middle. It wasn’t a sitter, but a good volleyer — never mind Sampras — would have angled it off the court for a winner. Roddick guided it back into the middle of the court and Federer stroked an insideout forehand passing shot. Roddick earned his final match point after connecting on two first serves and punching a good volley, but Federer recovered. The set ended when Roddick attempted a leaping overhead (his overhead is the best in the business, so don’t fault the decision) and smashed the ball into the back wall (whoops).

Sadly for Roddick, the third set held closer to the script we’ve become familiar with over the years. At the end of two sets, Roddick had more acesthan Federer (11 to 5) and had won 86% of his first serve points. When Federer ended the match with an ace, he had 13 aces to Roddick’s 12. Only twice in 13 meetings has Roddick beaten Federer in the ace department (they each had nine in the last match Roddick won, in Montreal in 2003). In the third set, Roddick didn’t earn a break point. Federer, after uncharacteristically squandering six break chances in the first two sets, needed only one chance in the set’s third game, aided by another weak volley (this one was a true sitter, a soft slice service return from Federer). Federer easily closed out the match.

It was a tough loss, but Roddick should believe — believe that next time he has a chance like this, he won’t screw it up. While he’ll never volley like Sampras, he can serve even better than he did yesterday. The odds are good that Roddick will get a chance to prove his case against Federer Sunday in the final. If he defeats David Nalbandian on Thursday, he qualifies for the semifinals (he might still qualify if he loses). Nalbandian lost to Ivan Ljubicic yesterday; his round-robin record is 0–2,while Ljubicic is 1–1 after losing to Roddick on Sunday. Federer, 2–0, has already qualified for the semis.

Considering the panic that struck American tennis fans during Wimbledon, it’s worth noting that James Blake, who defeated Rafael Nadal Monday, has an excellent chance of joining Roddick in the semifinals. If it happens, America would have the best showing of any country at the Masters Cup.

tperrotta@nysun.com