Jason HeimTennis: Roger Federer Through To Australian Open Final
January 30th 2009 13:23
Category: Tennis
Roger Federer took another giant stride towards immortality with an at-times breathtaking Australian Open semi-final win over Andy Roddick at Melbourne Park on Thursday night.
Federer outgunned Roddick 6-2 7-5 7-5 to edge one tantalising victory away from equalling Pete Sampras's all-time record of 14 grand slam titles.
“I thought that I played really solid out there. I thought the level was high throughout the match,'' said the Swiss, who had the bad-tempered Roddick at his mercy from the first set.
Federer will meet either world No.1 Rafael Nadal or Fernando Verdasco in the decider with the two Spaniards playing their semi-final on Friday.
Knowing the fiercely competitive Federer, he will be hoping it is Nadal who joins him for his date with destiny on Sunday night.
The two great rivals have fought out six of the past 11 grand slam finals, with Nadal holding a 4-2 edge in major deciders.
Who better for Federer to conquer than the man who stole his long-held top ranking and Wimbledon crown from him last year.
“People sort of forgot about him leading up to the Australian Open,'' Federer said of Nadal.
“But he's showing why he's the best player in the world. I would love to play him in the final, that's for sure.''
Despite another loss to his arch-rival, Roddick said he hoped to use the good form he has shown here as a springboard for the year.
“Hopefully I can build on this a bit. If I keep it going I should have a better year than the last couple,'' he said.
Federer, a beaten semi-finalist at last year's Open as he suffered unknowingly from mononucleosis - a debilitating virus similar to glandular fever - has played like a man on a mission at Melbourne Park this year.
After clawing back from two sets down against Tomas Berdych in the fourth round, the second seed destroyed Juan Martin del Potro 6-3 6-0 6-0 in the quarter-finals before setting his sights on Sampras and 14-times major golf champion Tiger Woods.
A good friend of Federer's, Woods has been in regular text contact with the Swiss superstar during the Open.
"He's happy for me that I'm doing well. He loves when I dominate so he's hopefully pumped up for me," Federer said.
"So hopefully I can equal his 14, and Pete's 14 as well."
It seems only Nadal can stop him.
Contesting his 19th consecutive grand slam semi-final - another of his countless records - Federer at times toyed with Roddick.
He nabbed the first set with two easy service breaks in just 32 minutes and yet was even more comfortable in the second, despite almost being pushed into a tiebreaker.
The three-times champion conceded a meagre three points in six service games for the set and took a stranglehold on the match when he pocketed the set on a Roddick backhand error.
Growing increasingly frustrated as his title hopes slipped further and further away, Roddick engaged in a running battle with chair umpire Enric Molina and, at one stage after disagreeing with a call, told the Spanish official to "have some sack, dude".
His taunt, though, and anything else he tried, didn't work as Federer struck again with another demoralising 11th-game break in the third set to complete his 16th job on Roddick in two hours and seven minutes.
AAP
Federer outgunned Roddick 6-2 7-5 7-5 to edge one tantalising victory away from equalling Pete Sampras's all-time record of 14 grand slam titles.
“I thought that I played really solid out there. I thought the level was high throughout the match,'' said the Swiss, who had the bad-tempered Roddick at his mercy from the first set.
Federer will meet either world No.1 Rafael Nadal or Fernando Verdasco in the decider with the two Spaniards playing their semi-final on Friday.
Knowing the fiercely competitive Federer, he will be hoping it is Nadal who joins him for his date with destiny on Sunday night.
The two great rivals have fought out six of the past 11 grand slam finals, with Nadal holding a 4-2 edge in major deciders.
Who better for Federer to conquer than the man who stole his long-held top ranking and Wimbledon crown from him last year.
“People sort of forgot about him leading up to the Australian Open,'' Federer said of Nadal.
“But he's showing why he's the best player in the world. I would love to play him in the final, that's for sure.''
Despite another loss to his arch-rival, Roddick said he hoped to use the good form he has shown here as a springboard for the year.
“Hopefully I can build on this a bit. If I keep it going I should have a better year than the last couple,'' he said.
Federer, a beaten semi-finalist at last year's Open as he suffered unknowingly from mononucleosis - a debilitating virus similar to glandular fever - has played like a man on a mission at Melbourne Park this year.
After clawing back from two sets down against Tomas Berdych in the fourth round, the second seed destroyed Juan Martin del Potro 6-3 6-0 6-0 in the quarter-finals before setting his sights on Sampras and 14-times major golf champion Tiger Woods.
A good friend of Federer's, Woods has been in regular text contact with the Swiss superstar during the Open.
"He's happy for me that I'm doing well. He loves when I dominate so he's hopefully pumped up for me," Federer said.
"So hopefully I can equal his 14, and Pete's 14 as well."
It seems only Nadal can stop him.
Contesting his 19th consecutive grand slam semi-final - another of his countless records - Federer at times toyed with Roddick.
He nabbed the first set with two easy service breaks in just 32 minutes and yet was even more comfortable in the second, despite almost being pushed into a tiebreaker.
The three-times champion conceded a meagre three points in six service games for the set and took a stranglehold on the match when he pocketed the set on a Roddick backhand error.
Growing increasingly frustrated as his title hopes slipped further and further away, Roddick engaged in a running battle with chair umpire Enric Molina and, at one stage after disagreeing with a call, told the Spanish official to "have some sack, dude".
His taunt, though, and anything else he tried, didn't work as Federer struck again with another demoralising 11th-game break in the third set to complete his 16th job on Roddick in two hours and seven minutes.
AAP
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