Jason HeimTennis: Roger Federer Through To Quarter Finals In Australia
January 25th 2009 14:11
Category: Tennis
THREE-time champion Roger Federer mounted one of the greatest comebacks of his career to claw back a two-set deficit to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals. No 20 seed Tomas Berdych, from the Czech Republic, was on course for an almighty upset until he froze in the third set, with Federer finally winning 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-4 6-2 to stay on course for a record-equalling 14th grand slam title.
Federer, 27, has not come back from two sets down since 2005, when he fought past Rafael Nadal in the Miami Masters final, and has not failed to reach a grand slam quarter-finals since the 2004 French Open.
He also battled through a five-set tussle with Igor Andreev in the fourth round of last year's US Open before recovering to win the title.
"I enjoy those kind of fights because it doesn't happen very often, I've had maybe five or six in my life," Federer said.
"It's always special to come back from 2-0. It's nice for me and I hope it's a good omen."
The Swiss star went into the match on the back of a sweeping victory over old adversary Marat Safin and one-sided wins over Andreas Seppi and Evgeny Korolev.
But despite winning his previous seven matches against Berdych, he immediately looked out of sorts against the Czech, plodding around the court and making errors of every description.
Berdych shocked Federer when he broke in the very first game, and then went another break up before the Swiss could reply and served it out with a searing ace down the middle.
Federer broke early in second set but couldn't hold his advantage, and Berdych was never behind in the tense tie-break as he clinched it with a blazing forehand winner.
Berdych was cruising towards a straight-sets upset but dramatically collapsed at 3-3 in the third, missing three easy volleys to hand Federer the break and eventually the set.
Momentum was firmly with the Swiss and Berdych was furious when Hawk-Eye malfunctioned as he challenged a call at deuce on his serve, giving Federer the chance to get the decisive break in the fourth.
The Swiss was now back to his fluid best and he broke twice early in the fifth before converting his third match point with an ace after nearly three-and-a-half hours, delighting the packed crowd.
"It's great satisfaction," Federer said of the result.
"I don't play five-setters every day so it's a very nice feeling.
"I was feeling still fresh in the fifth. I think you could see it. That's kind of the way I want to feel in a fifth set. That's why I worked hard. I worked hard for this victory today. This is great."
Federer said he had never been anything other than confident of victory.
"I wasn't thinking of losing, that's for sure," he said of his feelings after two sets.
"The finish line was still very far for Tomas. I knew that.
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"You can still concentrate on playing just the points instead of thinking, 'Oh my God, what's going to happen?' I didn't feel that way.
"I felt after a terrible first set from my side that if I want to win this it's going to go to five sets. I just felt it. That's why I was prepared for five from the start.
"I think that's what made me be so determined towards the end. It was nice being in a battle with him. It was fair play. It was tough, good tennis towards the end. I believed in it all the way, and I think that was key in the end."
Federer is seeking to equal Pete Sampras's record 14 grand slam titles after starting his first season without the No.1 ranking since 2004.
He has reached the semi-finals at the previous five Australian Opens, winning in 2004, 2006 and 2007, and last failed to reach the quarter-finals in 2003.
Only four other men have won four or more Australian Open titles: Roy Emerson, Andre Agassi, Jack Crawford and Ken Rosewall.
Federer has reached the past 18 grand slam semi-finals, an all-time record.
Agence France-Presse
Federer, 27, has not come back from two sets down since 2005, when he fought past Rafael Nadal in the Miami Masters final, and has not failed to reach a grand slam quarter-finals since the 2004 French Open.
He also battled through a five-set tussle with Igor Andreev in the fourth round of last year's US Open before recovering to win the title.
"I enjoy those kind of fights because it doesn't happen very often, I've had maybe five or six in my life," Federer said.
Roger Federer
"It's always special to come back from 2-0. It's nice for me and I hope it's a good omen."
The Swiss star went into the match on the back of a sweeping victory over old adversary Marat Safin and one-sided wins over Andreas Seppi and Evgeny Korolev.
But despite winning his previous seven matches against Berdych, he immediately looked out of sorts against the Czech, plodding around the court and making errors of every description.
Berdych shocked Federer when he broke in the very first game, and then went another break up before the Swiss could reply and served it out with a searing ace down the middle.
Federer broke early in second set but couldn't hold his advantage, and Berdych was never behind in the tense tie-break as he clinched it with a blazing forehand winner.
Berdych was cruising towards a straight-sets upset but dramatically collapsed at 3-3 in the third, missing three easy volleys to hand Federer the break and eventually the set.
Momentum was firmly with the Swiss and Berdych was furious when Hawk-Eye malfunctioned as he challenged a call at deuce on his serve, giving Federer the chance to get the decisive break in the fourth.
The Swiss was now back to his fluid best and he broke twice early in the fifth before converting his third match point with an ace after nearly three-and-a-half hours, delighting the packed crowd.
"It's great satisfaction," Federer said of the result.
"I don't play five-setters every day so it's a very nice feeling.
"I was feeling still fresh in the fifth. I think you could see it. That's kind of the way I want to feel in a fifth set. That's why I worked hard. I worked hard for this victory today. This is great."
Federer said he had never been anything other than confident of victory.
"I wasn't thinking of losing, that's for sure," he said of his feelings after two sets.
"The finish line was still very far for Tomas. I knew that.
|
"You can still concentrate on playing just the points instead of thinking, 'Oh my God, what's going to happen?' I didn't feel that way.
"I felt after a terrible first set from my side that if I want to win this it's going to go to five sets. I just felt it. That's why I was prepared for five from the start.
"I think that's what made me be so determined towards the end. It was nice being in a battle with him. It was fair play. It was tough, good tennis towards the end. I believed in it all the way, and I think that was key in the end."
Federer is seeking to equal Pete Sampras's record 14 grand slam titles after starting his first season without the No.1 ranking since 2004.
He has reached the semi-finals at the previous five Australian Opens, winning in 2004, 2006 and 2007, and last failed to reach the quarter-finals in 2003.
Only four other men have won four or more Australian Open titles: Roy Emerson, Andre Agassi, Jack Crawford and Ken Rosewall.
Federer has reached the past 18 grand slam semi-finals, an all-time record.
Agence France-Presse
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