Roger Federer needed to draw on all of his past experience to escape his fourth round match in Melbourne.
The 3-time champ Aussie Open champ, looking far from his sublime self, fell behind 2 sets to love to a zoning Tomas Berdych but fought back hard to earn an exhilarating 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win. Regal Rog cracked 61 winners against 40 errors and threw down 20 aces to defeat his Czech foe for the eighth consecutive time and will now meet the dangerous Argentine Juan Martin del Potro in the quarterfinals.
Here's what the former No.1 said about facing the 20-year old upstart:
Well, I mean, he's had a great run after Wimbledon was it? I think he won four tournaments in a row: Two on clay and two on hard court, I think. Yeah, kind of out of the blue. They were not the biggest tournaments in the world, but still, he was able to dominate some good players. I think he beat Roddick and other players like Tommy Haas.What a great escape Fed! But you'll need to get off to a much quicker start and have your forehand working in your match against J. Martin. With that being said, you def have enough tricks left in your Wilson bag to figure out a way to win.
On hard court, that's a great effort. Then he backed it up by playing well at the Open. For a young guy to cope with the pressure and make it to the Masters in the end, I think, was a great effort from his side.
So I think he's done really, really well. It's going to be an interesting match for me. I'm excited playing against him.
The Auckland champ is streaking, however, and has yet to show the mental fragility Tomas has displayed throughout his career.
It could get interesting - just sayin'.
(image via Getty)
"For a young guy to cope with the pressure and make it to the Masters in the end, I think, was a great effort from his side.
ReplyDeleteSo I think he's done really, really well."
And you guys call him arrogant. lol :)
P.S. I just about crapped myself when I saw that he fell behind 2sets to 0. What the hell is with the top ballers? I swear the AO is going to give me an ulcer.
Berdych ch-ch-ch-CHOKED!! That loss is going to haunt him for awhile.
ReplyDeleteanon: yes "the aussie open ulcer inducer" is its formal name
ReplyDeletejohanne: in which way? the missed easy volleys?? the shanked overhead he grounded??? he really did need to win it in three and he felt the moment.
as bud kept saying, he never did believe he was going to win the match. so sad.
RiCH: That shanked overhead was the beginning of the end for TB. I felt bad for him. I really did. He and Gasquet should go get drunk together LOL ;)
ReplyDelete"He and Gasquet should go get drunk together"
ReplyDeleteOMG Johanne I sooooo agree. They just need to invite me along. I'll be Gasquet's "designated driver" because we all know that drunk men are willing to do things they wouldn't normally do: hot, naughty, 18 year old things. LOL
TLG
"It's going to be an interesting match for me" says Federer of Del Potro. Well, duh! Interesting as in "I'm going to beat him easily".
ReplyDeleteThe Argie has strong groundies and solid serve, but he's weak in his head, even more than Berdych. And he is stiffer and much worse mover, so simply CANNOT handle slice. Watch him dump numerous sliced shots into net. And finally, he is in absolute awe of Federer and thinks there's no way he could beat him (he pretty much stated so recently).
Yes, Fed, you're understandably excited to play him. Easy passage into next round for you.
But still...it's Tomas Berdych. How does ANYONE let him get 2 sets? I don't care how well he was playing...he's Tomas Berdych, for chrissakes. This does not bode well for Fed.
ReplyDeletehello? am i the only one going for the 'federer shows spirit of true champion' stuff? :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw that Berdych was leading 2 sets to 0, I thought, "He's losing the next 3 sets." I thought the same thing in Gasquet's match. What is it with these very talented players that can't keep their heads on? I hope they'll get it together in the future and start doing better.
ReplyDeleteHOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT HAWK-EYE DIDN'T WORK AT A VERY CRUCIAL POINT!! At the start of the 4 set, at deuce, Berdych hit a winner that was called out. When he went to challenge Hawk-eye couldn't calculate it because the ball landed in the shade. The original call stood and berdych got broken next point.
ReplyDeleteFederer - HEART OF CHAMPION??? Any takers? Gosh, am i the only believer? ;)
ReplyDeletehelen: I def think he fights like a champion but some of his public statements have made him seem less champion and more chump.
ReplyDeleteBut as I've said before, it makes him human than anything else.
"because we all know that drunk men are willing to do things they wouldn't normally do: hot, naughty, 18 year old things."
ReplyDeleteHoney, ALL men are willing to do hot naughty 18 year old things (or people).
I'm kinda happy that Fed is having 5 setters. If my boy is to meet him, that is.
can't argue with the chump bit. still. all the loyalty has gone out of tennis fans -- even the Rafanatics are skeptics when he has a big match. it's like an illness ;)for better for worse...
ReplyDelete