10-09-2009, 09:57 AM
Despite a first-set blowout and scintillating shot making, Roger Federer needed four sets to defeat Robin Soderling and reach his 22nd consecutive Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open Wednesday night. Federer served up a bagel in the first set en route to winning 12 of the first 15 games against the Swede, whom he now has beaten in all 12 career meetings.
But Soderling, who looked destined for a straight-sets defeat when he trailed 0-4 in the third-set tie-break, produced a stunning comeback to force Federer to a fourth set for the second time in the tournament and was one point away from taking the match to a fifth set when he led 6/5 in the fourth-set tie-break.
Federer ultimately triumphed 6-0, 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(6).
"From my side, I think I played a great match," said Federer. "I had dream tennis there for a while in the beginning. I was able to dominate like I've never done that before against him. Then he started to get better, started to serve better. He got better, sort of more confidence from the baseline, and then it was more difficult to stay with him. But I'm very happy to have still come through because it was close."
Chasing a sixth consecutive US Open title, Federer began brilliantly despite difficult conditions. In a testament to his footwork and timing, Federer appeared totally unaffected by blustery conditions while Soderling, known as an indoor specialist earlier in his career, did not look comfortable.
Soderling forced Federer to toil for seven minutes on serve in the opening game, testing the Swiss with two break point opportunities. But Federer broke Soderling to love in the following game and then raced to a 3-0 lead after ripping a down-the-line backhand winner. Soderling never worked his way into the match in the first two sets and, when he was broken to fall behind 2-4 in the second set, he had faced break points in five of his first six service games. Federerââ¬â¢s ball striking was phenomenal: He matched Soderlingââ¬â¢s power blow for blow but also threw off the Swede with a variety of slice, drop shots and effective net approaches.
Soderlingââ¬â¢s first serve caused Federer more trouble in the third set and, coupled with cleaner hitting from the baseline, he forced a tie-break against the Swiss. When Federer raced to a 4/0 lead in the tie-break the match looked over, but Soderling stunned Federer to claw back to 6/6, at which point he gambled on a 115 mph second serve and clinched the point with a big forehand winner. On the next point he nailed two big forehands down the line to the deuce court. Federer somehow scrambled back the first one high and deep to the backhand corner, but he couldnââ¬â¢t control the second and that ended the set.
Soderling had 0/30 and 15/30 in Federerââ¬â¢s first two service games of the fourth set and kept the pressure on the World No. 1 to force another tie-break. As both players ratcheted up the power even more, Federer fired his 27th and 28th aces to go to 5-4, with Soderling responding with his 11th ace to draw level at 5-5. The Swede then set up a set point with an unreturned serve up the middle. On the set point, Soderling took a big forehand cut at a second serve only to miss wide to the ad court.
Soderling seemed to have control of the next point but missed a backhand wide down the line and then, facing his first match point, conceded the only mini-break of the tie-break when he sprayed a crosscourt forehand wide.
Statistically, Federer was far superior, clipping 64 winners to Soderling's 36 and making just 26 unforced errors to the Swede's 45. He converted four of 11 break point opportunities while Soderling was unable to break serve despite five chances. Yet Federer, who also won 86 percent of points on his first serve, still came within one point of being taken to a fifth set.
"I was ready to go five, but mentally I was feeling great," said Federer. "I thought I was moving excellent, as well. I came up with some awesome shots, and I couldn't ask for more, really. I was just trying to stay calm, because we went through like two completely different phases. In the beginning it was quiet. People wanted him to come back in the match, and all of a sudden it gets super exciting. So it was a tough match to get through."
Since losing in the third round at Roland Garros to Gustavo Kuerten in 2004, Federer has reached the semi-finals or better in a record 22 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments. Kuerten was ranked No. 30 at the time and since that loss Federer also has not lost to a player outside the Top 5 in Grand Slam action, compiling a 124-0 mark.
Federer is attempting to continue another streak this fortnight as he chases his sixth straight US Open title. Only two players have accomplished the feat in tournament history: Bill Tilden, who won six straight from 1920-25, and Richard Sears, who won seven times from 1881-87.
In order to reach his seventh straight Grand Slam championship match, he will need to get by Serbian Novak Djokovic, the last player to prevent him from reaching a major final. Djokovic defeated Federer in the 2008 Australian Open semi-finals, snapping the Swissââ¬â¢ streak of 13 straight Grand Slam finals reached, before going on to clinch the title.
Federer has an 8-4 record against Djokovic, including wins the past two years at the US Open in the 2007 final and 2008 semi-finals. He also defeated the Serbian last month in the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters final, although Djokovic won their two other meetings this past season.
Federer said about Djokovic, who defeated Fernando Verdasco in four sets earlier Wednesday: "Obviously I think he's done well to come through. I mean, there's no reason to impress, I think. Getting through to a semi-final stage of a Slam it's just getting there, and then hopefully saving your best for last.
"I think he's put himself in this position. I think today he played a solid match. I didn't see a whole lot of it, but what I saw I thought it was good from his side. He's done well against me in the past, but I beat him in Cincinnati and I hope I can build on that, and try to beat him again here on Saturday."
But Soderling, who looked destined for a straight-sets defeat when he trailed 0-4 in the third-set tie-break, produced a stunning comeback to force Federer to a fourth set for the second time in the tournament and was one point away from taking the match to a fifth set when he led 6/5 in the fourth-set tie-break.
Federer ultimately triumphed 6-0, 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(6).
"From my side, I think I played a great match," said Federer. "I had dream tennis there for a while in the beginning. I was able to dominate like I've never done that before against him. Then he started to get better, started to serve better. He got better, sort of more confidence from the baseline, and then it was more difficult to stay with him. But I'm very happy to have still come through because it was close."
Chasing a sixth consecutive US Open title, Federer began brilliantly despite difficult conditions. In a testament to his footwork and timing, Federer appeared totally unaffected by blustery conditions while Soderling, known as an indoor specialist earlier in his career, did not look comfortable.
Soderling forced Federer to toil for seven minutes on serve in the opening game, testing the Swiss with two break point opportunities. But Federer broke Soderling to love in the following game and then raced to a 3-0 lead after ripping a down-the-line backhand winner. Soderling never worked his way into the match in the first two sets and, when he was broken to fall behind 2-4 in the second set, he had faced break points in five of his first six service games. Federerââ¬â¢s ball striking was phenomenal: He matched Soderlingââ¬â¢s power blow for blow but also threw off the Swede with a variety of slice, drop shots and effective net approaches.
Soderlingââ¬â¢s first serve caused Federer more trouble in the third set and, coupled with cleaner hitting from the baseline, he forced a tie-break against the Swiss. When Federer raced to a 4/0 lead in the tie-break the match looked over, but Soderling stunned Federer to claw back to 6/6, at which point he gambled on a 115 mph second serve and clinched the point with a big forehand winner. On the next point he nailed two big forehands down the line to the deuce court. Federer somehow scrambled back the first one high and deep to the backhand corner, but he couldnââ¬â¢t control the second and that ended the set.
Soderling had 0/30 and 15/30 in Federerââ¬â¢s first two service games of the fourth set and kept the pressure on the World No. 1 to force another tie-break. As both players ratcheted up the power even more, Federer fired his 27th and 28th aces to go to 5-4, with Soderling responding with his 11th ace to draw level at 5-5. The Swede then set up a set point with an unreturned serve up the middle. On the set point, Soderling took a big forehand cut at a second serve only to miss wide to the ad court.
Soderling seemed to have control of the next point but missed a backhand wide down the line and then, facing his first match point, conceded the only mini-break of the tie-break when he sprayed a crosscourt forehand wide.
Statistically, Federer was far superior, clipping 64 winners to Soderling's 36 and making just 26 unforced errors to the Swede's 45. He converted four of 11 break point opportunities while Soderling was unable to break serve despite five chances. Yet Federer, who also won 86 percent of points on his first serve, still came within one point of being taken to a fifth set.
"I was ready to go five, but mentally I was feeling great," said Federer. "I thought I was moving excellent, as well. I came up with some awesome shots, and I couldn't ask for more, really. I was just trying to stay calm, because we went through like two completely different phases. In the beginning it was quiet. People wanted him to come back in the match, and all of a sudden it gets super exciting. So it was a tough match to get through."
Since losing in the third round at Roland Garros to Gustavo Kuerten in 2004, Federer has reached the semi-finals or better in a record 22 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments. Kuerten was ranked No. 30 at the time and since that loss Federer also has not lost to a player outside the Top 5 in Grand Slam action, compiling a 124-0 mark.
Federer is attempting to continue another streak this fortnight as he chases his sixth straight US Open title. Only two players have accomplished the feat in tournament history: Bill Tilden, who won six straight from 1920-25, and Richard Sears, who won seven times from 1881-87.
In order to reach his seventh straight Grand Slam championship match, he will need to get by Serbian Novak Djokovic, the last player to prevent him from reaching a major final. Djokovic defeated Federer in the 2008 Australian Open semi-finals, snapping the Swissââ¬â¢ streak of 13 straight Grand Slam finals reached, before going on to clinch the title.
Federer has an 8-4 record against Djokovic, including wins the past two years at the US Open in the 2007 final and 2008 semi-finals. He also defeated the Serbian last month in the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters final, although Djokovic won their two other meetings this past season.
Federer said about Djokovic, who defeated Fernando Verdasco in four sets earlier Wednesday: "Obviously I think he's done well to come through. I mean, there's no reason to impress, I think. Getting through to a semi-final stage of a Slam it's just getting there, and then hopefully saving your best for last.
"I think he's put himself in this position. I think today he played a solid match. I didn't see a whole lot of it, but what I saw I thought it was good from his side. He's done well against me in the past, but I beat him in Cincinnati and I hope I can build on that, and try to beat him again here on Saturday."
"Hij heeft misschien nog weinig tegenstand, maar dat is wat anders. En ook niet waar trouwens".
Mooi van Isner, maar nu wel erg jammer dat Russell niet mee doet. Maar wel gunstig voor Querrey. Jammer dat Anderson niet doordrukte, maar dat kan Zeballos mooi doen.
Stunt Wawrinka zou leuk zijn, maar niet als ie vervolgens verliest van Djokovic. Maar als die dan weer verliest van Berdych, maakt het niet uit. Dus vannacht is inderdaad cruciaal.
Mooi van Isner, maar nu wel erg jammer dat Russell niet mee doet. Maar wel gunstig voor Querrey. Jammer dat Anderson niet doordrukte, maar dat kan Zeballos mooi doen.
Stunt Wawrinka zou leuk zijn, maar niet als ie vervolgens verliest van Djokovic. Maar als die dan weer verliest van Berdych, maakt het niet uit. Dus vannacht is inderdaad cruciaal.