TENNIS WIMBLEDON 2014 – Roger Federer is back in another major final and how fitting it is that it should at Wimbledon, the place where he has had the most success. It has been two years since the Swiss has had the chance to play for a major title but his form over the past two weeks suggests that he is capable of winning more titles. In the semifinal he dispatched the green Milos Raonic 6-4 6-4 6-4. Cordell Hackshaw
Results, Order of Play, Draws and Interviews from The Championships
After the match, Roger Federer (4) stated, “My game’s back where I hoped it would be … I’m unbelievably thrilled to be in another final.” The 17-time major champion is back in another major final and how fitting it is that it should at Wimbledon, the place where he has had the most success, having won 7th titles (2003-2007, 2010, 2012). It has been two years since Federer has had the chance to play for a major title but his form over the past two weeks suggests that he is capable of winning more titles. He was up against Milos Raonic (8) who has shown this year that he is close to winning a major title. However, despite owning a 4-0 record against the Canadian, Federer did not take Raonic lightly in the least. Federer remained calm and focus at the task at hand. He let his experience in these big moments worked for him as he dispatched the green Raonic 6-4 6-4 6-4 in an hour and 40 minutes.
Raonic has over the past few matches started nervously and this semifinal match would be no different. He was broken in the opening game of the match and Federer edged ahead 2-0. Federer would later state, “I didn’t see it coming necessarily, but I grabbed it and then ran with it.” Federer was showing that he had the read on Raonic’s serve as he earned two more break points on Raonic’s serve but Raonic produced those trademarks big serves to hold his serve. Federer maintained his break advantage to close out the set 6-4 in 34 minutes. Raonic would hold serve to start the 2nd set and things would remain on serve till the 9th game when Raonic again played a loose service game to be broken at love. Federer now up 5-4, served it out to take a 2-0 sets lead 6-4 6-4. The 3rd set was a near mirror of the 2nd as Raonic again at 4-4 played a sloppy 9th game to be broken. Federer with all his experience served out the match with a big unreturnable serve for the win 6-4 6-4 6-4.
“Today I think I had to be very focused and concentrated, even after match point … I was very pleased the way I played today because it was always going to be a difficult match against Milos,” Federer said. He quite literally out served Raonic. He won 81% of his 1st serve points and 68% on his 2nd serve compared to Raonic who won 80% on 1st serves and 50% on 2nd. Federer saved the lone break point he faced against Raonic and maintained a single blemish on his serving card as he was broken only once in the tournament against Stan Wawrinka. One can only hope that Raonic does not look back at this match with negative thoughts because he played an excellent match. Unfortunately, he was up against Federer who is far more experienced and knows how to play the big points as well as create opportunities for himself. Raonic is not quite at that level as yet.
In the final on Sunday, Federer will play Novak Djokovic for the 34th time with Federer leading that head-to-head 18-16. Of the match up, Federer had this to say, “[W]e both like to be close to the baseline. We both like to take charge, especially on quicker courts. Novak can hurt you down the line or cross court on both sides. I think for me it’s really important to stay aggressive against him.” Federer fans will be excited that he has a chance for a record 18 major titles.
