TENNIS – Roger Federer won an epic three-set match after saving four match points against his rival and friend Stan Wawrinka with 4-6 7-5 7-6(6). Federer fought back from 3-5 down in the third set and 5-6 in the decisive tie.break to battle past Wawrinka after 2 hours an d48 minutes. Federer will be bidding for his seventh title in the ATP Finals in a blockbuster final against three-time champion Novak Djokovic. Diego Sampaolo
Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka met for their 17th head-head match with the Basel player leading 14-2. Wawrinka won his only two matches on Monte-Carlo clay in 2009 and in this year’s final. Federer won their last match in the Wimbledon quarter finals in four sets with 3-6 7-6 6-4 6-4.
The first two games went on serve. Wawrinka got the first break of the match in the third game for 2-1. It was the first time this week that Federer dropped his serve. Wawrinka hit an ace to hold his serve for 3-1. Federer won the fifth game on his serve for 2-3 but Wawrinka hit two aces to go up 4-2. Wawrinka broke serve for the second time for 5-2 and served for the first set. Federer broke back for 3-5 as Wawrinka made a double fault and hit his forehand long and held his serve in the next game for 4-5. Wawrinka held his nerve and served out for the set to win the first set with 6-4. In the first set Wawrinka won all his first service points
Federer took the 3-2 lead as Wawrinka hit a passing shot into the net but he could not convert three break points in the sixth game. Wawrinka hit two groundstrokes and his smash into the net at 5-6 and dropped his serve to love.
Wawrinka broke serve at the start of the decider for 1-0. Federer questioned with the chair umpire Cedric Mourrier after an over-rule. When 0-40 was called, Federer thought it was 15-30.
Wawrinka saved two break points at 4-3 30-40 The Lausanne player came two games within a historic first final in this tournament but Federer rallied from 0-30 down to win the seventh game for 3-4. Federer put Wawrinka under pressure and earned two break point chances. However Wawrinka saved them to pull away to 5-3. Federer needed a break to keep his hopes alive. King Roger was on the brink of defeat when Wawrinka earned three match points at 5-4 40-30 but on the crucial moment he saved them as Wawrinka was serving for the match. As the drama increased the Swiss Maestro got the vital break after a 11-minute game to stay in the match when Wawrinka hit his backhand into the net after a long rally. Federer rallied from 15-40 to win the 11th game for 6-5 but Wawrinka held his serve to force the third set to the tie-break. Wawrinka brought up his fourth match point at 6-5 in the tie-break but Federer saved it with a service winner. Federer clinched the two-hour and 48-minute epic battle on his first match point with a drop volley for 8-6 in the tie-break to set up a blockbuster final against Novak Djokovic who edged Kei Nishikori in the afternoon. Federer has improved his lead over Wawrinka to 15-2.
“I thought it was an exciting match to say the least. I didn’t think I was going to turn it around anymore because Stan was playing well for a long time. You have got to keep believing that there is a slight chance that you are going to turn it around somehow, It happened today. I was able to win the second set by somehow hanging around. I got lucky. Stan played better from the baseline and that usually does the job on this court. But I kept fighting. It’s tough for Stan but I am thrilled to be in another final in London. I am happy we were able to play such a good match.”, said Federer.
“That game at the end I was nervous. It was not easy to play from the baseline. He was just pushing his slice baseline return. I was like. I was going to try to take it, try not to wait for a mistake, try to go for it. In a tough match like that, there are only few points that make the difference. I was playing great tennis. I am happy with the way I was playing. I had some big opportunities in the third set. I should have take it especially when I was serving for the match with the two match points. Maybe I didn’t serve well enough”, said Wawrinka
Federer will play his ninth final in his 13th appearance in the end-of-the year tournament equalling Ivan Lendl. He won his sixth title in 2011. Federer leads 19-17 in his previous head-to-head matches against Djokovic who has extended his winning streak to 31 consecutive indoor matches.
Federer and Wawrinka will team up next week for the eagerly-awaited Davis Cup final between Switzerland and France in Lille on Indoor clay.
