TENNIS AO2015 – Roger Federer fought back from a set down to overcome Italian Simone Bolelli with 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-2. The Italian player, ranked World Number 48 won a set against Federer for the first time against Federer in four head-to-head matches. Diego Sampaolo
AO2015: Interviews, Results, Order of Play, Draws
Federer and Bolelli met for the fourth time in their career. The Basel star won their first head-to-head match in 2008 in the quarter finals in Basel in straight sets. They met twice in the Davis Cup in 2009 and 2014 and both times Federer prevailed in straight sets. In their previous match in the Davis Cup semifinal Federer won 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-4.
Bolelli, who returned to his best form finishing 2014 in the top-60 for the second time in his career rising 189 positions in the ATP Ranking with four Challenger titles after suffering from injury problems for a long time, reached the third round at Wimbledon (losing to Kei Nishikori in five sets) and the second round at the US Open (losing to Tommy Robredo in another five set match) last year and enjoyed a good start to the 2015 season. in Sydney he beat beat David Goffin before losing to eventual winner Viktor Troicki in the quarter finals
In today’s match Bolelli posed a serious challenge to Federer in the first set where the Italian managed to break serve in the fourth game. Federer went down 1-4 in an upset first set before Bolelli converted on his third set point chance for an upset 6-3 in the first set. The Swiss Maestro could not capitalize on two break point chances at 3-2 in the second set before getting the break for the first time in the match on the next Bolelli’s service game in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead.
Federer started the third set with a break en route to winning it with 6-2. He never looked back and broke serve twice. Bolelli’s shot was called long when Federer was leading 5-1 in the fourth set but Bolelli challenged and the point was replayed delaying the end of the match. Federer served out to wrap up the match with another 6-2 in the fourth set after just over two hours.
Federer’s win followed up a near-upset for another super-star of the Australian Open in the previous match where Maria Sharapova had to save two match points before clinching a difficult match against her compatriot Alexandra Panova with 6-1 4-6 7-5.
Federer will take on another Italian player Andreas Seppi. The Swiss 17-Grand Slam champion won all the previous 10 head-to-head matches against Seppi who won just won one set.
“I thought he played two really good sets against me in the Davis Cup, so I felt like he was really imposing his strength at the baseline. I could sense there that he had a good forehand. He was committed on the return. I wasn’t surprised. I was just surprised how well, how consistently he was doing that, and especially how well he was serving actually. Conditions were fast, which made it easier to serve well and harder to return. I shouldn’t be broken, but he was really playing very well from the baseline. That’s when I was under pressure for a while in the second set”, said Federer
“I am happy that I am still in the tournament, because for a while it wasn’t looking very good because Bolelli was playing very well. It’s always a good feeling to fight your way out of a match and winning the last three sets convincingly and actually playing really positive tennis. I served very well. The most important thing is that you play the right way early because it’s not always easy. I had to do some adjustments because he was doing things very well. By figuring things out, it’s a great feeling to have once you have got it. Then you are able to play consistently well because he didn’t have many opportunities on my serve”.
“Once I got the break I was able to relax a little bit but it was tough and I am really pleased to come through. I was already seeing myself explain losing in the second round and I am happy I don’t have to do that interview”
Federer, who reached eleven consecutive semifinals in Melbourne since 2004, is looking to become the second player in the Australian Open history to clinch five titles after Roy Emerson. He won four times in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2010. He won for the last time five years ago against Andy Murray, who could be a possible rival in the quarter finals.
During the match Federer received treatment for a blister on his sore right finger after the first set. “I don’t know if it’s a blister. I don’t know what the thing is. It’s the weirdest thing, I don’t know. I feel it on the tip of the finger. I just felt really odd starting after the break. I feel like it’s numb and swollen. I just wanted to have a chat with the physio just to see what we can do. I know there is nothing we could do. I knew we couldn’t tape it up because then it would be even bigger and more weird. I hope it doesn’t get worse or stay like this. It went away but I now feel it again. I was thing it could be a bee sting.”
