TENNIS – Roger Federer rallied from a set down to edge past eight-seed Diego Schwarzmann in three hard-fought sets with 2-6 6-2 7-5 in almost two hours after playing another close battle in the quarter final against Daniel Gimeno Traver. Diego Sampaolo
Federer won his only previous two head-to-head matches against Schwarzmann who reached a ATP semifinal for the first time in his career. In their last match Federer beat Schwrzmann 6-4 6-2 at Indian Wells.
Federer struggled with his serve in the first set and was broken on his second service game when Schwarzmann converted on his second break point opportunity for 2-1. The Argentine player confirmed his break in the fourth game for 3-1 before pulling away to 4-2. Federer made too many errors and could not earn any break point chances. Schwarzmann got the double break for 5-2 and served for the first set after just 28 minutes.
Federer earned his first two break point chances at the start of the second set. Schwarzmann saved the second opportunity with his down-the-line backhand. Federer finally got the break on his second opportunity to take the 3-1 lead in the fifth game after wasting four break points and receiving a warning for hitting a ball towards the stands.
In the 8th game Federer earned three more break points and converted on his first opportunity on the set point when he hit a crosscourt backhand return.
Federer held his serve to love in the first game of the third set. Federer recovered from 15-40 on Schwrzmann’s serve to earn a break point chance but the Argentine saved it.
At 2-2 Schwarzmann brought up two break point chances. He hit his return into the net on the first opportunity. Federer saved the second chance with a down-the-line backhand.
As Federer was leading 5-4 Schwarzmann saved a match point with a backhand down the line to draw level to 5-5. Schwarzmann served to stay in the match in the 12th game. He missed a forehand volley before handing Federer two match points with a forehand into the net.
Federer clinched the win on his first match point with a break of serve in the 12th game to qualify for his fourth final of the year and his 128th final in his career. After playing his first semifinal Schwarzmann received a standing ovation from the crowd who packed the Koza Arena in Istanbul
Federer will be bidding to win his third title in 2015 and his 85th career trophy.
“He played very well and people liked it”, said Federer.
Federer will face for the first time in his career clay specialist Pablo Cuevas from Uruguay who upset Grigor Dimitrov 6-2 6-4 in 75 minutes. Cuevas, who won all his third career title in Sao Paulo earlier this year, converted on five of his six break point chances. Both players struggled to hold their serve. Dimitrov was broken four times in his four service games in the first set and won just 38 percent of his first service games. Cuevas also dropped his serve twice but he closed out the first set on his first match point. Cuevas got the decisive break in the fifth game of the second set for 3-2 and served out on his second match point..
