Roger Federer appears to have mirrored his strong starts to the 2014-15 seasons, as he reached the Brisbane final for the third consecutive year. Federer dismissed young Austrian Dominic Thiem 6-1, 6-4.
It was a one-sided affair from the start, as Federer incredibly swept the first five games in just sixteen minutes. Thiem was able to avoid the bagel by holding to fifteen in game six, but no comeback in the first set was forthcoming. Federer looked assured on nearly every front, winning free points on many serves, and dominating proceedings from the baseline. The only area where Thiem seemed able to effect the game was when Federer came into net, passing him twice with with backhand winners.
The rout appeared to continued early in the second set, Federer breaking on the back of two Thiem errors, a double-fault, and a volley winner. Thiem though finally brought something to proceedings, restoring parity in the second set by breaking to deuce, picking Federer off at the net, and then winning rally with a forehand winner deep into into the Federer backhand.
It was a small reprieve though, as Federer retook the lead in game seven. Thiem double-faulted on break point for a second time, and Federer would not relinquish the break this time, serving out for a closer victory in the second set than maybe it looked earlier on.
Milos Raonic will face Federer in the final after the world no.14 earned a big win over the dangerous Bernard Tomic in The Canadian server renowned for his big serve, used that weapon to his advantage in a 7-6, 7-6 win. Raonic edged the first set, saving four break points. Both men improved their serving still further, with no break points being created at all. That being said, Raonic dropped just seven points to Tomic’s twelve, and deservedly won the second set tiebreak seven-five.
Federer “I’m very happy to be back in the final, its a re-match of last year’s where I was going for my 1’000th tour win, … its a great start to the year“.
Federer leads his Head-to-Head with Milos Raonic 9-1. Federer has won his last three meetings with Raonic, including the title match at this event last year, which went a close three sets. Raonic’s lone win came on the indoor hard-courts of the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000 event in 2014.
Highlights of Roger Federer’s win over Milos Raonic in the 2015 Brisbane final.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nekb0FDP4D4
