In his first competitive tournament for six months, Roger Federer has battled his way to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open after knocking out fifth seed Kei Nishikori 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
Nishikori was the second top 10 player to face the Federer test in Melbourne. The first was Tomas Berdych, who failed miserably on Friday. This time round was different. The Japanese fifth seed has a significantly greater intensity with the weapons to challenge the 35-year-old, who is still on a comeback from injury.
This was demonstrated from the onset of the match as Nishikori battled to secure a double break on route to a commanding 5-1 lead. Still, it was not enough to tame the 17-time grand slam champion as Federer hit back. Cheered on by the crowd, it was the Swiss player’s turn to apply the pressure as he dictated rallies against his at-times tentative opponent to stage a comeback on route to the tiebreaker.
A total of 12 ranking places separates the two players, but there was little disparity between them both on the court. A double handed Backhand landed centimetres within the baseline to hand Nishikori the break for 5-3 in the tiebreak. That break proved detrimental to the first set outcome as the fifth seed produced back-to-back serves, that was unsuccessfully returned from Federer.
“I wasn’t playing badly, ,aybe I wasn’t seeing to the spots very well or maybe he read my serve well. It’s a quick court, things happen very fast and it was about staying calm.” Federer reflectively said about his start to the match.
Dropping the opening set failed to disheartened Federer, it only made him stronger. Recovering from the one-set deficit, the seventeenth seed continued to apply pressure on his opponent’s serve. Illustrating glimmers of the brilliance that has won him an army of fans of the years, a speedy return triggered an Nishikori error to give him the break as raced to level the match at a set-a-piece. Just four points were dropped by Federer in his service games throughout the second set.
35 years old. I repeat, 35 years old #Federer pic.twitter.com/GcmWWBVkJ7
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) 22 January 2017
Reservations about how Federer’s fitness would hold up after his six-month hiatus from the tour became irrelevant in the match. Steamrolling towards the win, he made the fifth best player in the world look somewhat ordinary. Within 62 minutes, the 35-year-old turned the match from being a set down to a two-sets to one lead. The biggest telling factor was Nishikori’s poor second serve. Throughout the second and third set, the Japanese player could only win two out of 15 points in that area.
¡Por dónde mete esa bola Federer! Buscándo ángulos imposibles el suizo con su mejor tenis ante Nishikori #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/PSsjbTLfzQ
— Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) 22 January 2017
As the Melbourne crowd grew more and more envious of Federer’s shot-making capabilities, Nishikori refused to exit without a fight. A forehand winner down the line granted the Japanese player a break in the fourth set to reignite his winning chances. Overcoming the continues winners coming from the end of his opponent, Nishikori achieved the latest momentum switch with the help of a love service game, his first of the match.
The fifth set became a test of both players mental strength as well as their physical. Nishikori had the momentum on his side, but Federer still had the belief. A costly backhand error handed Federer two break points, which he converted from a 2-0 lead thanks to another Nishikori error. Back issues than began to hinder the higher ranked player, who received treatment during an injury-time out. A Federer victory was once again a strong inevitability outcome as he completed the win with a smash at the net, prompting a jubilant jump by the 17-time grand slam champion.
“He was playing his heart out and I thought it was a great match. It was a joy to be part of it.” Federer said of Nishikori following his win.
Awaiting Federer in the quarter-finals will be Mischa Zverev, who stunned Andy Murray in four sets. Zverev is the lowest ranked player to beast a top seed at a grand slam event since Marat Safin defeated Andy Roddick at the 2004 Australian Open.
“I thought it was another incredible match, like with Novak (Djokovic) against Istomin. I couldn’t believe it, I would have never picked it.” Federer said about Zverev’s shock win.
“I like Mischa a lot, he has a nice game coming forward. So it’s going to be totally different to today (against Nishikori).”
Since 2004, Federer has reached the quarter-finals in Melbourne in 13 times.
