It’s not often Roger Federer is taken to five sets, let alone in the first week of a slam. Even the man himself appreciated the rarity of the occasion, which ended 10-8 in the deciding set – in Roger’s favour, of course - against plucky Serbian Janko Tipsarevic.
“I thought it was great,” Federer said.
“A bit unusual to have a third round five setter for me. It hasn’t happened ever, I think, in a Grand Slam for me. Maybe at the French once.”
(For the record, Federer’s memory is as razor sharp as his game. In 2000, three years before his first slam trophy, Federer beat compatriot Michel Kratochvil 9-7 in the fifth.)
Three sets and out is the Federer norm in round three of a slam, but after three sets tonight the Swiss master found himself down two sets to one, on the brink of elimination. It wasn’t as if Federer was doing much wrong, just the big moments that weren’t going his way.
“I missed so many opportunities in the first three sets, which I think I should have won them all. I’m down two sets to one and I feel like, why is this happening this way?”
Tipsarevic has reached the fourth round of a grand slam just once in a five year career, a stat that belies tonight’s fighting effort.
“He fought really hard, didn’t miss much, and he was way better than back when I played him in Davis Cup and beat him quite easily. So I was impressed by his game,” Federer said.
“He put a lot of pressure on me. Give him credit for playing as well in the big points.”
Tipsarevic certainly delivered in the big moments. The Serb created three break points against Federer. Not a massive amount in a long five-setter, however Tipsarevic nailed the lot. The world number 49 faced a whopping 21 break points, saving all but five.
Federer was quick to dismiss his recent stomach ailment as an excuse for a slightly sluggish display, however he admitted he felt ‘off’.
“I just felt slow from the start really. It wasn’t one of those matches where I came out and just felt this is going to be a great night of tennis tonight.”
The world number one seemed to have weathered the storm in the fourth, when he steamrolled the Serb 6-1. Fatigue had taken its toll on Tipsarevic, who was shortening points with all or nothing shots from the back of the court.
“The longer the match went on I just thought he was getting more and more tired, and I just knew if I hang in there and serve well, hopefully it’s going to end my way,” Federer said.
Will a five-setter this early in the tournament hurt Federer down the track? No way, at least according to Roge.
“Honestly, for me it’s good to play five setters once in a while. It gives me a lot of information, how I’m feeling, and what I still have to work on maybe.
“Just being there in a five setter is good for me because I’m hardly ever there.”
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