Janko Tipsarevic believes he has the game plan to beat Roger Federer. The Serb hasn’t yet conquered Roger the Great, few have, but taking Federer the distance in a grand slam means Tipsarevic’s game plan is worth listening to.
“The only way to beat him is to be aggressive,” the world number 49 said shortly after squandering a two sets to one lead in the third round of the Australian Open. ‘Squandering’ is actually an unfair word, given Federer needed 18 games in the fifth set to finally slay the Serbian.
“If you go out there thinking ‘I’m going to play a good match, make him sweat for his money’ or something like that, it’s not going to work,” Tipsarevic said. “So I went on court with the idea that I can win. I was close. I lost because he was better in the important moments of the match.”
Tipsarevic is selling himself short. Federer cracked nearly twice as many winners (96-52), including more than double the amount of aces (39-14). The world number one won an extra 29 points, however it was Tipsarevic’s 3/3 conversion rate on break points against the Federer serve, as opposed to 5/21 from the Swiss master, that kept the Serbian in the match.
“I was lucky that in these points I was focused and thinking that he’s also human and he can make mistakes. Not trying to overplay.”
Tonight was a career-defining match for Tipsarevic, even in defeat. The magnitude of the four hour showcase was not lost on the bearded one.
“I got a lot of positive vibes also from the players in the locker room, my family, my coach.
“I think I’m going to be more disappointed tomorrow than I am today.”
Tipsarevic fought manfully through obvious fatigue. His bold bid appeared to be done when he wilted in the fourth set, dropping it 1-6. The Serbian found an extra gear in the decider, but it was obvious the tank was running low.
“Against Roger it’s so hard, because he’s playing every point like ‘point for point’. Even when you’re up 40-love, the game is far, far from over,”
There was one scary notion Tipsarevic put forward. After over four hours of looking at the Federer serve, 31 service games in total, the Serb still couldn’t read which way the ball the going.
“His toss is always the same. He turns around with his shoulder always the same.”
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