Australian Open 2011: Roger Federer survives early-exit scare
World number 2 Roger Federer survived the threat of an early exit after he eventually won the match against Gilles Simon of France in this year's opening Grand Slam, the Australian Open. The epic match lasted for five sets and Federer used all his experience
to overcome his opponent.
The match started positively for Federer as he broke Simon early in the opening two sets and held his serve to take the first two sets 6-2 and 6-3. It seemed that the match would be a one-sided affair and Federer would continue his express form.
However, the third set changed the entire scenario of the match. Simon suddenly started playing top-quality tennis and broke Federer early in the set. The Frenchman didn’t look back from then onwards and took the set 6-4.
The fourth set was similar to the third as Simon grew in confidence. The 34-year-old dominated the set and levelled the match at 2-each in four sets.
Both players started the final set with confidence. However, Federer held his nerves and broke Simon in the sixth game of the final set. The 4-2 lead was enough for Federer to carry-on and win the match.
After the match the Swiss stated, “Hopefully we won't play each other anymore. I was stressing out (at two sets all) obviously. I hoped he wouldn't play so well in the fifth, you hope he gets tired. Today I got lucky. I was happy I won and I'm still in the
tournament. I really enjoyed myself out here tonight.”
Simon was disappointed with the result as he came very close to making the first major upset of the tournament. He said, “I had the impression that I was playing just a little bit better than him [at the end of the fourth set, [but] finally, at the beginning
of the fifth, he played a very good game.”
The Frenchman had his chance in the final set when Federer was 0-30 on his serve but the world number 2 came back strongly and held his serve.
The Swiss is chasing his fifth Australian Open and with the victory in yesterday’s match against Simon, he levelled the record of most match wins at the Australian Open. The record was held by Sweden’s Stefan Edberg with 56 match wins.
Federer will be hoping that he remains dominant in the remaining matches. He had some nervous moments in the match against Simon but he will have to lift his game up in order to repeat last year’s performance at the Australian Open.
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