Roger Federer edges past Milos Raonic into the last 16 – Mutua Madrid Open 2012
Swiss Maestro, Roger Federer, was stretched to the limit during his second round win at the Mutua Madrid Open in Spain on Wednesday. Playing his first clay court match of the season, the 16-time Grand Slam champion came back after losing the first set to beat Canada’s Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) in two hours and 13 minutes.
Federer and Raonic did not allow each other to break in the opening eight games, levelling the score at 4-4. The Swiss legend could not win even a single point in the next two, going down 4-6.
Raonic was backed by his powerful serves, as he bombarded eight aces on the former world number one and grabbed all 14 of the first serve points. The Canadian did not give any break chance to Federer and availed the only one he got in the opener.
Federer became under pressure in the very first game of the second set but saved three threats to his serve and finally held it. Both players held their serve comfortably in the next nine and squared off the score at 5-5. The Swiss Maestro started off with a 40-0 lead in the 10th game but lost four consecutive points to face another break risk. Federer not only saved that to win his serve but struck in the following one to win the second set 7-5.
The decider also went to the wire, as none of the two players was able to breakthrough till the end, taking the score to 6-6 and forcing a tie-breaker. Federer showed at that moment why he is called the best player in history of tennis, as he opened up with a 4-1 lead. The Swiss star made the most of that early advantage and captured it 7-6(4).
Federer acknowledged, in the post match press conference, "I had a tough first set and one bad game that cost me the set really. He could swing big on my service games and I couldn't do that much on his but I was getting more balls back as the match went on. I played a good tie-breaker overall."
He added, "Right now, I'm just playing good tennis and it's a big win because wins like this can create great things. It was pretty much a big struggle for me tonight but the level is pretty good and I'm happy where I am in the season.”
The Swiss legend will play Frenchman, Richard Gasquet, in the round of 16.
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