Roger Federer scores surprise win over Stanislas Wawrinka, cruises into Stockholm semis
After a humiliating defeat to British Number 1 Andy Murray last week at the Shanghai Rolex Masters where World Number 2 Roger Federer dropped out of the competition in straight sets 6-3, 6-2, the Maestro seems to have made a comeback
which is no less than spectacular. This Friday, he turned the tables back around in magnificent fashion, recovering from a 2-6 disadvantage i the first set to win the next two sets over his friend, compatriot and doubles partner Stanislas Wawrinka, pushing
himself into the semi-finals of the 2010 Stockholm Open. The final score-line for Federer’s victory was 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The match was an extremely close one for the event’s top seed, who seemed to be lagging behind in the opening set. The World Number 2 seemed nothing like his usual self, as his Olympic gold medal doubles team partner Wawrinka battered
him thoroughly, taking the first set with 6 games out of eight. Stanislas Wawrinka seemed to be setting up for a quick victory in the second set, when he won the first two games consecutively, and many critics washed their hands of Roger Federer and any hope
of his winning the match.
However, Roger Federer surprised all spectators and possibly himself as well, when he made an entirely unexpected comeback in the second set. Down two games, Federer returned with a vengeance in the nick of time, firing up his
game to turn the tide and manage a win in one hour and forty-five minutes.
When asked about how he felt at this point in the match, the Maestro admitted that he had had his trepidations, saying, “It was looking pretty bad, Stan was playing well and things were going quickly for me, I had no timing and
was shanking balls. He was dominating, it was tough for me to stay in it. But I tried, I got lucky and all of a sudden I was back in the match. I fought my way out of this and I’m excited to be in the semis.”
Federer also says that he had to work quite hard to win in the second set, but Wawrinka’s playing style had fallen quite a bit by the third set of the match. The Swiss player says, “I tried to adjust my game a bit. He was serving
big so you try to hit good shots. His level dropped that little bit and things were much easier in the third set.”
The 29-year-old former World Number 1 will now compete against his long-standing rival, Croatian professional tennis player Ivan Ljubicic. Ljubicic scored a win over fellow countryman Ivan Dodig with a score-line of 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Federer seems to look forward to playing Ljubicic; their last match was in 2008, and he and Federer have always shared healthy competition. Says the Swiss player, “He’s a close friend, we go back a long way. He’s a great player
and the only guy to beat me twice in Switzerland. I owe him some revenge just for that. I have tons of respect for him. I hope we can play a good match tomorrow.”
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