Federer survives scare in first round
Source: Agencies |
June 22, 2010, Tuesday
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SIX-TIME champion Roger Federer came back from the brink of a dramatic first-round exit at Wimbledon yesterday, recovering from two sets down to beat gritty Colombian Alejandro Falla 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-0.
Federer, bidding for a record-equalling seventh men's singles title, was staring down the barrel as the south American world No. 60 served for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set after producing a spellbinding display of baseline power and volleying guile.
" I definitely got very lucky out there," Federer said in a interview as he came off court. "I have lost many matches this year which I should have won, this is one I should have lost but I came through. But that is sometimes how grass court tennis works."
The Swiss top seed, who also recovered from 4-4, 0-40 on his serve in the third set, finally found his game after being made to look second best for much of the match before a disbelieving Centre Court crowd.
He wrapped up the fourth set tiebreak 7-1 and galloped through the decider in double quick time, avoiding the ignominy of being the first Wimbledon champion to fall at the first hurdle since Lleyton Hewitt in 2003.
Federer, who pummeled Falla for the loss of three games in the tune-up event in Halle last week, looked lost in the middle part of the match as the Colombian returned superbly, picked his advances to the net exquisitely and matched the 16-time grand slam winner stroke for stroke from the back of the court.
When Federer won the third, Falla could have been expected to fold but he broke in the opening game of the fourth, the Swiss contributing to his total of seven double faults in the process.
Falla could not hold his nerve serving at 5-4 and there was little doubt about the outcome once Federer took it into a fifth set, which he won in 27 minutes. He will face Serbian qualifier Ilija Bozoljac in round two.
Also, Kim Clijsters needed a few minutes to familiarize herself with the layout at Wimbledon after a four-year absence.
Once on court though, the returning Belgian wasted little time in swatting aside Italian Maria Elena Camerin 6-0, 6-3 to ease into the second round yesterday. She next faces Croatia's Karolina Sprem.
Clijsters, twice semifinalist at the All England Club, found herself in the unfamiliar surroundings of Court 2 for a low-key clash with the world No. 120.
Nervous and excited Clijsters, 27, was just happy to be playing competitively again on the Wimbledon grass after returning to the tour last year after a maternity break.
"I was nervous and excited to be out there again. I had to find my way to get there (court two) a little bit - luckily a security guard knew where he was going because I actually had no idea," she said.
Federer, bidding for a record-equalling seventh men's singles title, was staring down the barrel as the south American world No. 60 served for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set after producing a spellbinding display of baseline power and volleying guile.
" I definitely got very lucky out there," Federer said in a interview as he came off court. "I have lost many matches this year which I should have won, this is one I should have lost but I came through. But that is sometimes how grass court tennis works."
The Swiss top seed, who also recovered from 4-4, 0-40 on his serve in the third set, finally found his game after being made to look second best for much of the match before a disbelieving Centre Court crowd.
He wrapped up the fourth set tiebreak 7-1 and galloped through the decider in double quick time, avoiding the ignominy of being the first Wimbledon champion to fall at the first hurdle since Lleyton Hewitt in 2003.
Federer, who pummeled Falla for the loss of three games in the tune-up event in Halle last week, looked lost in the middle part of the match as the Colombian returned superbly, picked his advances to the net exquisitely and matched the 16-time grand slam winner stroke for stroke from the back of the court.
When Federer won the third, Falla could have been expected to fold but he broke in the opening game of the fourth, the Swiss contributing to his total of seven double faults in the process.
Falla could not hold his nerve serving at 5-4 and there was little doubt about the outcome once Federer took it into a fifth set, which he won in 27 minutes. He will face Serbian qualifier Ilija Bozoljac in round two.
Also, Kim Clijsters needed a few minutes to familiarize herself with the layout at Wimbledon after a four-year absence.
Once on court though, the returning Belgian wasted little time in swatting aside Italian Maria Elena Camerin 6-0, 6-3 to ease into the second round yesterday. She next faces Croatia's Karolina Sprem.
Clijsters, twice semifinalist at the All England Club, found herself in the unfamiliar surroundings of Court 2 for a low-key clash with the world No. 120.
Nervous and excited Clijsters, 27, was just happy to be playing competitively again on the Wimbledon grass after returning to the tour last year after a maternity break.
"I was nervous and excited to be out there again. I had to find my way to get there (court two) a little bit - luckily a security guard knew where he was going because I actually had no idea," she said.
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