Seven match points… against him and finally a victory snatch despite a tottering physique: Roger Federer just barely got out Tuesday, January 28 against the 100e world champion Tennys Sandgren, but will play well in the Australian Open semifinals. He will find the Serbian title holder Novak Djokovic, who defeated the Canadian Milos Raonic (35e) in three sets (6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)).
"I will have to play better in the half, because if not, I'm sure I can go skiing! ", joked Federer at Jim Courier's microphone on the court.
At 38, he was still very, very scared, before winning (6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3), in 3 h 31 of a funny of combat, he who had already fought five sets and four hours on the 3rde round against Australian John Millman.
"I believe in miracles"
"I was incredibly lucky today, I got better and better as the match went on and the pressure went down", recognized the Balois, who saved three match points at 4-5 in the 4e set, then another four, including three successive in the tie-break of this 4e handle.
At the moment, "I said to myself" I believe in miracles "", he said, before admitting: "That victory, I didn't deserve it, but I'm here … and obviously I'm very happy. "
The 20-time Grand Slam man had already saved 7 match points before winning in a game against Scott Draper in Cincinnati … in 2003.
This time he had a Tennys Sandgren in Rambo court mode in front of him. White and green camouflage shorts, sleeveless T-shirt with bare hand hunter's shoulders and arms protruding, green bandana tied around the forehead … the American was there to fight. Only the scars were missing, but long black sticky strips ran down his left thigh to below the knee.
And the fight almost fell in his favor, especially since Federer was not at best physically. "Sometimes we feel a little weird. I felt discomfort in my groin, my leg stiffened a little… I don't like to call the doctor, I don't like showing my weaknesses ", he commented.
Barty at the rendezvous
In the women's draw, Barty, 23, winner of his first Grand Slam tournament in 2019 at Roland Garros, took his revenge on the Czech Petra Kvitova (7e) who beat her at the same quarterfinal stadium last year in Melbourne before reaching the final.
And what revenge: 1 h 44 of standoff including sixty-nine minutes for the only first set! “It was really incredible. I knew I had to be at my best against Petra and the first set was crucial ", said the Australian.
Her future opponent, Sofia Kenin, has dismissed the Tunisian Ons Jabeur (78e) 6-4, 6-4 and will play for the first time at 21 years old a Grand Slam semi-final.
"It's going to be a great game, I can't wait to be there", launched the player, born in Moscow but who joined New York as a child before settling with the family in Florida.
She is the last remaining competitor of the 22 Americans entered in the main draw of this first Grand Slam tournament of the year. "I play for myself, I try not to think about the fact that I am the last American. But, of course, it is an honor, a privilege. I'm very happy to be where I am now ", she commented.
