Roger Federer ended a 3-match losing streak against Juan Martin del Potro with a solid 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win to place himself into the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Masters, where he will face Novak Djokovic for the first time this year.
Federer opened the proceedings with a trademark minute-long love hold service game. That was the first sign of sharp play, and he would break in the 4th game and in the next game he played a few genius points in a row, hitting a masterful stab volley winner and following it with two spectacular drop shots that the big Argentine didn't even chase after. A few games later he served it out to cap off a brilliant set of tennis.
How great was it? He hit 17 winners to 4 errors, and served at 77%, was 6/6 at the net, and only lost a few points on serve in 5 service games. It was arguably the best set he has played all season, or at least since the Australian Open.
The second set was more of the same, with Roger holding easily and Delpo battling to hang in there. To his credit, he did, and kept his nose in front until 4-5, when Fed slipped up a bit and that opening gave Delpo just enough leeway to break and win the set (or steal it, you could say). It was an odd way to end the set because up until that final game Federer was losing less than a point per service game. But as I said, credit to Delpo who stayed in it with some good play (and it needed to be good, because Fed was rolling).
In the third, they both held their first two service games, and then Roger got the break in the 5th. That edge wouldn't last long though as on the other side of the changeover Delpo broke back with a stunning forehand pass, and they were back even. But once again, not for long, as Roger broke back again, and he broke for a third consecutive time at 3-5 to seal the deal, his second win over a top 10 player this year and first over a top 5.
Federer played one of his best matches this season, maybe the best, and apart from a few blips, he was the better player throughout and was rewarded with a great victory. Del Potro looked a bit tired, which is understandable considering all the tennis he has played since the US Open (this was his 18th match) but I don't know if he would have won even if he was fresher. The Swiss was moving him around the court wonderfully and Delpo wasn't giving as many opportunities as he would have liked to sit back and pound forehand after forehand to Federer's backhand.
As for Roger, he is showing good form at the moment and appears to be hitting his stride before the World Tour Finals. He served today at 70% to go along with the 75% he served at against Kohlschreiber, and his improved efficiency on the delivery has certainly helped him win more matches lately. He's also looking very healthy and moving around the court as well as he was last year. Last but not least, he looks very motivated, and even when he drops an uncharacteristic game he isn't letting that get him down and he's going right back to business.
In the semis he'll play Djokovic who is undefeated since the US Open. Djokovic dismantled Stan Wawrinka 61 64 The world #2 is certainly the favourite in this one but with the way Roger is playing right now (and maybe more importantly, the way he is serving right now), it should be a very competitive match. If Fed loses I wouldn't be too disappointed, provided he puts in a good effort, and I think he will. This match is about judging where his form is against a very in-form player in Djokovic who is the favourite to win the World Tour Finals next week. It will take an amazing performance to take down the Serb and I'm certainly not expecting it, but I'm hoping to see a great match filled with wonderful shotmaking.
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