Match report from the O2
A year ago Roger Federer was a spectator not a warrior, and far from convinced he could properly recover from knee surgery as he prepared quietly at home in Switzerland for his return to the Tour a couple of months later at the Australian Open.
On Saturday, the reigning Australian champion plays in his eighth semi-final of the year and brings with him a record eight Wimbledon titles (his 19th career major), and five other belts from 11 tournaments, having won 52 of 56 matches, including three this week. That’s a comeback, probably the greatest in the history of tennis.
On the fifth day of the ATP World Tour Finals, Federer warmed up for Saturday’s semis – his 14th in 15 visits – with an uneven but ultimately satisfying three-set win in a dead rubber over Marin Cilic, who played near to his best yet discovered for the eighth time in nine encounters with the Swiss that it was not good enough. He didn’t play badly. He just played Federer – who won 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1 in just under two hours.
Later, Federer said he had no regrets finishing within a few hundred ranking points of the absent world No1 Rafael Nadal, adding that, because of his outstanding 2017 season and the number of points he would have to defend, “it was an unrealistic goal” to chase down the prize next year. “I’m just happy to be injury-free,” he said.
However, while he has not thought seriously about trying to qualify for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo with two more Davis Cup appearances, neither did he rule out the possibility. It is as if the 36-year-old finds it impossible to get off the treadmill that peers years younger than him have found increasingly onerous. More than any other player in the modern era, Federer has learned how to manage his body and schedule, and said this week he is seriously considering missing the French Open for the third year in a row.
He has set the template for Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka – all of them invalided in the last part of the season – as well as Nadal, who quit this tournament on sore knees on Tuesday after losing to David Goffin in three sets.
The Big Five now satisfy the three criteria laid down by the ATP to bypass as many Masters tournaments as they want – although it is unlikely they will miss too many given the ranking points and money on offer. But it is clear they are all cutting back on their commitments to extend their careers.
Federer, well rested after missing the entire clay season, had a lean and hungry look at Wimbledon four months ago when he beat a stricken Cilic in a mercifully quick final as a wolf would devour a bleeding lamb. In the first game of their rematch on Thursday, though, he knew he was in a fight.
Cilic needed two aces to hold Federer at bay, suggesting a reprise of his Centre Court agony when blisters hampered his movement but it became clear he was in much better shape this time. For 40 minutes they went punch for punch, ace for ace – four apiece – and Federer found himself serving to stay in the first set.
Beforehand, Federer spoke of his relief at having qualified for the semi-finals. “There’s a lot of hard-hitting guys, indoors, on a faster court. Matches are played in a tighter fashion. Cilic is playing better every match.”
And that’s how it panned out in a high-quality opening as they went to the tie-break. Cilic led 4-2 when they swapped ends, despite another couple of Federer aces. Although Cilic had a slender 15-14 record in shootouts this year, dwarfed by his opponent’s cucumber-cool 21-8 margin, he wrapped up the set from 6-5 on his serve with a clean forehand winner.
The inevitable backlash was a while coming but Federer, unusually pensive during the changeovers, finally applied enough quality pressure to the Cilic serve to level the match after nearly an hour-and-a-half.
Once he’d removed the first brick from Cilic’s defence, the others crumbled. Ten minutes into the third set, Federer was coasting at 3-0 up and his opponent had that woebegone look familiar to him in their meetings over the years. His earlier resolve evaporated. The errors mounted. The serve was blunted. The spring returned to Federer’s step and the crowd who’d packed the arena to celebrate his seemingly unstoppable dominance breathed easily again.
Federer delivered for them with a final backhand at the net that forced a closing, weary response from his well-beaten foe, and the celebrations were almost as hearty as on the day he beat him at Wimbledon.
In the night session, Jack Sock defeated Alexander Zverev to secure a semi-final against the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. The American took the first set against the third-ranked Zverev, but the 20-year-old German ran away with the second. Zverev took an early break in the third but Sock prevailed to win 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. “That was a roller-coaster match for sure,” said Sock.
Updated
He was inconvenienced by losing the first set, but Roger Federer heads into the semi-finals with a 100% record. He’s won his three matches and it remains difficult to see anyone preventing him from winning this tournament. He’s won this group; Alex Zverev and Jack Sock meet tonight to see who’ll take second place. That’s all from me. Thanks for reading. Bye.
Roger Federer speaks! “It was a tough match. A lot of chances in the first set but Marin served well and was a bit better in the breaker. I was in trouble, a set and a break point down, but I found a way out of it and I’m happy to be playing this way. I was telling myself to relax a bit. This one wasn’t the case. It’s nice to play tennis this freely. I started doing that midway through the second set. Knowing to be qualified on Tuesday evening is kind of weird, but it gives me a great idea how I want to play on Saturday. I’m looking forward to playing Goffin or Thiem.”
Roger Federer beats Marin Cilic 6-7- 6-4, 6-1!
Federer earns three match points, easily guiding a backhand down the line, Cilic utterly stranded. He serves wide, chips an approach deep to the baseline and waits for Cilic nets a forehand on the run. Another win for Federer. Does he ever get bored?
Third set: Cilic* 7-6, 4-6, 1-5 Federer (*denotes server): At 30-all, Federer plants a volley deep to the right corner. Cilic hooks wide and challenges to no avail, so Federer has a break point. Federer runs round a backhand again to attack a second serve with a forehand, but he smacks it wide. Deuce. Federer earns another chance, though, and Cilic nets a forehand. Federer will serve for the match.
Third set: Cilic 7-6, 4-6, 1-4 Federer* (*denotes server): The first two points are shared, but Federer coolly wins the next two to make it 40-15. At which point Cilic nets a backhand return.
Third set: Cilic* 7-6, 4-6, 1-3 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic is taken to deuce, but he manages to hold.
Third set: Cilic 7-6, 4-6, 0-3 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer consolidates the break by holding to love.
Third set: Cilic* 7-6, 4-6, 0-2 Federer (*denotes server): At 30-all, Cilic swipes a tame forehand into the net. Is the fight draining from him? Maybe, though Federer doesn’t really give us a chance to find out, running round a backhand to slap a forehand return away and break.
Third set: Cilic 7-6, 4-6, 0-1 Federer* (*denotes server): If scoreboard pressure is a thing that exists, Federer’s exerting some on Cilic after beginning this final set with a comfortable hold.
Roger Federer wins the second set 6-4 to level the match!
Serving to stay in the set, Cilic is under pressure after a couple of errors. Federer leads 15-30 and he has two set points when Cilic nets a timid forehand. He only needs one. Cilic drags a backhand wide and this is going to a decider.
Second set: Cilic 7-6, 4-5 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer skips into a 30-0 lead, only for Cilic to clamber to 30-all. Federer clips an ace away for 40-30, though, and holds when Cilic plonks a forehand wide.
Second set: Cilic* 7-6, 4-4 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic holds to love. Are we heading for another tie-break?
Second set: Cilic 7-6, 3-4 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer flays an angry backhand from left to right for 30-0 before holding to 15.
Second set: Cilic* 7-6, 3-3 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic holds to love. He’s serving pretty well, you know. I wonder if Federer might consider getting out of here in order to rest for Saturday. Then again, I’m often wrong.
Second set: Cilic 7-6, 2-3 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer holds to 15. He’s finding it hard to believe he’s losing this match.
Second set: Cilic* 7-6, 2-2 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic, starting to hit with the freedom that comes without pressure, holds comfortably.
Second set: Cilic 7-6, 1-2 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer looks to be in complete control of this game when it’s 40-0, but four poor points from the Swiss hand Cilic his first break point. Federer’s expression is dark. He cheers himself up with a gorgeous drop shot. Cilic rumbles forward but only succeeds in teeing up Federer for a simple smash for deuce. Eventually he holds.
Second set: Cilic* 7-6, 1-1 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic has responded excellently when he’s faced break points and he saves another here, pushing a forehand out of reach for deuce. Federer is frustrated. Cilic holds with an ace.
Second set: Cilic 7-6, 0-1 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer holds to 15.
Marin Cilic wins the first set 7-6!
First set tie-break: Cilic* 7-5 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic lashes a forehand away to take the lead! It doesn’t mean much in the context of this tournament, but he’s entitled to clench his fist.
First set tie-break: Cilic 6-5 Federer* (*denotes server): Cilic earns a set point after a fabulous return off a good second serve allows him to get into position for a classy backhand volley!
First set tie-break: Cilic 5-5 Federer* (*denotes server): Cilic fires a backhand down the line wide.
First set tie-break: Cilic* 5-4 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic finds the spot with a smash.
First set tie-break: Cilic* 4-4 Federer (*denotes server): After a series of chopped Federer slices, Cilic blinks first, netting a backhand.
First set tie-break: Cilic 4-3 Federer* (*denotes server): Cilic misses a return.
First set tie-break: Cilic 4-2 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer steadies himself with an ace.
First set tie-break: Cilic* 4-1 Federer (*denotes server): Another Federer error.
First set tie-break: Cilic* 3-1 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic scoots forward to put a low forehand away.
First set tie-break: Cilic 2-1 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer double-faults.
First set tie-break: Cilic 1-1 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer levels with an ace down the middle.
First set tie-break: Cilic* 1-0 Federer (*denotes server): Federer knocks a forehand return long.
First set: Cilic 6-6 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer holds to 30 with another ace. Tie-break.
First set: Cilic* 6-5 Federer (*denotes server): Cilic is under pressure at 30-all, but a good second serve opens up the court for a backhand winner for 40-30. He holds. Federer will serve for a tie-break.
First set: Cilic 5-5 Federer* (*denotes server): Serving to stay in the set, Federer is taken to 30-all. He holds to 30 without much of an argument, though.
First set: Cilic* 5-4 Federer (*denotes server): The applause from the crowd is a little more urgent when Federer earns a break point after a poor Cilic volley. Has he picked his moment? Not yet. Hang on a moment. Cilic keeps him waiting, volleying smartly for deuce. Cilic holds thanks to a pinpoint forehand.
First set: Cilic 4-4 Federer* (*denotes server): Whoosh.
First set: Cilic* 4-3 Federer (*denotes server): Federer makes a move, slapping a high ball away for 15-30. Then he butchers a couple of backhands, though, and Cilic holds. This is a little sleepy. The match is suffering from a lack of tension.
First set: Cilic 3-3 Federer* (*denotes server): Cilic claims the first point on the Federer serve again, but it’s not long before it’s 40-15. Federer holds to 30 when Cilic nets a backhand slice.
First set: Cilic* 3-2 Federer (*denotes server): At 15-0, Cilic plays it beautifully, moving Federer out of position with a forehand before drilling a backhand from left to right for 30-0. He holds to 15 thanks to an ace down the middle.
First set: Cilic 2-2 Federer* (*denotes server): Cilic volleys adeptly to make it 0-15, but Federer responds with an even defter one, back behind the Croatian, to make it 15-all. Federer’s in control from there, holding to 15 with a swinging ace out wide. He doesn’t have to hit those serves hard, he just has to place them out of reach. The accuracy remains absurd.
First set: Cilic* 2-1 Federer (*denotes server): No break points for Federer this time. Cilic serves accurately enough to hold to 30.
First set: Cilic 1-1 Federer* (*denotes server): Cilic is feeling good about himself after charging into a 0-30 lead. Federer stays calm, moving into a 40-30 lead before surprising Cilic with a feathery drop shot. Cilic plants a forehand wide and Federer holds.
First set: Cilic* 1-0 Federer (*denotes server): We’re off! Marin Cilic, hopefully in the mood to put on a bit of a show for the crowd, opens the serving. The first two points are shared. Both men are finding their range. The game goes to 30-all. Federer earns a break point when he drives a backhand down the line, but he lets out a frustrated cry after netting a forehand. Cilic saves another one with an ace. Federer has another chance, but he nets a backhand. Eventually Cilic settles some nerves by closing it out with an ace.
Roger Federer wins the toss and elects to receive. Time for them to knock up.
Marin Cilic, beaten by Jack Sock and Alex Zverev in his first two matches, emerges. He’s playing for nothing more than pride. He’s followed by Roger Federer, who’s hoping to make it three from three before his semi-final on Saturday. This, of course, is a repeat of the Wimbledon final, when Federer swept to victory and Cilic wept.
Preamble
Hello. Yes, it’s a dead rubber. Marin Cilic is out after two defeats, his opponent is through after two wins. But don’t pretend you’re too good to watch Roger Federer playing tennis. What’s the alternative, eh?
Play begins around 2pm GMT.
Jacob will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Kevin Mitchell:
When Rafael Nadal signed off early from the ATP World Tour Finals this week with a hearty: “Thank you, and merry Christmas everyone,” it was tempting to shout out after the Spaniard as he limped home to the warmth and comfort of the Spanish sunshine: “And thanks for coming.”
It was the sixth time in 14 qualifications for this event that Nadal’s body has given up on him – the previous five of those before a ball was hit – and few players are more committed to the cause than the muscular Mallorcan. So, he should not be castigated for giving what little he had and he will be missed. But his departure certainly sucked the life out of the O2 Arena, hosting this season-ending cash bonanza for the eighth year, with at least three more to come.
However, this gig is as demanding as nearly any in sport, not so much because of the format or even the hard court that Nadal struggles with, but because of the accumulated workload the eight finalists have to bear to get here.
You can read the rest of the article by clicking here.
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