Roger is speaking on court. “I’m really happy to be back in the final after six years”
On his serve and play: “I’m serving very well and playing positive tennis ... and it seems to be working. I’d love it to work just once more this year”.
On playing at 34: “I still enjoy it, I love travelling and seeing the different cities.”
On Serena: “She’s done unbelieveably well ... we can be lucky she is still playing tennis.”
Roger Federer is through to the US Open final, winning 6-4, 6-3, 6-1!
Stan puts up a modicum of fight as he makes it all the way to 15-15. Trust men, this is good for him this match. Then 15-30! He’s pretty much won the US Open. And then ... a poor backhand and we’re back at 30-30. So much for the revolution. And netted forehand takes us to match point? I’m thinking Stan’s probably not coming back from this. Just a hunch.
Or is he? A fine passing shot, the first one I can remember from Stan, takes us to deuce. Give him one! Why not? Then we’re back to more filth from Stan with a wayward forehand and Roger seals it with an ace!
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Third set: Wawrinka 1-5, 3-6, 4-6 Federer* (*denotes next server)
Federer last won the US Open in 2008. To put that into context, it’s so long ago that Fernando Torres was a widely feared striker at that time and no one knew the correct inflation levels for NFL footballs. What this? A break point for Roger? He’s spoiling us! You can almost see Stan’s lips moving as he plans whether to do some sighseeing on Sunday afternoon. Roger to serve for the match.
Third set: *Wawrinka 1-4, 3-6, 4-6 Federer (*denotes next server)
The good news is that I haven’t had dinner yet, and was scared it was going to be Cheerios for tea if this went to five sets. Not sure Wawrinka will be so happy about that. A great serve down the middle seals the game for Roger. If I knew how to do gifs I’d insert one of someone from an 80s movie yawning at this point.
Third set: Wawrinka 1-3, 3-6, 4-6 Federer* (*denotes next server)
I really though that Wawrinka could sneak this one at the start of play. We’d really need to have reassessed his brilliance if he’d won another grand slam. For now, it looks like it will be another look at whether Roger can win another grand slam in the autumn of his career. Stan’s body language isn’t great, shoulders slumped and soe of is shots are just as weary. He should have won the point at 30-30 with a crosscourt backhand but dumps it into the net. Roger doesn’t even need to win the break point - Stan helps him out by whacking a forehand long.
Third set: *Wawrinka 1-2, 3-6, 4-6 Federer (*denotes next server)
How good is Federer? He’s so good that just being within a few miles of him made my computer crash so I missed that game while I swore a bit. Roger won it though.
Third set: Wawrinka 1-1, 3-6, 4-6 Federer* (*denotes next server)
Stan arrests a terrible run of games ... by actually winning one. It’s a strong serving performance too as he flies out to 40-15. I guess any kind of pressure off him as everyone expects him to lose. Anyway, he holds with ease.
Third set: *Wawrinka 0-1, 3-6, 4-6 Federer (*denotes next server)
Has there been a better performer across the tournament this year - men’s, women’s, girls’, boys’, the funny old dudes doubles one where they do trick shots - than Federer? No, is the answer. Which means he’ll probably lose in the final to Djokovic. Of course, he’ll need to win this match first, but he gets the third set off to a winning start with an easy enough hold.
Federer wins the second set 6-3! Leads 6-3, 6-4
Another Stan game, another 0-30 lead to Roger in 0.00049 seconds. Oh boy. Stan’s serve is becoming increasingly wayward too. And it’s soon 0-40 for the third Stan service game in a row. Stand hits the ball way long to give Roger the set and he looks as rattled as Federer looks calm.
Second set: *Wawrinka 3-5, 4-6 Federer (*denotes next server)
Shots on TV of former US No1 James Blake and he gets a cheer after his mistaken arrest by the NYPD earlier this week.
On court, it’s business as usual. With Roger’s peerless serving getting him to 40-0. A beautiful overhead volley takes the former champion to within a point of the game and a more aggressive one seals it.
Second set: Wawrinka 3-4, 4-6 Federer* (*denotes next server)
Roger has got 87% of his serves in this set, Stan has 62%. Wawrinka is soon 0-40 - which is when he started sorting out his serve in his last service game. Not this time though - a long backhand and Roger has broken. A listless, weak service game from Stan. Still, he’s only playing the greatest player of all time so I’m sure it will be fine.
Second set: *Wawrinka 3-3, 4-6 Federer (*denotes next server)
Stan served beautifully in the last game, and it really saved him from going a break down. Talking of serving beautifully, Roger’s not doing badly himself. He barely gives Wawrinka a return to hit until 40-0, when a weirdly weak backhand from Federer lets the younger man in. For one point anyway. Game to Roger.
Second set: Wawrinka 3-2, 4-6 Federer* (*denotes next server)
Some lovely shots from both men from the baseline before Federer gets bored and hits an effortless winner than Wawrinka just stares at. That we all stare at because it’s beautiful. Wawrinka then just hits a forehand long and we’re at 0-40. Stan crawls back to 30-40 and then a sizzling forehand from Roger goes narrowly wide and we’re back all square at deuce. Wawrinka then looks like wrapping up an easy point but dumps his volley into the net and faces another break point. That’s saved and some great serving helps him hold. An important save from 0-40 down as Roger threatened to take control of the match.
Second set: *Wawrinka 2-2, 4-6 Federer (*denotes next server)
Right, I’ve just come back from a 25 mile walk so coming late to this. But it appears Roger is still brilliant. A hold to love for the former champion.
Second set: Wawrinka 2-1 Federer* (*denotes next server)
Federer with the SABR attack once again but it fails, then a service winner by Wawrinka to make it 30-0. Another winner gives Stan three game points. He dumps a backhand into the net to make it 40-15, but a Federer error on the next point gives him the comfortable hold. I’ll now take leave and place you the capable hands of Tom Lutz, who will accompany you through the finish.
Second set: *Wawrinka 1-1 Federer (*denotes next server)
Federer working quickly here: a service winner followed by back-to-back aces of 114mph and 111mph. Just dialed in. Now a 114mph ace down the middle for the love hold in under 40 seconds.
Second set: Wawrinka 1-0 Federer* (*denotes next server)
Two quick points for Wawrinka, but he mixes in his first double fault of the match and it’s 30-15. Now Federer hits a winner from the baseline for 30-all, then crushes a forehand winner down the line to earn a break-point chance at 30-40. Stan saves it with a foreful forehand winner of his own to bring it to deuce, then Federer mishits a return badly to give Stan game point. Service winner by Wawrinka and he’s got the hold.
First set: Wawrinka 4-6 Federer
Federer with a winner followed by an error for 15-all, but Wawrinka responds with pair of errors to give Federer a pair of set points. He squanders the first with a double fault, but converts the second when Wawrinka pushes a forehand long. First set to Federer. A frustrating opener for Wawrinka, who had a lead in three of Federer’s service games but failed to break through.
First set: Wawrinka 4-5 Federer* (*denotes next server)
They trade points early, then a misplayed drop shot by Wawrinka puts him 15-30 down. But Stan fires of an overhand smash and Federer nets a return to make it 40-30. Another sprayed groundstroked by Federer and Wawrinka holds. Federer will serve for the first set after the changeover.
First set: *Wawrinka 3-5 Federer (*denotes next server)
At 15-15, a smart cross-court winner on the approach by Wawrinka puts Federer in a 15-30 on his serve. Yet a pair of errors by Wawrinka move Federer within a point of the hold. Another winner and now Stan will serve to stay in the first set.
First set: Wawrinka 3-4 Federer* (*denotes next server)
Another hard-won hold by Wawrinka, who survives pressure from his countryman and wins the game at 40-30 with a highlight-reel lunging backhand winner at the net.
First set: Wawrinka 2-4 Federer* (*denotes next server)
Two quick points by Wawrinka on Federer’s serve for love-30, then a Federer serve-and-volley backfires and now Stan will have three break-point chances. Federer with a service winner to save the first, then a backhand volley that Wawrinka can’t return to save the second. Another net winner saves the third and brings it to deuce. Now Federer hits behind Wawrinka to move within game point, followed by a thudding ace to escape with the hold from love-40 down. File under Why Federer Is Federer.
First set: Wawrinka 2-3 Federer* (*denotes next server)
Wawrinka needed an easy service game to alleviate the tension and that’s exactly what he got. Of particular aesthetic note was the gorgeously struck cross-court backhand winner at 30-15 that whizzed by Federer like a tracer.
First set: *Wawrinka 1-3 Federer (*denotes next server)
Service winner by Federer followed by a 117mph ace and he’s quickly 30-love up. Another error by Wawrinka then another ace out wide by Federer and he’s got the easy love hold.
Federer breaks!
First set: Wawrinka 1-2 Federer* (*denotes next server)
Federer unveils his new SABR shot – the sneak attack to the net off the opponent’s serve he’s been toying with since Cincinnati – but he misses. Stan with a winner to make it 30-love. Now Federer tries the ploy again and hits a winner at the net, making it 30-15. Wawrinka – perhaps rattled? – strings in back-to-back errors and Stan is break point down. Now another error off the backhand side by Wawrinka and Federer has the early break.
First set: *Wawrinka 1-1 Federer (*denotes next server)
The players trade powerful groundstrokes from the baseline but it’s Federer who blinks first, spraying a forehand wide to fall behind love-15. Federer serves and volleys ont the next two points, winning the first but pushing a volley long on the second. 15-30. A mishit forehand by Wawrinka followed by a Federer winner gives the world No2 a game point, but Stan comes back with a beautifully struck backhand on the run to bring it to deuce. Stan forces Roger into an error on the backhand sice and Federer will face a break point in his first service game. (He’s only faced 11 in the whole tournament.) Saves the first with a service winner, then another winner to move i to game point, but a mishit backhand returns it to deuce. But back-to-back errors by Wawrinka give Federer the hold.
First set: Wawrinka 1-0 Federer* (*denotes next server)
Wawrinka to serve, swatting away some insects before tossing up the first ball. A wonderfully struck return off a 118mph serve gets Federer in the rally early and he hits a winner, but Wawrinka comes back with a winner to level it at 15-all. A 116mph ace out wide, then a netted forehand by Federer gives Wawrinka a game point. Federer dumps a Stan second serve into the net and Wawinka holds. A good start.
Hello and welcome to tonight’s second men’s semi-final between Olympic gold-medal team-mates Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka. The Swiss compatriots have met 20 times, but today will mark their first meeting in a grand slam semi-final or final. The surface would favor Federer, who is 11-0 on hard-courts (and 23-4 in sets). But Wawrinka has shown better in recent meetings, winning a set in each of their last meeting on hard-courts, holding four match points in their ATP World Tour Finals clash last year.
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