Federer conjures up another miracle in Melbourne
At 38 years old Roger Federer continued to defy father time, Physics and logic to conjure up yet another Houdini act at the Australian Open 2020. In a match which had everything from Roger getting a code violation for using foul word to a ball girl colliding with Sandgren, Federer emerged the victor. In the Quarter Finals against World number 100 Tennys Sandgren, it looked smooth sailing for the Swiss after taking the first set 6 games to 3. But the American didn’t get bogged down by the occasion and took the next two sets against the six time Australian champion. In the fourth set, when the third seed looked down and out Sandgren got 7 opportunities to close out the match, but the Swiss maestro showed his mental fortitude which has won him 20 Grand Slams and saved every one of them. In-the third set trailing 3-0 Roger took a medical time out to get treatment to his injured groin area which was hampering his movement and serving. For the record he has played 1511 matches since turning pro and has never retired mid match.
Federer then somehow managed to win the fourth set 10-8 in the fourth set tie break and take the match into a deciding fifth set. Sandgren couldn’t keep up with Federer in the fifth set and Swiss earned his ticket to yet another semi-final at the Australian Open. Federer’s hunger for victory is still intact and he has expressed it from time to time. Ten years younger than him and against a 100-ranked American player, he made a memorable comeback by showing his passion, resilience and confidence and entered the final four of the Australian Open for the 15th time, where he will face Novak Djokovic. He won the match 6-3, 2-. 6, 2-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-3.
