Australian Open News: Federer Saves 7 Match Points, Kenin, Barty, in the Semis

Australian Open once again saw Roger Federer escaping death, this time versus Tennys Sandgren. The Swiss player defeated No.100 in the ATP rankings after three hours and 32 minutes of play. He had to go through five sets again, and to save a couple of match points, 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6(8), 6-3.

Federer’s Enormous Mental Strength

The former No.1 struggled with an injury during the match, and saved seven match points in this one.

Sandgren had three of them during the tiebreaker of the fourth but failed to utilize any of them. It was another stunning rally for FedEx, who came back from 3-6, with two service winners and one minibreak.

It was a match full of drama.

This is @rogerfederer explaining that medical timeout. #AusOpenpic.twitter.com/zq9QX4tK4s

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 28, 2020

”You’ve got to get lucky sometimes,” Federer said with a smile in his on-court interview. “I was just hoping that maybe he wasn’t going to smash a winner if he misses one or two [match points], who knows what’s going to happen? I think I got incredibly lucky today,” Roger stated.

Federer had a chance to gain an advantage early on in the final set. After being routine on his own service, the Swiss had two breakpoint chances but failed to use them, allowing Sandgren to level the score at 1-1, and avoid the unpleasant start.

But what he failed to do then, Roger did it shortly after. It was the sixth game of the deciding set when he finally broke Sandgren and used the obvious edge he had in those moments. After that, it was pretty much all a routine for the most successful Grand Slam player ever.

The start of the contest didn’t indicate that we might see some drama here. Federer won the opening set with 6-3, but after that, health issues started overwhelming the 38-year old. The next two sequences went in Sandgren’s favor, and Roger looked pretty much destined for a loss in this one.

But, his winning mentality, experience, and Sandgren’s fear from victory, all provided another super comeback for the Swiss.

Sofia Kenin to Face Barty in the Semis

Earlier today, Sofia Kenin defeated Ons Jabeur in straight sets to reach her first Grand Slam semifinals, 6-4, 6-4. The match lasted one hour and 32 minutes, and although it seems that it was a routine win, it wasn’t like that at all.

Kenin saved six of Jabeur’s seven break chances and was in pretty unpleasant situations from time to time. She made fewer winners 14, compared to 34 of the Morrocan player, but also had equally fewer unforced errors, 16-36.

“It feels really good. I’m super excited for it. I think overall I played really good. I tried to handle the nerves. Obviously nerves coming into this match. I think I did a really good job handling myself,” Kenin said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBH6vvnVJtE

The critical moment of the contest happened in the second set. Midway through the same, Jabeur had five breakpoints opportunities, and she didn’t convert a single one. Meanwhile, after all of them, Kenin used the first one who appeared.

The 21-year old American faces Ashleigh Barty in the semis. The world No.1 and the home crowd favorite, beat Petra Kvitova, 7-6(6), 6-2

Kvitova was a better player int he first set, as she created more breakpoint chances, but used just one of nine of them. Barty eventually broke the Czech’s resistance in a tiebreak, and also killed her morale, which was evident in the next part of the game.

She also never played the semis here in Australia.