Wow… we were close to lose another great player (the Greatest?).
This Wimbledon has already lost too many top players (Nadal, Berdych, Isner, Raonic, Verdasco) and some interesting “hopes” such as Tomic, Dolgolopov and Dimitrov. Losing Roger would have been far too much.
Benneteau played a great match. We need to say that the Frenchman displayed to be in great form this year before fracturing his right elbow in his match with Murray in Montecarlo (see article here). Julien was also a dangerous opponent for Roger since he did beat him during their last match in Paris (hard court in 2009). The Frenchman was close to defeat him also this year in Wimbledon!
Julien had a head start to win the first set 6-4 and the second 7-6 (this set lasted 72 minutes!). Then it was time for Roger to fight back in the third set by relying on a very good servicev(6-2). The 4th set was a thriller with Roger being 2 points from an inceredible defeat 5 times. Eventualy the Swiss managed to bring the tiebreak where he won it 8-6. Then… game over. Julien was cramping on his quads and Roger won a comfortable 5th set by 6-1 in just 26 minutes.
“A little luck on my side, who knows?” Federer said. “I fought all the way. Obviously he was hurt in the fifth. The fourth was so close. Julien was playing amazing tennis. I knew it was going to be difficult. He was making me doubt for most of the match. He was amazing.
“But, when you’re down two sets to love, stay calm. Obviously your friends and family are freaking out. You just play point for point. It sounds boring but it’s the only thing to do. I appreciate the support of my fans over so many years. Tonight, it was special.”
“I was cramping on my quad,” Benneteau said, “so it was tough for me to serve. He’s like a rock,” added the Frenchman. “If your level is a little bit lower, he takes the opportunity. Every point against him, you cannot make a mistake. If you do not put the ball in the right place, you lose the point nearly every time.”.
Roger will play Malisse in the next round. Head to Head is 9-0 for Federer. 1-0 on the grass, but it was in 2001 and Roger won in 5 sets.
Roger is the ht favourite,but in this Wimbledon we can’t write anything off.
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