Roger managed to reach the quarter finals after some resistence from Istomin. The match wasn’t as easy as predicted
1st Set 7-5
The Maestro had an early break to lead 3-0 in no time. Then something changed and Denis managed to break Roger to reach a 3-3 scoreline. Actually the Swiss lost it for sometime. A crucial game was the 7th when the Swiss had a very solid a comfortable hold (at love) to stop his tennis amnesia. Then it was time for Istomin to hold with a great service game. Time for Roger’s choking? Not really, after an unlucky forehand that died on the net, the world no.1 keeps his service to lead 5-4. The overall impression was that Roger was superior in every part of the game, but Denis has always some shot to help him (a big serve, a forehand, whatever) and so the opener went to 5 all after only 35 minutes. It was clear that the first guy that gets untidy on his service will lose the set. Then a rain delay came when Federer was 15-30. When the players came back a horrible forehand gave to Istomin 2 break points (promptly saved by Roger). Another terrible forehand gave another chance to Istomin. Time for Roger to save the break point with a super corageous forehand to then hold the service and lead 6-5. And that was it! Denis got nervous to commit a double fault and to commit 3 unforced errors on a very aggressive Federer
2nd set 6-3
Another easy start. Roger was full of confidence and Istomin was not beleiving in it anymore. The result was another early break and another 3-0 lead for the Maestro that kept on dancing till winning the set with a comfortable 6-3.
Roger will play either Isner or Tipsarevic in the next round. Head to head with Isner 3-1 for the Swiss (counting this year’s upset at the Davis Cup). Federer – Tipsarevic head to head is 5-0 for Roger.
