Tennis at its very very best!
It is always difficult to say what is the best match in tennis history. You may probably go for the epic 2008 Wimbledon final where Rafa managed to win his first Championship in a truly epic battle, but Roger-Delpo match was definately in the same league. Both played at their very best from the very beginning and it is a pity that both couldn’t go through (sorry… this is a cliche, but it is damn true!).
It is difficult to comment such an incredible match. It was clear that something special was about to come from the very begining when Roger couldn’t take a firm lead even if he was playing a wonderful tennis because there was a “little” problem on the other side of the net: a super Delpo! The Swiss was blasting everything at the Argentine that was giving it back with interests (lots of interests). Roger had only a little part of the game that wasn’t as good as the rest: his backhand return. The Swiss couldn’t find the time on the potent Delpo’s service. The Argentine took full advantage of this weakness for 2 sets and half (then he was too tired to blast striking services at the Swiss). Roger’s weakness was really strange as he played big guys with big serves in the previous two rounds (Istomin and Isner), but… you know … that’s tennis!
So Delpo got the first set 6-3 by breaking Roger in the 8th game (he was 4-3 up) to then hold his service game at love and grab the first set in 36 minutes. A quick match? Not really! In the second set Roger had the luxury to be the first to serve, but that didn’t help much as there were no breaks for anyone. The 2nd set went to a tiebreak where Roger got a comfortable 4-1 lead to then face Delpo’s comeback: 4-4. The Argentine at that point committed 2 groundstrokes errors. Roger converted the second set point to win the tiebreak 7-5.
The third set was an absolutele epic that lasted 36 games and 2h and 47 minutes. Delpo was the first one to serve to give more pressure to Federer. The Swiss had the luxury to (usually) win his service games at ease while the Argentine was often struggling especially in the second part of the set as he couldn’t serve as fast as before (so Roger managed to find his backhand return). The more the set was progressing the more the match was becoming a mental game. Delpo was playing with all his heart while Roger was trying to put in his incredible experience. There was a “hero moment” when the Argentine won a backhand diving volley in an drammatic exchange at the net (apparently forgot to be 6.6 ft and very tired) to avoid going 0-40 down when the set was at an “early” 8 all. As the set was progressing, Roger found it easier and easier to hold service, while the tired Argentine was struggling more and more. When the scoreline was an incredible 17-17 Roger found the decisive break that made him win this incredible semifinal.
“He was sad, very touched,” Federer said . “I told him to be proud, that he played a great match.”
“I was very tense at certain times,” Federer added. “I was seeing myself as a loser many times during the match.”
“It is tough to speak now, I feel sad,” said del Potro. “But Roger played a fantastic match, he is a good winner. I’m very sad at the moment. It’s not an easy situation. Someone always has to win these matches and today it was him.”
“I definitely got a sense that it was something special,” Federer said… he was right!
