Roger Federer knew it was not an easy task.
Gilles Simon is in great form. He just won the Sydney International and he is one of the very few players on this planet to have a positive record against Federer.
The Swiss Maestro had a very good start and he grabbed the first two sets in style (6-2 6-3). It looked like a Federer’s ordinary Grand Slam day.
Then in the third set Simon battled back and Federer started to lose his confidence. Simon won the third and forth set 6-4 6-4.
St the beginning of the fifth set Federer managed to recover from a 0-30 and then he broke Simon in the sixth game (4-2) with a remarkable forehand down the line.
But Simon did not step back. He managed to save 3 match points when he was 0-40 on his serve.
Then the Swiss sealed the victory (6-3) with his 11th ace.
‘Hopefully we won’t play each other anymore.’ Federer said ‘I was stressing out at two sets all obviously. I hoped he wouldn’t play so well in the fifth, you hope he gets tired. Today I got lucky. I was happy I won and I’m still in the tournament. I really enjoyed myself out here tonight.’
According to Simon. ‘I had the impression that I was playing just a little bit better than him at the end of the fourth set, finally, at the beginning of the fifth, he played a very good game. I think we were 1-1, 0/30 on his serve – then he played four good points in a row. It was harder after that. I think he played a great match also.’
