Roger Federer - "My concentration level was damn high"
Roger Federer is in the quarter-finals after the next three-set victory at the ATP Tour 500 tournament. In the success against Fernando Verdasco, the maestro never really saw himself in danger.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit:
Feb 27, 2019, 07:02 pm
By Jörg Allmeroth from Dubai
The famous pin could be heard falling on the floor in the third game of the third set. At the moment when Fernando Verdasco had a possibly decisive breakball against Roger Federer on the sold out center court, at the score of 1: 1 and 30:40. It was oppressively quiet in the tent roof arena of Dubai, the 5499 Federer fans among the 5500 spectators were completely silent. But then the maestro released himself and his fearful partisans with a cracking ace, a collective outcry of redemption went through the stadium.
The rest was history: Federer only got the point to 2: 1, about twenty minutes later he took Verdasco's service to 5: 3 - and finally he had no trouble, the round of 16 to 6: 3, 3: 6, Bring 6: 3 overall victory across the finish line. "It was a bit strange. I didn't always play my best tennis. But I never had the feeling that it could go wrong, ”said Federer later. It is an old tenet of the industry: Victories on mixed days give potential tailwind, they stand for a firm mentality, also for resilience in a difficult situation.
Federer is looking forward to Fucsovics
Federer said that he almost always offered better games this year, but rarely acted as effectively and intelligently as in the duels with Verdasco and before in the first round against Philipp Kohlschreiber, “My concentration level was damn high. And he always had to be in these games with two winning sets. In the end, it's all about a crucial point, a weak or a good minute. ”Federer now meets a good friend in the last eight, the 27-year-old Hungarian Marton Fucsovics.
Federer had already invited the late bloomer on the tour, who has recently improved continuously in the pecking order and is currently ranked 35th, to a summer training camp in Switzerland. "I was happy that he took this development. You also make friends a little better with the players you have as guests, "said Federer," it will be the next tough test against him.
50th victory in Dubai
Federer initially had an easy game against Verdasco in his seventh career comparison, less because he started exceptionally well. But because the 35-year-old Spaniard found no rhythm at all and lined up mistakes over mistakes. After 13 minutes, Federer led 4-1, after 27 minutes the first set was over. But afterwards the left-hander amazed himself, took over the direction and the beat in the exchange of blows. After an hour, Verdasco equalized, the trembling and shivering of the Federer fans began. "Then I really increased the risk again. I'm out of my age, where you play for safety when things get serious, ”the Swiss joked later.
But he was right: In the heat of the battle he shone again, again as a man for the Big Points. As one who can grow with the severity of the challenge. But the road to the 100th career title is still very long for Federer, who celebrated his 50th victory in Dubai in the 56th match that evening: “I will probably still manage 100 titles, but I will definitely not get 100 wins here. "