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Roger Federer exhausted and jubilant with US Open win over Gaël Monfils Roger Federer exhausted and jubilant with US Open win over Gaël Monfils
(about 1 hour later)
“It’s just unbelievable to win matches like this at slams,” the winner of the fourth quarter-final of the 2014 US Open said, exhausted, relieved and through to a semi-final against Marin Cilic.“It’s just unbelievable to win matches like this at slams,” the winner of the fourth quarter-final of the 2014 US Open said, exhausted, relieved and through to a semi-final against Marin Cilic.
If the words had come from Gaël Monfils – the Frenchman without a coach but owner of the most eccentric game in tennis – they would have sounded utterly appropriate. But they did not. The author was Roger Federer, who has won 17 majors and has a shaky grip on another.If the words had come from Gaël Monfils – the Frenchman without a coach but owner of the most eccentric game in tennis – they would have sounded utterly appropriate. But they did not. The author was Roger Federer, who has won 17 majors and has a shaky grip on another.
Rarely has he looked simultaneously so wrecked and so jubilant. The 33-year-old father of four, who has been playing with the energy of a spring lamb lately, saved two match points in the fourth set to win 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 in 200 minutes of the most fraught minutes of his long career. Rarely has he looked simultaneously so wrecked and so jubilant. The 33-year-old father of four, who has been playing with the energy of a spring lamb lately, saved two match points in the fourth set to win 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 in 200 of the most fraught minutes of his long career.
“I have won other big ones in other places,” he said. “But over best-of-five, saving match points against Gaël in an atmosphere that it was out here tonight, it’s definitely very special.”“I have won other big ones in other places,” he said. “But over best-of-five, saving match points against Gaël in an atmosphere that it was out here tonight, it’s definitely very special.”
They kept the audience enthralled into the small hours, and it was difficult to say who was their favourite. Certainly when Monfils was producing one exquisite winner after another, they rose to acclaim him, but equally they responded to Federer’s fightback from the brink of elimination.They kept the audience enthralled into the small hours, and it was difficult to say who was their favourite. Certainly when Monfils was producing one exquisite winner after another, they rose to acclaim him, but equally they responded to Federer’s fightback from the brink of elimination.
The Swiss saved eight of 15 break points, the Frenchman seven of 13. Until Federer’s runaway final set when he discovered new energy, it was, for the most part, that tight.The Swiss saved eight of 15 break points, the Frenchman seven of 13. Until Federer’s runaway final set when he discovered new energy, it was, for the most part, that tight.
“I still thought the finish line was [too] far for Gael,” he said courtside. “I knew I could play better tennis. I got off to a good start, so I was actually feeling all right, but then when I was down two match points, that’s when I wasn’t feeling so great anymore.” That brought laughter from the crowd, but a resigned grimace from Monfils. “I still thought the finish line was [too] far for Gaël,” he said courtside. “I knew I could play better tennis. I got off to a good start, so I was actually feeling all right, but then when I was down two match points, that’s when I wasn’t feeling so great any more.” That brought laughter from the crowd, but a resigned grimace from Monfils.
Later Federer said: “I’m not sure I have ever saved match point before in a slam. If that hasn’t happened, I’m unbelievably happy that it was today, because I knew I could play better after the first couple of sets. I believed I could turn it around from the get-go when the third set started, and I’m so happy the crowd got into it.”Later Federer said: “I’m not sure I have ever saved match point before in a slam. If that hasn’t happened, I’m unbelievably happy that it was today, because I knew I could play better after the first couple of sets. I believed I could turn it around from the get-go when the third set started, and I’m so happy the crowd got into it.”
The standard of shot-making was exceptional, Monfils languidly slapping the ball to all chose parts when in control of the match in the first two sets, then Federer finding his groove at the end.The standard of shot-making was exceptional, Monfils languidly slapping the ball to all chose parts when in control of the match in the first two sets, then Federer finding his groove at the end.
“The rallies were incredible at times,” Federer said, “and my game really picked up. I served great in the fifth when it mattered, and just overall [it was] an enjoyable match also to play, because it had all the ups and downs similar to the Wimbledon final [when he lost to Novak Djokovic].“The rallies were incredible at times,” Federer said, “and my game really picked up. I served great in the fifth when it mattered, and just overall [it was] an enjoyable match also to play, because it had all the ups and downs similar to the Wimbledon final [when he lost to Novak Djokovic].
“I felt I had more chances throughout the fourth than he did, so it would have been an unbelievable let-down for me to get broken at 5-4 and lose a match like that. It would have been not very cool, I must say.”“I felt I had more chances throughout the fourth than he did, so it would have been an unbelievable let-down for me to get broken at 5-4 and lose a match like that. It would have been not very cool, I must say.”
Monfils, whose rare gifts should be treasured, knew he had let slip the best opportunity of his career, but sounded resigned to it later. Asked how he felt coming so close to the tournament’s biggest upset, the player with no coach and so much talent said: “Nothing special. I was saying to myself, ‘Keep it simple. Try to make him play each shot.’ Monfils, whose rare gifts should be treasured, knew he had let slip the best opportunity of his career, but sounded resigned to it later. Asked how he felt coming so close to the tournament’s biggest upset, the player with no coach and so much talent said: “Nothing special. I was saying to myself: ‘Keep it simple. Try to make him play each shot.’
“Then it was tough, because my serve was not good. It let me down again at 5-all. I think maybe I hit a double fault. I had a point for 6-5. I was against the wind, so it was a bit tougher. Then he rushed me with his long return. It was very tough. But he play good. He had the set. Then physically I had a drop for five minutes.” “Then it was tough, because my serve was not good. It let me down again at five-all. I think maybe I hit a double fault. I had a point for 6-5. I was against the wind, so it was a bit tougher. Then he rushed me with his long return. It was very tough. But he play good. He had the set. Then physically I had a drop for five minutes.”
From that point, the match swayed violently until Monfils was drained of stamina and Federer grew in confidence and strength in a rousing conclusion to one of the great matches of this or any other tournament.From that point, the match swayed violently until Monfils was drained of stamina and Federer grew in confidence and strength in a rousing conclusion to one of the great matches of this or any other tournament.