Federer saves seven match points to set up semifinal duel vs Djokovic

MELBOURNE ( Reuters) – Roger Federer performed his second Houdini act of this year’s Australian Open on Tuesday, saving seven match points en route to a nerve- wracking 6- 3, 2- 6, 2- 6, 7- 6( 8), 6- 3 comeback victory over American world No. 100 Tennys Sandgren.

Last Friday’s third- round win against local hope John Millman, when the 20- time Grand Slam champion won six straight points from 8- 4 down in the final set tie- breaker, was touted as the great escape. His quarterfinal victory four days later was more epic still.

Millman had a world ranking under 50 and had at least defeated the Swiss before, at the 2018 US Open.

But Sandgren had never faced Federer, who in turn had never lost to someone as lowly- ranked as the American at Melbourne Park.

“You’ve got to get lucky sometimes,” Federer said with a smile. “I tell you that because in those seven matchpoints you’re not in control.

“I was just hoping that maybe he wasn’t going to smash a winner, if he misses one or two, who knows what’s going to happen? I think I got incredibly lucky today. I don’t deserve this one but I’m still standing here and I’m obviously very, very happy.”

Federer started strongly, setting up an array of breakpoints before converting his sixth to go up 4- 2 and take the opener, but his unforced error count kept piling up in the second as Sandgren, a quarterfinalist at the 2018 Australian Open, drew level.

Things got more messy for the Swiss in the third when he was broken early and then warned for obscene language, something that happens rarely to Federer on court.

Federer got involved in an argument with Serbian chair umpire Marijana Veljovic before taking a lengthy medical timeout that he later said was for a problem with his groin.

Sandgren had to wait almost nine minutes before Federer returned to resume the match, but the American broke his opponent again, converting his sixth set point to nose ahead.

Sandgren, whose run to the lasteight in 2018 was shrouded in controversy because of links to far- right activists on his social media account, hit 27 aces in the match and continued to put Federer’s serve under pressure.

With his back to the wall, Federer shifted up a gear to save three matchpoints on serve, with the Rod Laver Arena Crowd gasping every time he survived.

He saved four more during the tiebreak to force a decider, amid delirium in the stadium.

Federer rode the momentum in the final set, breaking Sandgren’s serve in the sixth game before converting his first matchpoint to set up a meeting against Novak Djokovic for a place in Sunday’s final.

“Draws are not getting easier. With these lucky escapes, you might play without expectations because you know you should be skiing in Switzerland,” he said.

Defending- champion Djokovic set up the showdown Federer with a thumping 6- 4, 6- 3, 7- 6( 1) victory over Canada’s hapless Milos Raonic.

The crowd will hope for a better show on Thursday, when second seed Djokovic renews his Grand Slam rivalry with Federer, six months after fighting off match points to beat the Swiss in Wimbledon’s longest ever final.

“I hope I get to at least one match point in a few days,” said Djokovic, who hold a 26- 23 edge over Federer.

“Obviously I have tremendous respect for Roger, everything he has achieved in the sport -- definitely one of the all- time greats.

“Let the better player win.” While 38- year- old Federer made was hampered by a groin problem, Djokovic’s biggest trouble against Raonic was his contact lenses.

He winced in discomfort in the latter part of the match and took a medical timeout at 4- 4 in the third set to fit a fresh pair passed on from his box.

Even if blindfolded, Djokovic might still have beaten Raonic, a player he had never lost to in nine previous matches.

Although 32nd seed Raonic has long been one of the tour’s most vexing servers, his main weapon was redundant against his opponent’s brilliant returning.

It was mainly down to luck that the robotic Canadian hung in for a period, with Djokovic unable to convert eight of nine break points in the first set, including three chances to win it.

The Serb, bidding for a record- extending eighth title at Melbourne Park, finally converted the fourth set point when Raonic clubbed wide in an 18- shot gunfight.

The booming Raonic forehand with its extravagant wind- up had cut a swath through the draw but Djokovic made it look decidedly foolish as he broke the Canadian in the fourth game and roared to a 4- 1 lead.

The 16- time Grand Slam champion paused only briefly to mount a pair of dodgy line challenges before serving out the set.

His failing contact lenses took the polish off the third, however, and he barked at distractions in the crowd as Raonic saved four break points at 5- 5.

That extended the Canadian’s Melbourne Park stay only briefly, with all resistance broken in the one- sided tie- breaker.

Djokovic later grew misty- eyed as he remembered NBA great Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles on Sunday along with his 13- year- old daughter and seven others on board.

“Kobe was one of the greatest athletes of all time and inspired me and many other people around the world,” said Djokovic, who had KB and a pink heart stitched into his green tracksuit top.

“I had that fortune to have a personal relationship with him over the last 10 years and when I needed some advice and some support he was there for me.

“He was my mentor, my friend and it’s just heart- breaking to see and hear what has happened to him and his daughter.”

On TV: Australian Open late- round coverage ( live on Eurosport and Eurosport2 from 2 a. m.)