Roger Federer can actually ‘talk about a final’ again!
MELBOURNE: Roger Federer reached his first Australian Open final in seven years yesterday and then made it as clear as he politely could that he would welcome the chance to renew his epic rivalry with Rafa Nadal as he chases his 18th grand slam title.
The 35-year-old Swiss came through a five-set battle with compatriot Stan Wawrinka to set up a final against Spaniard Nadal or Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, who meet in Friday’s second semi-final.
“It’s real, I can really actually talk about a final, I’ve been dodging that bullet for the last few days,” Federer said.
“Rafa’s given me the most problems in the game ... I’m probably Rafa’s number one fan, I think his game is just tremendous. He’s an incredible competitor.
“I’m happy that we’ve had some epic battles over the years and of course it would be unreal to play him here.”
While Federer’s preference seemed clear, he did not earn his reputation as one of the great gentlemen of sport without paying due respect to both of his potential opponents.
“(Dimitrov)’s got a very complete game. He can mix it up really well. He’s very confident and you never want to play confident players, but it’s him or Rafa,” said Federer, laughing.
“It’s going to be tough either way.”
Both Federer and Nadal missed the back end of last season because of injury, the Swiss after his first ever knee surgery and Nadal because of a wrist injury.
Federer said neither of them would have believed they would be potentially meeting in a grand slam final when they got together to open the Spaniard’s academy in Mallorca just a few months ago.
“I was on one leg, he had the wrist injury and we were playing some mini-tennis with some juniors and we said, ‘That’s the best we can do right now’,” he said. “A few months later, we’re potentially going to be in the final. I think it’s been a very special tournament for both of us already.”
Federer unusually took a medical timeout in his threehour, five-minute battle with Wawrinka, saying he had been carrying an upper leg injury.
He said he was not worried about it and nothing was going to stop him from taking to the court and fighting it out for a fifth Australian Open crown on Rod Laver Arena on Sunday.
“I’ll leave it all out here in Australia and if I can’t walk for another five months, that’s okay. I’ll give it my best shot,” he said.
“It feels amazing. I never, ever in my wildest dreams thought I would come this far in Australia. I have a couple of days off. It’s beautiful, I’m so happy.”
Meanwhile, Wawrinka bowed out sore, sad and a semifinal loser at the Australian Open, but consoled himself that it was “the greatest player ever” who pushed him out the door after a classic five-set duel.
Two sets down and facing a stinging defeat by compatriot and friend Federer, fourth seed Wawrinka roared back into the match in a furious assault of power hitting before surrendering 7-5 6-3 1-6 4-6 6-3 under the lights at Rod Laver Arena.
With Federer the sentimental favourite and the crowd firmly in his corner, Wawrinka held break points at 1-1 and 2-2 in the nerve-shredding final set but the chances went begging.
Under pressure on his own serve, Wawrinka crumbled in the sixth game with a doublefault that gifted Federer the decisive break.
“I don’t know what to say. I mean, I cannot just be happy to win two sets against Roger,” Wawrinka told reporters, his bid for a fourth grand slam title crushed.
“I’m proud of myself, of the fight I gave tonight and all the tournament. I think there are a lot of positives from this tournament, from Brisbane, from the month already.
“For sure I’m really sad and disappointed ...But at the end I know I tried everything on the court.”
Wawrinka carried a knee injury into the match and had it strapped during a medical timeout after smashing his racket in a rage on losing the second set. But the straight-talking Swiss said it had played no part in the match.
He was also up against the crowd, but could hardly begrudge them for rallying behind the veteran Federer.
“Yeah, I think the fact that he was out for six months also, fans and people in general missed him on the tour. So the fact that he come back, that he’s playing, for sure,” Wawrinka said.
“Everyone wants even more to see him play, to see him win... He’s flying on the court. He’s playing amazing tennis. He’s the best player ever.” – Reuters
Everyone wants even more to see him play, to see him win... He’s flying on the court. He’s playing amazing tennis. He’s the best player ever.’ says Wawrinka