When I was writing my last Article on 5 things Roger Federer needs to do to have a realistic chance of winning against Novak Djokovic, I had an intuition that Roger Federer will win in 4 sets & in a follow-up comment, I had even mentioned this fact.
Also, there was a slight hesitation in my mind, if I should write such an article, as jinxing Roger Federer was the last thing that I ever wanted to do.
So, when the match started, I was doing every thing different then what I was doing during the Roland Garros, 2012 semi-final to ensure I don't blame myself to have again jinxed the Swiss Maestro.
The first set was decided after the Swiss earned a single break point in the sixth game when Djokovic, who fell on the surface made slippery by the closed roof above, could only net a running backhand.
A shout from the crowd then caused Djokovic to check his service motion and Federer pounced with a low return which the Serb could only dump into the net.
Federer served up two successive aces in the ninth game to lay the foundation for wrapping up the opening set.
Roger Federer's service in the 1st set was as good as I have ever seen in my life.
In the second set, Novak djokovic came firing & breaking Roger Federer in his 1st service game, proved to be enough for ensuring Djokovic took that set.
The match was perhaps decided in the 3rd set.
At 4-4, on Federer's service, Djokovic had a chance with only his third break point of the match. Federer held with three service winners.
Moments later, while serving to stay in the set — and, essentially, the match (as it turned out to be)— Djokovic gifted Federer a pair of break points by blasting an overhead long with much of the court open. He saved one, but Federer's overhead smash on the second gave the Swiss great the third set, and put him on the way to Wimbledon final No. 8.
As Federer said in the post match presentation, "I was able to play some fantastic tennis today," Federer said. "The first two sets went really quickly, and then the third set was obviously key to the match. I was able to maybe step it up, get a bit lucky maybe."
The 4th set was perhaps a mere formality as it looked that Djokovic's game has totally crumbled & it looked like a mere formality that Roger Federer will win this set.
After holding easily, Federer earned a break point when Djokovic sent a forehand long. Immediately after that break, Djokovic seemed low on energy & inspiration.
The next three games went quickly and on serve, but Federer then earned a pair of break points in the sixth game. Djokovic again saved them, the first after a 24-stroke rally that ended with Federer's forehand going wide.
The final score-line of this unforgettable semi-final match was 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
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