Roger Federer of Switzerland serves the ball during the men’s singles semifinal match against his compatriot Stan Wawrinka at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2017.
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It was Dimitrov’s second career Grand Slam semifinal after his last-four appearance at Wimbledon three years ago. It’s seemed as though Wawrinka has just gone through the motions to make the semi-finals, which is scary in itself.
He has also looked to be back to his best in beating 10th seed Tomas Berdych, fifth seed Kei Nishikori and then destroying Mischa Zverev, who had upended world number one Andy Murray, in the quarter-finals. I’m happy I’ve played as well as I have, and I can’t wait to play Stan.
“I don’t know how many break points I saved”, said Federer, who has never lost to Wawrinka on a hard court.
This is going to be a cracking match, but Wawrinka’s form is worrying.
Federer won 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 7-5.
The fourth was much closer, but Wawrinka blew it open in the ninth game when he broke with a forehand victor and consolidated to force a decider.
“He’s always been a believer that he can do it”.
When asked by the interviewer to explain the reason for receiving treatment off the court, Federer enlightened the crowd on in-match physiotherapy protocol.
At the end of that set, Wawrinka took a medical timeout to get his (non-racket-smashing) knee taped, tending to an injury he’d nursed all tournament.
“Most important is that I try as much as I can to focus on myself”, Wawrinka said, “that I step on the court to try to win, to try to find a way how to win the match”.
“But I understand the magnitude of the match against Nadal, no doubt about it”.
“For sure, against Roger, it’s always special because he’s so good”. It was an even contest in the third with both players enjoying a good service game, which was levelled at 3-3. He has an answer for everything. “But I have managed to beat him in a Grand Slam, so we’ll see”.
Wawrinka, trying to reach his second Australian Open final, beat Federer when they last met in a Grand Slam, at last year’s French Open.
“Last time I got killed in US Open”. And to compete against a player who knows his game best, Sydney Morning Herald said Federer needs to conquer his self-doubt first. Since the beginning of 2014, Wawrinka and 12-time major titlist Novak Djokovic have played four times in Grand Slams. He had a little bit some hesitation in the two first rounds, but since that he’s really flying on the court. I’ll never doubt Roger Federer again.
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After both men spurned early chances to break, the match settled into a familiar rhythm: Federer looking for quick points, Wawrinka serving well and probing for a chance to unleash a piercing victor.
