Roger Federer Saves 7 Match Points in Incredible Turnaround at the Australian Open 2020 Quarterfinals

Six-time champion Roger Federer saves seven match points to defeat World No.100 Tennys Sandgren in a thrilling five-setter 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6(8), 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open 2020. With this victory, Federer reaches his 15th semifinals of the Australian Open.

The Swiss maestro withstood 27 aces and 73 winners from Tennys in the course of five sets. Federer hit 44 winners against 56 unforced errors. On the other hand, Sandgren committed 56 unforced errors.

Roger Federer broke once to secure the first set

The opening set saw a series of breakpoints missed from both the players. Sandgren failed to convert a break chance in the first game of the set as Federer held his serve. The American floundered on his serve, gifting two break opportunities to Federer.

However, a couple of unforced errors help Sandgren save the breakpoints and held the game. The 28-year-old saved three breakpoints in his next service game and held a gutsy service game at 2-2.

Federer finally broke Sandgren in the sixth game and then held his own serve to take a 5-2 lead in the set. The Swiss maestro served out the opening set 6-3 in 35 minutes.

Tennys Sandgren levelled the match with a second set victory

Sandgren changed gears in the second set as he rushed to win the first three games, edging with a break. The games went with the serve till 5-2 when Federer was broken while serving to stay in the set. The Swiss maestro saved a set point before his opponent snatched the second set point to close the second set 6-2 in just 30 minutes.

Roger Federer took a medical timeout and lost the third set

In a replication of the second set, Tennys Sandgren broke Federer and saved three breakpoints on his serve to get a commanding 3-0 lead.

In the third game, Federer also received a code violation for verbal obscenity as he cursed after he missed a break chance and said, “for f*cks sake”. However, the 38-year-old was not happy with the warning as he asked: “What did I say?” to which the Umpire replied: “I can’t repeat that.” 

Furthermore, the Basel native was not looking comfortable on the court with a possible strain. He also called in for the trainer before leaving the court for a medical timeout.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion was once again broken while he was serving to stay in the set at 5-2. Roger saved 5 set points in a nervous service game. However, Sandgren sealed the set 6-2 in 40 minutes.

Federer saved seven match points to win the fourth set

The set saw no break of serves till 6-6. While serving to stay in the match at 5-4, Roger Federer saved three match points and held a nervous service game.

The set was forced to a tiebreak, where the 38-year-old edged his opponent and saved four match points to win the set 7-6(8), taking it to the decider.

Federer wraps the match with the fifth set victory

The World No.3 struck in the sixth game to get a 4-2 lead in the deciding set. He then closed another thrilling five-setter in 3 hours and 30 minutes, winning the fifth set 6-3.

He will next face the winner between the defending champion Novak Djokovic and Milos Raonic in the semifinals of the 2020 Australian Open.