ATP Doha: Roger Federer – “It was worth all the effort” tennisnet.com

And in the end it was almost as always: Roger Federer hitting a dream ball at a critical moment on center court. He raised his arms, kept his nerves, took a chance and was rewarded with victory 1243 in the 1514 match of his long professional career.

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However, on March 10, 2021, nothing went as usual for Federer: Because the 39-year-old grandmaster’s 7: 6 (9), 3: 6, 7: 5 victory over Britain’s Dan Evans in Doha had him all more than the character traits of a daily opening round win in a smaller ATP tournament. Federer triumphed on this mild winter afternoon in the Qatari capital after the longest and most difficult forced pause in his work, exactly 405 days elapsed between his semi-final defeat at the 2020 Australian Open against Novak Djokovic and the laborious, but emotionally very valuable experience of success against the uncomfortable scoundrel Evans. “I’m happy to be back on the field,” said Federer, who used his second match ball at 8.46pm local time, “that I have won is of course an even better feeling.”

The satisfaction at the comeback victory was unmistakable and unmistakable for Federer in the first minutes after the successful opening blow. Relieved, the 20-time Grand Slam champion greeted the audience, around 2000 spectators were able to enter the main square at the Khalifa complex under strict Covid protocols. During the obligatory quick interview on the court, Federer said that he was “very relieved to see how well everything went”: “I am tired, but very satisfied. And I’m excited to see how I’ll feel tomorrow. ” Federer’s quarter-final match against Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili (live on tennisnet ticker from 4:00 pm) is on the program this Thursday.

In his first reaction, Federer also said that it had been a “long and difficult road” for this game in recent months, “probably the biggest challenge I had to face.” Also the first real competition after so many hours of training. and the practice sets were complicated and demanding, no wonder: Evans is finally number 28 in the world rankings, an iron painter, one who always fights for victory until his last breath. Federer had even recently trained with Evans in Dubai for several days, and at the match it was more than once evident how well the two teammates and rivals knew each other.

Federer wins big points

After a perfectly balanced course, Federer hit the first set in typical tie-break fashion, quite a man for big points. First he defended from a set to 5: 6, then he was the most daring player, he sought the decision and used the point to 10: 8 and thus lead the set 1: 0. The game then stabilized, Evans leveled 6: 3 to make a 1-1 tie. And Federer immediately had to get close to power reserves throughout the distance.

In the decisive act, he showed that Federer has not forgotten his determination in close and controversial matches even after this long injury break. In the 3: 3 draw, he fought against a British breakball before taking the first with his own 5.: 4 game points advantage played. Evans was able to avoid impending disaster with a spectacular volley, but in the next service game, at 5: 6, he could no longer cope with the pressure from Federer. An outstanding longline backhand from Federer put the perfect ending to the game. “To feel this atmosphere in a match, to be able to experience this fight again, it was worth all the effort,” Federer said afterward.

The game between Federer and Basilashvili will be live on the tennisnet ticker starting at 4:00 pm

Here the unique painting in Doha

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