A year ago, Roger Federer’s renaissance was not yet expected to see further major titles – at the beginning of 2018 things will be much different.
He got off to a bad start and was quickly trailing 0:3 and 2:5. He also dissipated himself,”frustrated and somewhat angry”, into a lengthy discussion with the Irish referee Fergus Murphy, about a lost challenge point by Federer, which was not publicly displayed in the Rod Laver Arena. But despite stuttering, bumpy, jittery starts he could not be stopped again, the almost indestructible Roger Federer, the eternal Maestro: 7:6 (1), 6:3 and 6:4 won in the evening show of the tenth Australian Open Day 2018 against Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) and moved to the 14th place. This year’s semi-finals in the Australian Grand Slam events.
So nothing new, down under, that was the result beyond Wednesday’s balance sheet, as Federer was also the winner in the fifth match between Federer and Berdych in Melbourne. Now, in the round of the last four with South Korean Hyeon Chung, the surprise man of the current Major competition is waiting for Federer, a match that has never been played before on the tour:”I haven’t had him in my sights very intensely so far,”said Federer,”but it’s good that there’s a fresh breeze coming up with these young players”.
Chung and the two protagonists of the other semi-final, the Briton Kyle Edmund and the Croatian Marin Cilic, are now the last of Federer’s co-workers, who are still on the march for the 20th time. Grand Slam titles. In this constellation, Federer must be regarded as a household favourite, he, the last remaining representative from the elite group of men’s tennis for many years,”I am warned. Anyone who has made it this far into the semi-finals is currently playing great tennis,”says Federer. But at the same time, as always, he feels comfortable in the role of the one who puts his stamp on a Grand Slam and acts as a sovereign. He doesn’t mind being considered a “clear candidate for the title”, says Federer,”I can live with this expectation. I always could.”
Even safer than in the pre-season, he advanced to the second Grand Slam week. In 2017, during his comeback mission, he had problems in matches against the Austrian Jürgen Melzer and the Japanese Kei Nishikori at an early stage. Later in the semi-finals and finals Federer had to play five sets against compatriot Stan Wawrinka and Matador Rafael Nadal. But now he probably saved himself the decisive powers, he even joked in the center court interview with Jim Courier, the lower effort in the games would also provide him with “better sleep”.
Federer is the oldest of the current world-class players. And still the most successful, powerful of the Ü30 faction. Against Berdych he thrilled from the second set onwards (he had to fight off two set points in the first set) with heavy and timeless ease, raptured his fans with dream shots. Berdych could almost feel sorry for you against the long-time spoilsport. The Maestro no longer allowed serious danger, and moments of tension remained: nothing. Federer had to wait a long time until he finally reached the eighteenth birthday twelve months ago. Grand Slam title. Now, at the Australian Open 2018, he can even win number 20. Everything speaks for him. And even little for the fact that this would be the last major coup.
Federer’s dream journey continues, always on.