Roger Federer delivered a convincing performance in his third round match. Against Australian Nick Kyrgios, the Maestro showed his strongest side at the US Open 2018 so far.
For a moment it looked as if Nick Kyrgios wanted to give his big rival Roger Federer a chop in the middle of the Centre Court. Congratulate him on one of the greatest magic strokes of his career.
Kyrgios is also a born showman, among other roles such as the tennis circuit’s bad boy, and he loved that moment at 3-3 in the third set, when Federer reached an almost unattainable ball with last power and then placed it past the net post to a winning point.
Kyrgios tore his mouth wide open, one could watch it later on television, he muttered something like “madness”, went a little further towards the net and towards Federer. But the maestro already turned away and Kyrgios had no choice but to return to Habacht’s position in front of the maestro after his 4:6, 1:6, 5:7 defeat: “It was an incomprehensible blow. But he’s also an incredible player. The greatest of all,” Kyrgios said.
Later he posted a small video of the rally on Instagram and wished Federer to continue in New York until the 21st Grand Slam title. But there is still a long way to go – a dream strike, jubilation in the social media. The victory against Kyrgios is not yet a reference mark for measuring Federer’s chances of winning the 50th year of the Open American Championships.
Federer’s success became more and more a gala match with every minute of this duel, but there are other calibers to be found on the way to New York’s first victory in ten years – the uncomfortable Australian John Millman already in the round of 16. And after that, Novak Djokovic may be the tournament’s co-favorite in the last eight. Not to mention a possible confrontation with Matador Nadal, who presents himself in a very strong form.
Federer knows, despite all the excitement surrounding the Kyrgios game, that for the time being he has only avoided slipping and retiring in the opening phase of a Grand Slam – how the guest performance in the Big Apple will ultimately be judged will only be decided in the coming days. Then, when the tournament becomes even more dramatic and dynamic in week two.
However, so much can be said: after the long summer break Federer took after the season’s highlight Wimbledon, he is now fully acclimatized to the action and is ready for the next challenges. The slight dissatisfaction that the 37-year-old still carried around in Cincinnati, the dissatisfaction with the results of the last few months, has now disappeared.
“The success here, especially the performance against Kyrgios, gives me a boost. The puzzle fits together better and better,” said Federer, “I could also physically improve in each of the matches when it was necessary. “And I didn’t get upset when things didn’t go as planned at the beginning.”
Millman (ATP 55), the next opponent, even knows Federer from joint training days in Switzerland. The Australian is an unpretentious worker, one who almost always makes the most of his possibilities. “Many on the tour admire him just like David Ferrer for the way he does his job as a professional,” says Federer, “he is an honest, pleasant, likeable guy. And fit as a fiddle.”
Federer would never make the mistake of underestimating someone like Millman: “There is nothing more important than always having respect for your opponent.