At the end of the semi-finals is not Roger Federer empty-handed, while Stefanos Tsitsipas with the felt-tip pen signed, just as everyone is a winner on the lens of the TV camera, but also “strange things” it writes.
In the preceding 97 minutes, happened in the clash full O2 Arena in fact, strange things. Federer looked clean on the outside is exactly the same as 48 hours before the brilliant appearance against Novak Djokovic, but in a playful way, he was barely recognizable. The impact was far less precise, with the Forehand, many errors were to him unfamiliar. And then he went in the second Game two smash’s and offered the 17 years younger adversary, the Break almost. The Greeks did not hesitate to accept the gift.
Too many mistakes in the decisive moments: Roger Federer’s game against Stefanos Tsitsipas. (Video: AP)
The Swiss made is always a spectacle, fought hard and fought off six set of balls. He lost the first round, in the end, 3:6, although he had won as a back-bat 22, his opponent, by contrast, only 6 points. In the second sentence, he pushed strongly against the withdrawal, but he moved on the way to the 3:6, 4:6 and a further two weak service games and had a total of eleven out of twelve break opportunities. So, at the ATP finals against the number 6 in the world simply do not win.
It was not terrible, “only in certain moments of the bad,”
“My performance is terrible, only in certain moments of bad, but that’s enough in the hall, sometimes you lose,” said Federer shortly after, in the interview room. In his remarks, he speaks twice of its possibilities “” discarded. The 38-Year-old is outwardly quiet, but it must insist on the ambitious world-class player is terrible, he has reached the semi-final is not nearly his best level. Tsitsipas was not an irresistible opponent, for there would be no need for a dream match like the one against Djokovic.
The seventh title in the Rendezvous of the Best stays Federer failed, the ATP finals in 2019 is therefore for him practically Unfinished, and thus a mirror image of the whole season has become. The Basel area, the remains of the number 3, has maintained its position in the top of the world, in part, Tennis of highest quality and four tournaments won. And yet, the impression remains: It would have been even more possible. In Wimbledon, a single point for the coronation was missing him because he played in the Final against Djokovic, although terrific, but a number of opportunities left out, on own serve with two match points awarded and finally 6:7 (5:7), 6:1, 6:7 (4:7), 6:4, 12:13 (3:7) lost. In retrospect, the Basel says, Wimbledon is at the same time have been the Highlight and the disappointment of the year.
pure frustration For Roger Federer would have been in the semi-final much more possible. (Image: Justin setter field/)
Bitter defeats of two classes dominated the year 2019. The Wimbledon Final belongs to the category of “heavily played, but the important points are not made.” In those series the games against Dominic Thiem at Indian Wells and the Madrid match. The departure against Tsitsipas here and at the Australian Open, as well as the Failure to Grigor Dimitrov at the US Open are more likely to be assigned to the category “at major tournaments, the potential is not” exploited to the full.
Federer celebrates in Dubai, Halle and Basel anniversaries
This is however Complaining on a high level, because the Positive outweighs the negative significantly. 2019 Federer returned successfully to the Sand; in Paris, he was received by the audience after three periods of absence, excited, and with the half-qualification to the final – Rafael Nadal was on the brink of regularity a number too big – the winner of 20 Grand Slam titles, that he is still on all the toppings to the very best.
Federer wants to make more magical moments.
And then, the Superstar celebrated three anniversaries: In Dubai, as he won the 100. Single title as a Pro (“This milestone was something very Special”) and in Halle and Basel, he triumphed in each case to 10. Time (“The moments, which almost never are”). As a climax, he himself calls moreover, the Laver Cup in Geneva. “It was a great Event, I hope people had Fun. All four semi-finalists from London in our team,” says Federer, and adds: “There was in 2019, a lot of Highlights.”
the 38-Year-old has to care for more magical moments. The season 2020 should be at least as good as the on Saturday completed.
graphics: Sunday newspaper
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Created: 16.11.2019, 23:11 PM
