Federer defeats Simon 6-2 6-3 4-6 4-6 6-3

FedFan
Grand Slams

Well I expected a fairly tough test for a second round match but once Roger went up two sets to love I didn’t think Simon would push it to a 5th set. With much relief, Federer stopped Simon’s momentum and for an 18th time, pulled out a 5 set win. This one will be up there as one of his memorable matches at the Australian Open as well as in his career in the grand slams. Federer needed five match points but hit an ace on his fifth and walked calmly to net with a small smile knowing he was given a test and now can move onto the next round facing Xavier Malisse. I think its good though that he’s had a test early on by a very tough opponent, and a match lasting 3 hours 13 minutes is not too long either for going five sets. We all know Roger’s fit and he will be ready to go facing the “X-man” in round 3.

Also, nice to see my favorite umpire Steve Ulrich in the chair. The guy is lucky to be in the best seat to watch Federer play. Last interesting stat to know, Roger is now 166-0 when up two sets to love.

For many Federer fans though it was a big scare once Simon, known for being as quick on tour as anybody, even Rafa, leveled the match and kept it close early in the 5th set. Huge fan Cecilla Hermina tweeted “OMG Federer, you almost gave me a heart attack! Thank you for getting through!”

Watch Roger break Gilles Simon in the 5th set:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUNn_eau2wg

Here is a short clip of the last game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIDFH9gDKiw

Thank you for visiting, and keep up with the Australian Open with all the links below:

Here are all the links you need to keep up with the 2011 Australian Open.

Official site of the 2011 Australian Open

TV schedules and free live streaming links

Live Scores

Schedule of Play

Men’s and Women’s Draws

Download the official Australian Open iPhone app

Previous Texts from Roger and Rafa a big boost for del Potro; Federer-Simon tonight
Next Day 5: Fed X rolls past X-Man at Australian Open
FedFan
All Roger Federer. All the time.

Related Posts

5 Responses

  1. this was frightening match. here are my notes:

    so i stayed up all night to watch “federer- disaster averted”

    these are my findings:

    a) federer at the peak of his game has no rivals; not even a quick, scampering simon, who has penetrating groundies could match the angles, footwork, transition, and net play of “fedex” in the first set and 3/4ths

    b) simon is a damn good player, fully deserving of being in the top 10, unfortunate how knee injuries derailed a promising top 10 player’s career early last year. He moves quick, stays low to the ground, and is the fastest player out there bar none (including nadal). His groundies are flat and barely skirt over the net, forcing opponents to have to move in to take short balls, but not out of their own willingness, leaving them in compromising “no mans land” for his transition game to do the dirty work. Its just a very uncomfortable matchup, as there is no where on the court you really feel is safe to hit into, and can lead to panic shots and UEs (see federer, roger sets3, 4, and part of 5 in this tussle)

    c) federer won this match once again with his serve. 5th set losing the groundies battle badly due to “shankopotomus fedmug” reappearing, and down 0-30, 4 straight first serves in hard-to-reach areas catapulted him to a 3-2 on serve lead. Who says serve doesnt matter. It most certainly is the most important eelment to the game.

    d) fed almost lost this match by getting away from the gameplan of going back behind gilles. No matter how fast gilles is, it is very hard to start, stop and backtract. Fed was in a dominant position when he was generating enough sidepin, not topspin, to out angle gilles and put himself at winning position at net. His topspin attempts laneded woefully shot and were gobbled by simon’s flying forehand.

    Most petertinantly, when he was hitting his rolling cross court backhand to simon’s backhand, it was pinning simon from using his deadly flat forehand

    e) a sidespin friendly player, nadal, roddick, murray, with a double hander would be a much better matchup against simon due to ability to pin him and his vertically challenged frame in the tram lines. Davydenko, Mr angle himself, would have the least troubled disposing him

    f) Roger still has a horrible habit of snatching defeat from jaws of victory, and almost happened thim in this match. he uses annaconian tactics to get 3 mps at 5-4 on simon’s serve, and only applies an annacone tactic (chip and charge) once on those 3 points. He had 3 second serves as well, so there was no excuse not to take a grip-and-rip approach, which had served him so well up to that point.

    g) finally, no matter how circuitious the route, fed deserves incredible credit for hanging in there after squandering a 2 set lead to a player he had up to today never defeated. It is a heart of a champion, and will serve him well going forward in this tournament, that is if his lung capacity has not been compromised

    1. Very nice points and I read this before and after watching a replay of the match. Federer went away from the Annacone part of his new style in the 3rd and 4th sets but the maestro and magician that he is, with years of experience at the top of the mens game (dominating for most of it), he found the way to win and it did not seem like it was that hard for him either.

      Federer is not in his prime anymore but that also is saying a lot of his game. He does not need to be in his prime to keep up and beat and on top of that, win with authority like he has for most of the last 3-4 months.

  2. Great post man and thanks for the videos. I think that Roger Federer’s match against Gilles Simon just proved once again the Federer is pretty much finished from being a real contender. When did he ever blow a 2 set lead before? It just didn’t happen and I think it does not bode well for the future. Nadal is playing like Federer used to and he is just as healthy ever. As you point out another straight sets victory, he is now dominant on clay and has finally gotten the US Open title. I don’t think there is anything stopping him. I’m just looking forward for some more play and I’m sure you are too. Sadly I have school so I’m not home too much during the day to watch most of the matches, but there’s still late night lol. Also, you think you could check out my blog cuz I’d really love to hear what you have to say. http://chrisross91.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/federer-express-delivering-no-more/

    1. Thank you for your comment Chris and also for visiting the site. I have heard a lot of comments and thoughts similar to how you’re feeling about Federer being pretty much done.

      However I disagree. I understand and know Federer is 29 now, and past his prime. He isn’t mid 20s and floating all over the court with an aura that intimidated opponents before they even stepped on court. The generation has gained experience to play him, and as he gets older, the rest of the tour will only have better chances to beat him.

      Federer is still a contender, and except the small slip to #3 for few weeks or less around August 2010, he has been firmly at #2 since and in 2008 to mid 2009. If not #2, he was #1 and dominating. He was on an amazing run in life from beating Rafa in Madrid in 2009 to winning the French Open, Wimbledon, new thresholds of family with Mirka and the twin girls, to winning Cincinnati and nearly winning the US Open for a 6th straight time. He had that one but lost his temper in the 3rd and 4th sets.

      Anyway today we have Rafa as #1 and having won the last 3 slams but for the achievements in majors of Rafa (outside the French Open obviously), Federer is twice, thrice, or multiple-fold of it.

      Rafa’s 1 Australian Open title to Fed’s 4.
      Rafa’s 2 Wimbledon titles to Fed’s 6.
      Rafa’s 1 US Open title to Fed’s 5.

      Rafa’s 3 slam year to Fed’s 3 slam year, done in 3 times – 2004, 2006 and 2007.

      Rafa is #1 and playing the best tennis overall but before you know it this year, with how Federer has been playing, Rafa won’t be able to defend all those points and when that happens, the two will switch rankings again.

      Without a doubt Roger Federer is the one of the rarest people you will ever see, and what he’s done in tennis is unbelievable. To see Rafa doing some of the same is also unbelievable and we are lucky to be living in the era to watch them play.

      Also I checked out your blog, and if this was sometime in 2008, I’d be agreeing with your post almost entirely. Your blog post is interesting and the perspective you brought to it is original. I’m just a big Fed fan but didn’t the site give that away.

      I’ll leave a comment on your post “Federer Express Delivering No More” soon. Thanks again for visiting and feel free to share federerfan07 with anyone you know.

  3. Pingback: » FedererFan07 is Upgraded. Back to Tennis in Miami – Fed, Rafa in Action Tomorrow FF07 is FedererFan07

Comments are closed.