rogerfederer.com - Quarters in Melbourne

Quarters in Melbourne

Roger has just completed another stage of the Australian open and gave a stinging master class to yet another opponent on the way - unfortunately for Raonic, he was the student.

Roger said of Raonic’s 210kmh plus serve "You try to anticipate it a little bit which happened better and better as the match went on. I got a feel for it, I'm so happy with the way I played. I think we both played a great match. It would be fun to play seven five-setters in a row … but it’s not really what you want to do”
 
Our Champ did not face a single break point and produced just 12 unforced errors on his own serve. The first nine games of today's match went with serve, but the 13th seed Raonic was the first to double fault and gave Roger a set point which he gratefully accepted as Raonic netted a backhand volley. Roger had, amazingly, made just one unforced error throughout the set and although much is often made of Raonic's powerful serve, our champ was more than holding his own in that department too. Just nine points were lost on serve in the second set – Roger dropping only two – and a tie-break was required to decide the outcome. Raonic produced aces with his first three serves, but Roger was simply waiting patiently for his opportunity and seized it with a backhand winner down the line as Raonic came into the net. An ace of his own gave Federer three set points and he took the second with a forehand winner. After that he seemed to break Raonic's spirit and Roger broke serve twice early in the third set on his way to a convincing victory.

"It's important to stay focused. I have learned that over the years, and it pays off in the end." Roger said.

Our Champ now faces Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in the next round.