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Roger Federer played only 19 matches in the past two seasons, struggling with a knee injury and entering six tournaments. In his most thrilling encounter since the start of 2020, Roger defeated Tennys Sandgren 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 in three and a half hours in the last year's Australian Open quarter-final after fending off seven match points!
Two rounds after that incredible win over John Millman from 8-4 down in the match tie break, Federer was forced to dig deep once again against the lower-ranked players. The Swiss struggled with a groin injury and defended those seven match points in the fourth set for a miracle escape and a place in the 15th Australian Open semi-final, never losing in the quarter-final stage in Melbourne.
Playing his second Australian Open quarter-final, Sandgren took control from the second set and moved on the verge of victory following a 6-2 in set number three against the opponent who was far from his best. Managing to stay in contention in the first half of the fourth set, Roger dug deep to fend off three match points in the tenth game.
He trailed 6-3 in the tie break before another miraculous escape that somehow brought him the set and made him the favorite ahead of the decider. There, Federer used the momentum to cross the finish line first and celebrate only the second victory of his career after saving seven match points, the first in 16 and a half years!
Roger Federer saved seven match points against Tennys Sandgren.
"I got to get lucky sometimes, I have to admit. You can not control things on the court when you are facing seven match points, but I was hoping that maybe he will not smash a winner.
I kept the ball in play and looked for a miss or two from his side. I got incredibly lucky today, as he played a great match; as the encounter went on, I started to feel better, and all the pressure went away, and I just tried to play.
I got some luck to get the break in the fifth set and served well in the rest of the clash to emerge at the top. I did not deserve this one, but I'm standing here, and I'm obviously thrilled," Roger Federer said.