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US Open 2014: Comeback king Roger Federer savours ‘unbelievable’ win

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In with a shout: Federer on his way to an epic five-set victory over Gael Monfils

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Paul Newman

5 September 2014

Roger Federer remains on course to win the 18th Grand Slam title of his career but he had to pull off one of his greatest escape acts here last night to stay in the US Open.

The 33-year-old Swiss lost the first two sets against Gael Monfils and had to save two match points before earning a place in tomorrow’s semi-finals against Marin Cilic. To the delight of a noisy crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Federer won 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2.

“It’s just unbelievable to win matches like this at Slams,” said Federer, who is through to his 36th Grand slam semi-final and his ninth at Flushing Meadows. “I have won other big ones in other places but, over best-of-five, saving match points in that atmosphere tonight, it’s definitely very special.

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“I’m not sure I have saved match point before in a Slam. I’m unbelievably happy that it was today because I knew I could play better after the first couple of sets. I believed I could turn it around when the third set started and I’m so happy the crowd got into it. The rallies were incredible at times and my game really picked up.

“I served great in the fifth when it mattered. It was an enjoyable match to play.”

Federer, who has had an outstanding summer, struggled with the stiff breeze that swirled around the arena in the early stages. Monfils made the first break of serve in the fifth game and went on to serve out for the first set, completing the job when Federer missed a backhand return.

The Frenchman, thrilling the crowd with his bold attacking play, broke in the opening game of the second set and again when Federer served at 3-5. As the wind died down, however, Federer picked up his game, though he was on the brink of defeat when he served at 4-5 and 15-40 in the third set.

Monfils’s backhand beyond the baseline and Federer’s bold forehand saved the two match points. The momentum then swung decisively in the next game when Monfils hit two double faults in a row to drop serve at 5-5. Federer went on to take the third set and from that moment onwards took control.

“When I was down two match points, I wasn’t feeling so great,” said Federer, who has now won a match from two sets down for the ninth time in his career. “I thought: ‘This is it. This is the last point, man. Just go down fighting. Don’t miss an easy shot and let him have it’.”

Cilic, whose only other appearance in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament was when he lost against Andy Murray at the 2010 Australian Open, beat Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-4, 7-6.

The 25-year-old Croat dropped out of the world’s top 40 during his four-month absence last year following a failed drugs test but is already back up to No 16 in the rankings. Federer, with 54 match victories to his name in 2014, is the only player who can beat Cilic’s record of 45 wins.

“I feel I’m playing probably the best tennis of my career,” Cilic said. “This year I haven’t lost too many matches against guys who are lower ranked than me. That’s always very positive.”

He added: “Now I made it to the semis and the atmosphere is completely different to what it was in 2010. At that time I was maybe a little bit too shocked and I didn’t know how to deal with it. But now I’m cool.”

In tomorrow’s other semi-final, Novak Djokovic will take on Kei Nishikori, who is the first Japanese man to reach this stage of a Grand Slam tournament since Jiri Satoh at Wimbledon in 1933 and the first to make the last four here since 1918.

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US Open 2014: Comeback king Roger Federer savours ‘unbelievable’ win

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