Andreev feels the pressure

Federer bt Andreev

6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

We all knew this would be Federer’s toughest test and that it would be a great game to watch, but the match that lasted just over three and a half hours (I know because I sat through the whole thing without blinking) it was an absolute thriller!

Credit is due to Igor Andreev who gave a great performance, it was a really slow start for Federer, as Andreev started of the faster and stronger of the two, he looked sharp on his powerful forehands and his serving was amazing, Federer served and lost the first game and Andreev managed to hold served until it was 5-4 to him and he was serving for the set. Federer somehow scraped through a break there and it got to 5-5, both players held and we got to a tie breaker which led to some amazing rally’s and a first set for Andreev.

Great start for the Russian and the first player of the tournament to take a set from Federer. The second set started of with the Swiss going in attack mode, and a little disappointing to see Andreev putting his foot on the breaks a little bit, Federer couldn’t manage a break and the game went into another tie break, and with Federer’s record in tie-breaks which is nearly on the ratio of 8:1 in wins (I’m just guessing but it really is something along those lines), he wasn’t going to lose two in a row – he took the second tie brake and we got to a third.

Federer really started to wake up in the third, he started to play some of his best tennis using the net as often as possible to soften Andreev’s powerful stroke play, he got the early break in the first game and took the set comfortably.

Now in the fourth, the commentator came out and said “I think Federer is glad he got through this game and now he can focus his sights on the quarter final” and then later said “I’m sorry for assuming Federer has already won I was just thinking out loud, but Federer hardly messes up from here”. Not very respectful for Andreev and he battled really hard with Federer in the fourth, but he did get the luckiest break ever! First point Federer served and some guy took flash photograph which put him off making a double fault, 0-15, exactly the same thing happened again., 0-30, then Federer won a point back with an impressive forehand, 15-30, another exchange of Rally’s and Federer lost balance! 15-40, final point and Federer hit an awesome forehand to which Andreev gave a weak return which clipped the net and trickled over – no chance for Federer to get, Andreev apologised and took the game and the set. I have to point out here, this was Andreev’s third break of the match, he had 15 break point opportunities up to this point! 

The final set, Federer’s whole season was hanging in the balance, this was the last slam of the series and if he didn’t win here it would be huge low in his career, and so…. we got the angry Federer, the very emotional Federer, he was very angry with himself more than anything, and you could see the pressure on him for the first time ever, but the strange thing was he played no different, he played an amazing set, breaking Andreev in the first game again, no way back for Andreev now who looked exhausted, he still decided to give it everything he had and hats off to him he pushed Federer in his serves, but Federer was in the flow, and got through that set but it never looked easy one bit.

Andreev was a very respectable player who didn’t overuse the challenge system and all his challenges were spot on, but the crowd were hard on him in the final set, fair do’s he’s Russian, but cheered every missed shot in the final set, which he acted out slightly, but the pressure he was under it was very understandable.

Federer celebrated the victory a relieved man, it would be a classic in his archive along with his Agassi bout and Nadal finals!

Now to the quarter finals for him to meet Muller, don’t know too much about him but he has beaten some heavyweights on his way so should be another good game.