Roger Federer (ATP 3) non sembra uno che non gioca sulla terra da tre anni. Contro Gaël Monfils (18) negli ottavi del Masters 1000 di Madrid, il basilese ha superato, dopo aver annullato due match point e con il risultato finale di 6-0 4-6 7-6 (7/3), un ostacolo ben più duro di quello rappresentato da Richard Gasquet (39) all'esordio e lo ha fatto mettendo in mostra una condizione atletica invidiabile e un tennis di buon livello, ma soprattutto un'impressionante voglia di non arrendersi.
Nel primo set non c'è stata storia: in 18' Federer non ha concesso nemmeno un game all'avversario. Tutt'altro copione nel secondo parziale con il francese che non ha ceduto nemmeno quando il 37enne di Basilea (poi autore di un paio di errori nel momento decisivo) gli ha recuperato un break.
Il rossocrociato è stato costretto a rincorrere anche nel terzo set, ma anche questa volta è riuscito a rientrare sul 4-4. Dopo aver cancellato due match point sul 5-6 e malgrado la tenace resistenza di Monfils, King Roger è infine andato a conquistare al tie-break la vittoria numero 1200 della carriera (in 1462 partite), guadagnandosi il diritto di sfidare Dominic Thiem (5), probabilmente in questo momento il giocatore più in forma sul circuito.
ATP Madrid, il match point di Federer con Monfils (09.05.2019)
RSI Tennis 09.05.2019, 18:38
ATP Madrid, i due match point cancellati da Federer a Monfils (09.05.2019)
RSI Tennis 09.05.2019, 18:36
ATP Madrid, il warning preso da Federer (09.05.2019)
RSI Tennis 09.05.2019, 17:30
ATP Madrid, Federer vince il primo set contro Monfils in 18' (09.05.2019)
RSI Tennis 09.05.2019, 16:44
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