LONDON (AP)– Naisalba ni Roger Federer ang apat na match points kahapon upang masiguro ang ATP Finals.
Si Federer, isang six-time champion, ay lumaban ng halos 3 oras upang makaabot sa ikasiyam na final sa dikdikang 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (6) na panalo laban sa kanyang kakampi sa Davis Cup na si Stan Wawrinka. Makakaharap ng 17-time Grand Slam champion ang top-ranked na si Novak Djokovic ngayong araw.
Makaraan niyang mawalis ang kanyang grupo, si Federer ang naging paborito, ngunit nakakita ng katapat sa Australian Open champion, na nabigo namang mapagwagian ang laro dahil sa nerbiyos.
‘’For sure that game at the end I was nervous,’’ pag-amin ng dismayadong si Wawrinka. ‘’You make some choice, especially when you’re tired, when you’re nervous. Just wanted to go for it and not wait for mistake.’’
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Nalusutan ni Federer ang ikaapat na match point sa isang service winner sa tiebreak at naiconvert ang kanyang unang tsansa na maselyuhan ang semifinal sa isang drop shot volley na hindi naibalik ni Wawrinka.
‘’I got lucky tonight. Stan played better from the baseline and that usually does the job on this court,’’ sinabi ni Federer. ‘’But I kept fighting. It’s tough but I’m thrilled to be in another final in London. Novak is playing great tennis. It usually brings the best out of me.’’
Sina Federer at Wawrinka ay magtatambal sa darating na linggo sa Davis Cup final kontra France, ngunit sinabi ni Wawrinka na hindi niya alam kung paano gagalaw makaraan ang mapait na pagkatalo.
‘’I can either be destroyed or bounce back,’’ sinabi ng Swiss.
‘’Hopefully he is not too disappointed and will recover soon,’’ saad naman ni Federer. ‘’It would be good for both of us.’’
