March 1, 2014: Roger Federer moves ahead of John McEnroe on special list
A year after he lost Dubai title to Tomas Berdych who toppled him in the semi-final, Roger Federer bounced back to claim the sixth title in the desert on March 1, 2014, coming from a set down to beat the Czech 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 and claim a much-needed crown! The Swiss had struggled to deal with the best players in the world in the past year and a half, winning just one title after Cincinnati 2012 and entering Dubai as the world no. 8, his worst ranking position since November 2002! Roger kicked off Dubai action with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Benjamin Becker, losing just 12 points on serve and moving over the top with three breaks of serve.
He had to work much harder against Radek Stepanek, though, giving serve away four times in a 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 triumph after more than two hours, prevailing with eight breaks to set the quarter-final meeting with another Czech Lukas Rosol. This time Federer was more efficient, needing 58 minutes to wrap up the encounter 6-2, 6-2 and advance into his ninth Dubai semi-final. There, Federer came from a set down to dethrone the world no. 2 Novak Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, playing better and better as the match progressed and securing the place in the final where he had a chance to avenge that semi-final loss to Berdych from the previous year.
The clash lasted two hours and Roger notched the 12th win in 18 encounters against Tomas who overpowered him in the last two matches, overcoming a slow start to cross the finish line first and celebrate the title. Both players struggled to find the first serve and we saw ten break points on each side, with Roger fending off seven of those and earning four breaks to prevail and claim the first ATP title since Halle last June. Federer opened an early lead with a break at love at 1-1 but Tomas stayed calm, pulling the break back after a few minutes and delivering another one to move 4-2 up and settle into a fine rhythm.
Serving for the set at 5-3, Berdych landed a service winner to grab the opener and come closer to his first Dubai crown. Federer repelled two break points in the fifth game of the second set with aces but his forehand went long on the third to send Tomas a set and a break up. With no room for errors, the Swiss broke back in the next game when Berdych netted a backhand and he had the drive now, claiming the last eight points of the set to seal it with a break in game ten for a 6-4 and the deciding set. Tomas saved three break points at the start of the third set and he earned the one of his own in the following game, denied by a forehand winner from Federer who made the decisive move with a break that propelled him 3-1 in front.
Roger cemented the break with a hold at 15 and he wasn't that efficient next time he served, fending off two break points to stay ahead and creating two match points on the return in game eight. Tomas gave his best to save them and prolong the match before Federer held at 15 with a service winner to wrap up the triumph and restore Dubai crown he lost a year ago.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2NB0vPu
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