ATP Australian Open: Roger Federer takes first set against Tennys Sandgren

Competing in his 15th Australian Open quarter-final, Roger Federer leads against Tennys Sandgren 6-3 after 34 minutes at Rod Laver Arena. The 20-time Major champion and the six-time Australian Open winner grabbed a break in the sixth game that carried him towards the finish line, serving well after the first set to forge the advantage against the rival whom he never played before. Roger played better on the second serve, taming his shots nicely and making a difference with that one break against the opponent who came to compete in his second Australian Open quarter-final.

Sandgren earned a break point already in the first game of the match when Roger netted a forehand, denied by a well-constructed attack from the Swiss who held after the second deuce with a service winner to get his name on the scoreboard. Federer wasted a significant chance of breaking Tennys in the second game after placing a forehand into the net, holding at 15 in the third game with a volley winner and mounting more pressure on his opponent next time Sandgren served. Creating three opportunities for a break in that fourth game, Tennys fended off all three with service winners, bringing the game home with a beautiful backhand crosscourt winner to level the score at 2-2.

Roger held in the fifth game with a volley winner, having a clear upper hand on the court and waiting for a chance on the return patiently. From 30-0 down in the sixth game, Federer stole four straight points on the return to pick up the first break of serve when Sandgren sent a backhand long, holding at 30 in the next game to open up a 5-2 gap. Tennys reduced the deficit to 5-3 before Roger grabbed the ninth game with a service winner for a 6-3 in 34 minutes. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2Gq83BZ