Basel Flashback: Roger Federer battles past Gilles Simon to remain on title course

In 2018, world no. 3 Roger Federer ousted Gilles Simon 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 34 minutes for his 69th Basel win and 15th semi-final! It was their ninth meeting - the first since Wimbledon 2015 - and Roger scored the seventh victory in a row against the Frenchman, dominating their encounters after losing the opening two matches in 2008. Federer was miles from his best in the first three Basel matches that year, losing a set in the opening round against Filip Krajinovic and trailing 5-2 in the opener against Simon. The Frenchman wasted a set point at 6-5 and stayed in touch with Roger despite that setback, only to lose serve at 4-5 in the decider to push the Swiss through. Federer had 15 aces but lost 40% of his games' points, offering Simon ten break chances and giving serve away five times after mixing 40 winners with 60 unforced errors. On the other hand, the home favorite claimed 44% of the return points, stealing the rival's serve five times after Gilles landed only 47% of the first serve in.

Simon held after deuce in the opening game and broke Federer with a deep return in game two, forcing an error from Roger to forge an early advantage and make a positive start. Federer had to save another break point in the fourth game, firing an ace to avoid an even bigger disaster and finding his range in the rest of the set. Gilles defended three break points in the seventh game to move 5-2 ahead, getting broken two games later while serving for the set after spraying a backhand error to keep Federer in the set. The Frenchman had another opportunity to close the set at 6-5, creating a break chance that Roger fended off with another ace to reach a tie break, gathering momentum and dominating there to take it 7-1 after an hour.

In 2018, Roger Federer prevailed against Gilles Simon in Basel to reach semis.

The second set saw eight break points in total, five for Simon who had the upper hand on the return dominating to steal Federer's serve thrice and control the scoreboard.

Roger pulled the break back twice to stay on the positive side at 4-4 before Simon clinched a break in game nine after a return winner, holding in the next one to force a decider. Federer held after two deuces at the start of the final set and earned a break in game two when the Frenchman sprayed a forehand error. Serving at 3-1, the Swiss fired a forehand winner to repel a break point before suffering a break at love in game seven following a terrible forehand, having to start all over again when Simon held for 4-4. Nonetheless, Roger made one last push in the tenth game, scoring a break to seal the deal and secure the semi-final spot after another tough day at the office in his hometown.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2UbI3ko