Basel Flashback: Roger Federer downs Daniil Medvedev in 65 minutes

Roger Federer was far from his usual form in Basel 2018, losing a set in the opening round against Filip Krajinovic and another in the quarters versus Gilles Simon. The Swiss beat the French 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 34 minutes for his 69th Basel win and 15th semi-final! Simon led 5-2 in the opener and had a set point in game 12, squandering his chances but staying neck and neck with Roger throughout the encounter. Federer had 15 aces but lost 40% of the points behind the initial shot, offering Simon ten break chances and giving serve away five times after mixing 40 winners with 60 unforced errors. On the other hand, Roger claimed 44% of the return points, stealing the rival's serve five times after Gilles landed only 47% of the first serve in. The home favorite prevailed with a late break in the decider's tenth game, setting the semi-final clash against the young Russian Daniil Medvedev. Raising his level, Roger scored a convincing 6-1, 6-4 victory in 65 minutes to earn the 70th Basel victory and advance into the 14th final.

It was the 14th triumph from 15 semi-final encounters for Federer in Basel, rattling off 11 straight wins in the semi-final round after the 2002 David Nalbandian loss. Roger had 22 winners and 24 unforced errors, leaving the Russian on a 10-27 ratio and passing a tricky opponent who had the Tour-leading 37 hard-court wins in 2018 up to that point. Both players struggled to find the first serve, and Roger drew more from that, fending off two out of three break chances and clinching four breaks to move over the top in style. Landing ten winners and seven unforced errors, Federer stormed over Medvedev 6-1 in the opening set, reducing the youngster to a single winner and bringing this part of the encounter home in 19 minutes.

In 2018, Roger Federer defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in Basel semis.

Roger saved a break point in the opening game with an ace down the T line and held with another at 1-1 to stay ahead. Daniil hit a double fault to suffer a break in game four and fell 4-1 down after Federer's four winners in the next one.

Fading from the court, Medvedev sprayed a terrible forehand mistake to lose serve at love in game six, allowing Roger to wrap up the opener with three winners at 5-1. With nothing working his way, the Russian gave serve away at the beginning of the second set thanks to a double fault, with Federer securing the break after a service winner in game two. Daniil landed a forehand long in game three to give serve away for the fourth straight time before Roger closed game four with a forehand drive-volley winner for the ninth game in a row! An ace down the T line pushed the crowd favorite 5-1 up, wasting a match point on the return in game seven and suffering a break a few minutes later to keep the Russian alive. Medvedev saved another match point at 3-5, reducing the deficit before the Swiss held at 30 in game ten to seal the deal and secure the place in the final. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3eDFrp9