French Open: Returnee Roger Federer now before duel with Stan Wawrinka
While Stan Wawrinka feels at eye level with the best for the first time after his comeback, Roger Federer has the time advantage on his side. Both have little to lose in their quarter-final duel.
by Jörg Allmeroth from Paris
last edit: Jun 04, 2019, 01:01 pm
The Grand Slam Festival in Paris was still a little while away, when Roger Federer dared to take a look at his uncertain mission: "It could be that I suddenly tear something bigger, that it takes a long time for me there" said Federer, "or it will be over pretty quickly."
Meanwhile Federer is smarter, to his luck and satisfaction the better of the two options has arrived. The master player, who had made himself scarce during the slide exercises in the red sand, is celebrating an impressive French Open comeback, Federer has not given a set in his first four games, never got into any distress. "I could hardly be more satisfied," says Federer, who has been working under the Eiffel Tower for the first time since 2015.
Wawrinka run: Not a matter of course
2015. The year now also plays a role for another reason. Because on Tuesday Federer will probably meet his friend and compatriot Stan Wawrinka in his probably first real test at these international French championships. To that Wawrinka who four years ago pushed him out of the tournament in three smooth sets in the quarter-finals and later also lifted the winner's cup. "I'm looking forward to the game. I am even more pleased that Stan is playing tennis so well again, ”says Federer, who has served as a mentor for Wawrinka from time to time, as a secret career advisor. But also as a constant spoiler: He won 22 of 25 matches against Wawrinka, he was overwhelmingly often the man in the house.
# BETATHOMEFO #
However, Wawrinka is the most impressive appearance in the current qualifying games, his five-set victory against the up-and-coming Hellenic youth Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday was not only the best duel of the past eight days, but also an all-time classic at Roland Garros. Wawrinka struggled for five hours and five minutes for the triumph, it was not a matter of course in every respect - after all, the three-time major winner after a complicated knee operation took a little eternity to regain connection with the world class. In the meantime, he had even dropped back to 263 in the world rankings. “For the first time, I feel that I can be on par with the best again,” says Wawrinka, this guy from an athlete.
Federer with time advantage
Federer, however, could be the profiteer of the hard work that Wawrinka puts in the bones. "I have no idea what I have to do," says Wawrinka, who is no longer the youngest at 34. Federer is still three years older, turning 38 in August. He is already the oldest quarter-finalist in Paris since 1970. But Federer once again, even when he returned to the clay courts, did efficient energy management, something that many of his 20 Grand Slam victories helped decisively. So far he has only been on the pitch for a good seven hours in four matches to the quarter-finals, everything seemed playfully easy, relaxed and relaxed. It probably had to do with Federer's attitude, too, with the attitude he had described before the tournament: “I have nothing to lose. I'll see what's coming, "he said," there is zero pressure on me. "
Federer even compared his French Open appearance to the return after his first serious injury break. Between summer 2016 and the start of the 2017 season, he had to take a time-out due to a knee injury, but then followed the Melbourne miracle, the Australian Open victory, the victory that Federer still sees as "the most incredible victory ever" designated. Federer says that he has now entered the competition in a similarly undemanding manner. “I am already very satisfied so far. What comes next is a freestyle for me anyway. "