Set One:
Rafael Nadal was able to defeat a wounded Andy Murray in the first 2011 French Open semifinal match; but, it was not as easy as the score might lead you to believe. Nadal won 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 in a little over three hours.
The two played in extremely unfavorable conditions as a swirling wind threw red dust in their faces after drying out the courts. Controlling ball tosses and shots became an adventure in intestinal fortitude.
Next up on Court Phillippe Chatrier, Novak Djokovic hoped to extend his winning streak to 42 matches and steal the No. 1 ranking away from Rafael Nadal––the man he would face in the final if he could get past Roger Federer today at Stade Roland Garros.
Although Federer led 13-9 in their head-to-head matches coming into today’s contest, Djokovic had won their last three encounters in 2011. For Federer the prospect of winning this match and finding his way into another major final had to be a pleasing prospect. It would be a difficult proposition, but being the underdog today was an advantage for the Swiss.
The Djokovic serve was broken immediately by Federer. The Serb returned the favor by breaking right back to level the set. The conditions remained difficult on court although the wind died down somewhat since the first match of the day on Court Phillippe Chartrier.
After fighting through six deuces in an extended third game, Djokovic hung on. The combatants remained on serve 2-2, trading blows, holding back nothing.
In the sixth game, Djokovic finally broke the Federer serve, going up 4-2 in set No. 1. The No. 2 seed, however, quickly went down 0-40 on his serve. The Serb found footing difficult, slipping on the red clay. The Swiss broke back immediately and leveled the match at 4-4.
The next moment of danger for the Swiss came when Federer had to serve at 5-4 to stay in the first set. In the blink of an eye, Djokovic had a double set point as Federer went down 15-40 on his own serve. Miraculously, Federer got the game back to deuce and then held on, saving two set points.
The set leveled at 5-5. After being warned by the chair umpire about taking too much time before serving, an upset Djokovic held to go up 6-5. Now Federer had to hold to force a tiebreak. Two aces in a row helped secure the 12th game.
Already over one hour, the first set would be decided in a tiebreak. Federer went up early 3-1 in the breaker. Djokovic leveled it at 4-4 and then went up 5-4. Three straight points went to the Serb.
Federer, however, got it back to 5-5 and had a set point at 6-5. In a stunner, Federer won the first set in 70 minutes.
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| Federer |
The two played in extremely unfavorable conditions as a swirling wind threw red dust in their faces after drying out the courts. Controlling ball tosses and shots became an adventure in intestinal fortitude.
Next up on Court Phillippe Chatrier, Novak Djokovic hoped to extend his winning streak to 42 matches and steal the No. 1 ranking away from Rafael Nadal––the man he would face in the final if he could get past Roger Federer today at Stade Roland Garros.
Although Federer led 13-9 in their head-to-head matches coming into today’s contest, Djokovic had won their last three encounters in 2011. For Federer the prospect of winning this match and finding his way into another major final had to be a pleasing prospect. It would be a difficult proposition, but being the underdog today was an advantage for the Swiss.
The Djokovic serve was broken immediately by Federer. The Serb returned the favor by breaking right back to level the set. The conditions remained difficult on court although the wind died down somewhat since the first match of the day on Court Phillippe Chartrier.
After fighting through six deuces in an extended third game, Djokovic hung on. The combatants remained on serve 2-2, trading blows, holding back nothing.
In the sixth game, Djokovic finally broke the Federer serve, going up 4-2 in set No. 1. The No. 2 seed, however, quickly went down 0-40 on his serve. The Serb found footing difficult, slipping on the red clay. The Swiss broke back immediately and leveled the match at 4-4.
The next moment of danger for the Swiss came when Federer had to serve at 5-4 to stay in the first set. In the blink of an eye, Djokovic had a double set point as Federer went down 15-40 on his own serve. Miraculously, Federer got the game back to deuce and then held on, saving two set points.
The set leveled at 5-5. After being warned by the chair umpire about taking too much time before serving, an upset Djokovic held to go up 6-5. Now Federer had to hold to force a tiebreak. Two aces in a row helped secure the 12th game.
Already over one hour, the first set would be decided in a tiebreak. Federer went up early 3-1 in the breaker. Djokovic leveled it at 4-4 and then went up 5-4. Three straight points went to the Serb.
Federer, however, got it back to 5-5 and had a set point at 6-5. In a stunner, Federer won the first set in 70 minutes.
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