Pospisil Was In Awe As He Began Match With Federer

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 29th October 2013

BNP Paribas 2013 Masters Tennis Tournament

Pospisil Was In Awe As He Began Match With Federer

epa03928843 Vasek Pospisil of Canada returns the ball to Pablo Andujar of Spain during their first round match at the BNP Paribas 2013 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 29 October 2013. EPA/IAN LANGSDON |

Canadian Vasek Pospisil was temporarily dumbstruck by pure awe in the early stages of his Basel semi-final against Roger Federer before settling in and giving his idol a workout at the Swiss Indoors before Federer’s 6-3, 6-7(7), 7-5 win.

Pospisil said that he had to calm his nerves as he faced off against the idol he had always dreamed of one day emulating. “It’s not easy to play someone you basically worshipped growing up,” said the No.40, how is close to obtaining an Australian Open seeding. “You want to win but you have a great amount of respect. “It’s tough to compete if you give too much respect. I was battling with myself a bit.”

Pospisil made a big impression when he broke Federer as the five-time champion was serving for a straight-set win. It took the better part of three hours for the Swiss to finally take victory. “I was battling with myself a bit,” said Pospisil, who will carry on next week to the Paris Masters where he will join year-end finals contender Milos Raonic in the field for the final event of the regular season.

“I calmed down a bit in the second set and started playing better. Physically I was very tired but there were no new injuries,” Pospisil said a day after winning this quarter-final after treatment for a stiff neck. “Roger is a champion and he came up with some really good shots when he needed them, that made the difference. He played great on the big points.

“For sure I’ve been playing well the past six months, and I was hoping to have a competitive match. It would have been disappointing not to have given him a competitive match, But he’s Roger and he wins these kind of matches. I’m disappointed for sure, but it was a great match for me.”

Topics: 10sballs, Atp, Basel, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Vasek Pospisil