GLOBAL CHICK REPORTS IN ON HER DUTIES @ THE 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN THE “HAPPY SLAM” JUST BECAME THE “SAD SLAM” FOR ROGER FEDERER

Written by: Global Chick on 23rd January 2015

GLOBAL CHICK REPORTS IN ON HER DUTIES @ THE 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN THE "HAPPY SLAM" JUST BECAME THE "SAD SLAM" FOR ROGER FEDERER

epa04577810 Roger Federer of Switzerland attends a press conference after losing to Andreas Seppi of Italy in their third round match of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 23 January 2015. EPA/LUKAS COCH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Episode #6: Can we come out from behind the sofa/couch?

What happened? Well ok maybe we’re being a teeny bit sensationalist, of course by now we know what happened. The rock solid favourite for the title exited stage left from the first Slam of the year.

While some of us (not looking in any particular direction) might have been watching Andy Murray’s progress, all the action was going down on Rod Laver as Roger Federer’s Australian Open campaign ended up as dead as a racquet-swatted bug on the court.

If Simone Bolelli played lights out tennis to take his first set off Federer in the previous round, we could be forgiven for exaggeratedly rolling our eyes when he lost the first set to Andreas Seppi. He teased us with a hope that he would pull off another mini-blip-but-it’s-all-ok-now comeback as he surged ahead in the second set tie-break, but the next time we glanced at the scores, it was 2-0 to the Italian.

That’s ok though because the come-back started as Seppi’s level inevitably dropped and Federer picked up a set. And this is important, because best of five sets are a whole different beast, and anything is possible. Well it was… until the fourth set tiebreak when Seppi struck a winner to snap a 10 match losing streak against the Swiss 6-4, 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(5).

Andreas Seppi of Italy plays Roger Federer of Switzerland during their third round match of the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 23 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament runs from 19 January until 01 February 2015. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Andreas Seppi of Italy in their third round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 23 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament runs from 19 January until 01 February 2015. EPA/Filip Singer

We’d have used a more colourful phrase like “turned out the lights” but this was Federer’s first day match.

“How many times have I played night session, day session, night session, day session or day session, night session? Who cares. I think he did well. I struggled today and he took advantage of it really. I wish I believed maybe if we played at night I would have been more comfortable, but at this point who cares, right? I mean, like I’m on the plane and he’s not.”

Meanwhile Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova and Rafael Nadal all progressed with relatively little drama, which meant we could come from behind the furniture (mainly because it’s pretty uncomfortable down there).

Andy Murray of Britain jubilates after winning against Joao Sousa of Portugal in their third round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 23 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament runs from 19 January until 01 February 2015. EPA/Made Nagi

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after beating Dudi Sela of Israel in their third round match of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 23 January 2015. EPA/JULIAN SMITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Nadal seemed to have little lingering effects from the mystery bug that half crippled him, and Murray has yet to drop a set, although let’s be fair, his concentration has taken a little wander now and again and he can’t do that when he plays Grigor Dimitrov in the next round, although both their draws have opened up nicely with Federer heading for the airport.

So time to plump up the cushions for tomorrow with Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams doing battle for the round of 16.

Topics: Andreas Seppi, Andy Murray, Australian Open, global chick, Melbourne, Novak Djokovic, Rafa, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

January 23, 2015 at 10:40 am

GLOBAL CHICK REPORTS IN ON HER DUTIES @ THE #AusOpen THE “HAPPY SLAM” JUST BECAME THE “SAD SLAM” FOR @rogerfederer- http://t.co/HZ2W9RISaf
dusanVemic says:

January 23, 2015 at 11:32 am

RT @10sBalls_com: GLOBAL CHICK REPORTS IN ON HER DUTIES @ THE #AusOpen THE “HAPPY SLAM” JUST BECAME THE “SAD SLAM” FOR @rogerfederer- http:…