R-E-L-A-X: FEDERER WILL BE FINE AFTER SEPPI SERVES UP IMPROBABLE UPSET BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 23rd January 2015

R-E-L-A-X: FEDERER WILL BE FINE AFTER SEPPI SERVES UP IMPROBABLE UPSET BY RICKY DIMON

epa04577831 Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts during a break 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. Federer lost. EPA/Barbara Walton |

Was Roger Federer’s 6-4, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (5) loss to Andreas Seppi in Friday’s third round of the Australian Open a disappointing one for Federer and his fans? Absolutely. Was it a crippling one? Of course not.

Although it is true that Federer had a legitimate chance to capture his 18th Grand Slam title and first since 2012, the Australian Open is never going to be his best chance. As well as Federer had been playing dating back to last fall, he would have been an overwhelming underdog against Rafael Nadal in a potential semifinal and a considerable underdog against Novak Djokovic in a possible championship match. Put him on the lawn at Wimbledon or the super-quick hard courts of the U.S. Open, though, and the Swiss maestro becomes an even more dangerous force.

Andreas Seppi of Italy in action against 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

“I think he’s still playing because he believes he can win another [major],” Seppi said of Federer. “I do also. He’s a great player. I think not many people thought that last year he can almost go again No. 1 in the world. I think for sure he has good chances to win another one.”

Federer, of course, did not attribute the loss any kind of sudden dip in overall form. And why should he? A larger sample size shows that the 33-year-old Swiss won the Shanghai Masters last October, went undefeated at the World Tour Finals before sustaining an injury, helped Switzerland win its first-ever Davis Cup, then kicked off this season with a title in Brisbane.

No, Friday was just an aberration to the rule.

“Just somehow couldn’t play my best tennis today,” Federer lamented. “It was definitely partially because of Andreas playing very well.”

Well? More like his best match ever. Previously 0-10 versus Federer and 1-54 against top-10 opponents opponents, Seppi went toe-to-toe with his heavily-favored opponent in the winners department (50 to Federer’s 57). The Italian’s 50th may go down as the best of the entire fortnight. At 6-5 in the fourth-set tiebreaker, Seppi responded to what looked like a Federer winner by not only tracking down the ball, but also squash-shotting it back for match-ending rifle up the line.

“For sure a strange shot,” Seppi admitted. “At the beginning I thought I couldn’t even reach the ball. Then when I hit it, I didn’t [see[ it going there. I just saw when it bounced in. For sure one of the important shots of my life.”

As for Federer, it’s onto the next phase of the season.

Andreas Seppi (L) of Italy is congratulated by Roger Federer (R) of Switzerland after Seppi won 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/Barbara Walton

“Rest, then get ready for practice really,” he said when asked what he will do now. “Dubai is my next [tournament].”

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Andreas Seppi, Atp, Australian Open, Federer, Melbourne, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

January 23, 2015 at 4:36 pm

R-E-L-A-X: @rogerfederer WILL BE FINE AFTER #SEPPI SERVES UP IMPROBABLE UPSET BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/iTEhqyzbcP #AusOpen #seppifederer
dusanVemic says:

January 23, 2015 at 9:12 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: R-E-L-A-X: @rogerfederer WILL BE FINE AFTER #SEPPI SERVES UP IMPROBABLE UPSET BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/iTEhqyzbcP #AusO…