ROGER FEDERER LOSES TO DONSKOY IN DUBAI TENNIS BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 1st March 2017

Tennis Men Dubai Duty Free Championships

ROGER FEDERER LOSES TO DONSKOY IN DUBAI TENNIS BY RICKY DIMON

epa05823454 Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Evgeny Donskoy of Russia during their second round match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis ATP Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 01 March 2017. EPA/STRINGER |

Donskoy saves three match points, comes back from the dead to stun Federer in Dubai

Evgeny Donskoy was on the losing end of what has to be considered the worst collapse in all of 2016. But he was the one playing the comeback role on Wednesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. And Donskoy did against former world No. 1 and seven-time Dubai champion Roger Federer.

The Russian fought off three match points a second-set tiebreaker, recovered from 5-2 hole in the third set, and stormed back from a 5-1 deficit in the decisive tiebreaker to stun Federer 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(5) and punch an unexpected ticket to the quarterfinals.

Donskoy’s most improbable match-point save came with Federer serving at 6-4 in the second-set ‘breaker. The 35-year-old Swiss fired a first serve out wide in the deuce court, but the underdog answered it with a blazing forehand down-the-line return winner.

After seeing the middle frame of play slip away, Federer seemed to restore order to the proceedings when he broken in the sixth game of the decider en route to a 5-2 advantage. Again, however, Donskoy picked up the pace while staring down what looked like inevitable defeat. The world No. 116 reeled off four games in a row, even giving himself a chance to serve out the match at 6-5.

That’s when the third set turned into to even wilder roller-coaster. Federer emerged from a slump to break at love, beginning a stretch of nine out of 10 points in his favor that carried him to a 5-1 lead in the ‘breaker. In typical fashion, though, Donskoy played his best with his back against the wall and took the final six points of the contest in stunning fashion.

Evgeny Donskoy of Russia reacts after winning against Roger Federer of Switzerland during their second round match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis ATP Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 01 March 2017. EPA/STRINGER

The qualifier hit five consecutive winning shots to go from 5-1 down to 6-5 up before Federer sealed his losing fate with an unforced error off the forehand side.

“I surprised everyone today,” said Donskoy, who lost a first-round match at last summer’s U.S. Open after leading Steve Johnson 6-4, 6-1, 5-2, and 0-40 on Johnson’s serve. “I think whoever wins against Roger surprises himself. I can say it’s a dream come true.”

“I had my chances,” Federer commented. “I should somehow close it out. Don’t know how it got away, but he did very well. Yeah, it’s a rough one for sure.”

The reigning Australian Open champion is still an incredible 48-6 lifetime in Dubai. Donskoy, meanwhile, moves on to a quarterfinal date with Lucas Pouille on Thursday.