Tennys Sandgren blew seven match points vs Roger Federer at the 2020 Australian Open quarterfinals and his self-admitted bad results since indicate he’s yet to recover from that tragic loss which cost him a major semifinal and about a half million in prize money.
Today in Indian Wells first round Sandgren was ahead a set and 52 with a love 40 lead – triple match point – on Thiago Monteiro’s serve. Sandgren ended up losing the game and then blew five more match points in the following game before finally serving it out with two aces from break point down.
It was an extremely valuable win for Sandgren, who is now ranked 108 in the world with an 8-14 record in 2021.
He said after on Tennis Channel it’s been a bad year and that every opponent he plays is really good but there was no mention about the Federer loss and how it has effected him the last two years.
Next up for Sandgren will be Cam Norrie, who he beat for his only ATP final in Auckland 2019. But Sandgren concedes Norrie is having an excellent year and he will have to serve very well to have a chance.
There is no doubt Sandgren has been haunted by that loss to Federer in Melbourne however today’s win may help to diminish the long term effects.
" Tennys Sandgren · BNP Paribas Open · Yoxoi Sports
