In some ways it was one of the most impressive wins by Roger Federer this year. Struggling to handle Coric, a man he crushed 61 62 in a previous meeting three years ago, today was a different story with Coric at times blasting the world no. 1 around the court.
Perhaps feeling sluggish for having to play in the early 11 am time slot, Federer lost a thrilling first set 7-5 and was down a break in the second set.
But with a star-studded audience in the Tennis Garden, featuring Sugar Ray Leonard, Pete Sampras, Bill Gates, Federer eventually raised his level and at 3-4 reeled off three straight games for 6-4.
The match exhibited artistry and wizardry and brutality from both players. Coric was striking the ball like a prime Djokovic and moving Federer around the court like his idol Mike Tyson used to do to his challengers in the boxing ring. But then Federer, the tennis genius that he is, figured something out and subdued Coric.
A curious aspect of the match happened in the second set, when Bein Sports commentator Fabrice Santoro tweeted that he had inside information that Federer had a lower back issue. Though there was absolutely no evidence of any back problem or mobility issue evident in Federer.
Later in the ESPN telecast, Brad Gilbert discussed this matter with the Fed camp, agent Tony Godsick and coach Sev Luthi who both expressed wonder at how Santoro could say such a thing without any evidence and the fact he’s not even present in Indian Wells.
Did Santoro fabricate fake news? Or did someone in the Fed camp leak fake news to Santoro early in the second set to manufacture an excuse for Federer who was losing the match down a set and break? Which would have been a similar pattern to the Toronto final last year when Federer was down a set and break to Alexander Zverev and then suddenly began gesturing hints of a back issue which only seemed to arise when Federer was losing and could not handle the devastating display by Zverev.
The mystery of Santoro’s tweet will linger on but the irrefutable truth of this match is that Federer summoned another vintage victory snatched from the jaws of defeat. Though he has only played twice at the 11 am time slot in the last 12 years, Federer still found a way to deliver his best and fend off a very spiritied, outstanding effort by the young Croatian.
After the match, Federer said he was greatly inspired by the presence of former boxing champion Ray Leonard and when he sees sporting legends watching him play it’s the ultimate inspiration.
One man who needed no inspiration today was Juan Martin Del Potro in the second semi against Milos Raonic, who beat him last year in the Delray semi. The world no. 8 Del Potro dominated Raonic today 62 63 to set up an intriguing final and rematch of a clash at last year’s US Open, which was won by the Argentine.
Since the US Open loss, Fed has beaten Delpo twice, both in three setters, in China and Basel. Fed leads Delpo 18-6 overall head to head.
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Dan Markowitz · March 18, 2018 at 5:52 pm
Fed is being an absolute tool to Fergus Murpny in the 2nd set tie-breaker against Del Potro in the finals. He just challenged a service ace by Del Po, gesturing with his racquet to show the serve landed six inches long on the sideline, when in fact Hawkeye showed the ball landing squarely on the line. Murphy said he thought the ball was good that’s why he didn;t overrule, but Fed was still giving crap to Murphy as they changed over at 3-3, saying Murphy was still wrong.
Fowler from ESPN said Fed was acting “gloomy.”
Federer is giving it to Murphy again after a Federer served was challenged by Del Potro and over-turned after Fed would’ve won the second set. Fed then double-faulted and on the change over Fed said to Murphy, “You missed another call?”
We’ve seen Murphy get the cold chill from players recently in Delray, Sock calling him the worst umpire in the game. And maybe Murphy should’ve overruled the missed serve on his sideline by Federer, thus not allowing the fans to get out of their seats thinking the set was over. But why should an umpire overrule when players still have their challenges and the serve was very close?
This is the thorniest I can remember Fed being toward an umpire in a long time.
Scoop Malinowski · March 18, 2018 at 9:34 pm
Didn’t see any of the match because I played an Ultimatetennis.com 5.5 league match and then went out deep sea fishing all day with Captain Warren Girle, a former Australian Davis Cupper but it sounds like Federer was in an awfully sore mood today. He talks so much about just enjoying it but it’s just a facade I guess, he lusts for more wins and more glory and more titles. Does this exhibit today show Fed is a ruthlessly greedy addicted to winning monster or did he get jobbed by an incompetent umpire? I don’t remember Agassi, Sampras, Lendl, Becker, Hewitt behaving like this at the end of their careers. Shame on Fed for popping off on poor Fergus Murphy who sure does seem to endure a lot of abuse and cheap shots from the players. Where’s Mohammed Layhani when you need him?
Scoop Malinowski · March 18, 2018 at 9:38 pm
So this is four straight epic struggles vs Delpo for Fed. The US Open loss then two three setters in China and then Basel and today’s loss. Fed may be very insecure about losing his grip on no. 1 to Delpo who appears to be the biggest threat to taking down Fed from the top ranking slot. The Delpo game is Federer’s kryptonite?
Scoop Malinowski · March 18, 2018 at 10:52 pm
Watching replay now of Fedelpo and it’s stunning how heated this match was. Both were highly tense, as if a lot more was on the line than just this IW title. This could be the battle for year end no. 1. One more set to go, Fed just eked out the second set breaker 10-8. Both players are very tense and fierce, a far cry from the Paris indoor final or the Toronto final last summer. Fed vs Delpo could develop into the best rivalry in tennis.
Scoop Malinowski · March 18, 2018 at 10:55 pm
Fed screaming and yelling after winning the second set. Delpo smashing balls down with his Wilson. Delpo annoyed by Murphy letting fans make noise between his serves. Fed angry with Fergus Murphy perceived incompetence. Both players showing no warmth to each other. Delpo forehand turning Fed into a retriever. Great rivalry building up.
Doug Day · March 18, 2018 at 11:28 pm
Just the best tennis by the best players in a rowdy crowd nailbiter. The tower has Fed’s number and thats saying some comeback. Im glad it wasn’t five sets.
Chazz · March 19, 2018 at 11:26 am
Del Potro is playing top 5 tennis this year. Look at what he did in Acapulco – beat Ferrer, Thiem, A. Zverev and Anderson en route to the title. Fed and del Potro are usually pretty calm so the tense display made it tough to watch. Federer has been unusually vocal in his two big finals this year – Australian Open vs. Cilic and yesterday. He was not happy with all the unforced errors but he shouldn’t have made it about the ump.