Narrow Escape for Federer at Wimbledon
Wimbledon nearly ended at the beginning for Roger Federer.
To avert a monumental first-round upset, the six-time champion overcame a two-set deficit, beating Alejandro Falla 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-0.
On Monday, on Centre Court as defending champion, Federer barely survived the traditional opening match, even though he has reached the tournament final each of the past seven years.
“I live another day, this one is one I should have lost. That’s sometimes how grass-court tennis works “, said Federer.
The turnaround for the 60th-ranked and unseeded Falla came in the fourth set. This is when Federer broke for only the second time and Falla served for the match and three points from victory.
During the next three changeovers for an upper left leg injury, Falla received treatment from a trainer, after winning the first two sets, but he said it didn’t affect the outcome.
When Falla served for the biggest victory of his career at 5-4 in the fourth set, the pivotal moment came for him. On the first two points, he made shaky errors, and a pair of deft forehands by Federer gave him the break.
Taking advantage of four more unforced errors by Falla, Federer ran away with the tiebreaker and in the final set, the disconsolate Colombian mustered little resistance.
“I think about the lost opportunity, On the other hand, I played a great match. I had Federer against the ropes”, said Falla.
Before putting a forehand winner on the line to close out the third set, Federer was 0-for-6 on break point chances. With Falla serving at 5-4, Federer lost serve to start the next set, and found himself on the verge of defeat.
Barely 30 minutes later, came Federer’s big surge where his final shot for a winner kissed the line and walked to the net to give Falla a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.
