Federer Edges Tipsarevic in a Thriller

Wow… what a match that was!! I am really loving this year’s open. Two epic matches (Roddick-Kohlschreiber  yesterday, Safin-Bhagdatis the day before) in two days and one more today.

The Melbourne rain which so disrupted play at the Australian Open could not dampen an extraordinary five-set game that saw, Roger Federer, chasing his fourth title and thirteenth Grand Slam crown, narrowly defeat 23-year-old Serbian Janko Tipsarevic.The game was decided by a brilliant final set which saw Tipsarevic, tiring visibly and beginning to grunt like Maria Sharapova, hit a succession of big serves to stay in contention. Both players displayed brilliance and tenacity, defying fatigue for sixteen nerve-shredding games until Federer finally edged in front.

Unheralded 49th seed Tipsarevic put on an incredible display. The first two sets were decided by tie-break, Tipsaravic won the first, inflicting Federer’s first opening set loss since 2006, but Federer took the second tie break with some ease.

Still Federer, who has been suffering with gastric illness, was unable to find his rhythm and made a series of unforced errors to allow the intense Dostoevsky-reading Tipsarevic to pull away, and eventually win, the third set 5-7. The sensational loss prompted Federer to call for his trainer as the game moved beyond three hours.

The strain initially told most on Tipsarevic who, still feeling the effects of a marathon first round game against Joseph Sirianni, suddenly looked leg weary. Federer took the fourth set 6-1 with commanding ease to set up a thrilling finale.