Brisbane Open: Federer thrashes Thiem to set up Raonic rematch | Tennis News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Brisbane Open: Federer thrashes Thiem to set up Raonic rematch

AFP | By, Brisbane
Jan 09, 2016 03:23 PM IST

Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer reached his third successive Brisbane International final on Saturday when he crushed Dominic Thiem in a one-sided semi-final match.

Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer reached his third successive Brisbane International final on Saturday when he crushed Dominic Thiem in a one-sided semi-final match.

Roger Federer celebrates after winning his match against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria at the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament.(Reuters Photo)
Roger Federer celebrates after winning his match against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria at the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament.(Reuters Photo)

Federer took just 60 minutes to down the eighth-seeded Austrian 6-1, 6-4 and said afterwards it was the best he had played all week.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

“I’m getting used to conditions, which is usually the case after a couple of matches,” he said.

“You understand the speeds more and you’re more comfortable. Plus I’m definitely also feeling a bit better now.

“I was very pleased with how I played. I think it was the best match of the week so far, or most consistent maybe.”

The first set lasted just 22 minutes as a shell-shocked Thiem struggled to match the 17-time Grand Slam champion on Pat Rafter Arena.

Thiem, 22, settled into the match in the second set and took the fight to his 34-year-old opponent, but a lapse in the seventh game saw him drop his serve and Federer easily held on to book a place in the final.

Federer lost to Lleyton Hewitt in the 2014 title-decider and beat Canadian Milos Raonic to win the title last year.

Milos Raonic hits a return against Australia's Bernard Tomic during their men's singles semi-final match of the Brisbane International tennis tournament. (AFP Photo)
Milos Raonic hits a return against Australia's Bernard Tomic during their men's singles semi-final match of the Brisbane International tennis tournament. (AFP Photo)

Sunday’s final will be a rematch of 2015 after the huge-serving Raonic edged local hero Bernard Tomic in two close sets.

“I played some tough matches (against him) in the last, I don’t know, I guess 16 months or so,” Federer said of Raonic.

“I thought he played really well against me here and Indian Wells last year. So he’s been looking good, you know. Clearly with a serve like that things are always complicated.”

The big-serving Raonic hit 13 aces on his way to a 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5) win in one hour, 47 minutes.

Tomic had his chances against Raonic, and had four break points in the fifth game of the first set.

But Raonic served his way out of danger and neither man was troubled on his own serve thereafter.

With such a huge serve Raonic was always favoured in the tie-breaks and he opened a 5-1 lead on both occasions.

Tomic fought back to 5-5 twice but in the end Raonic closed out the match with a lunging backhand volley.

Raonic pushed Federer in three close sets in 2015 and although he said he was playing better now than 12 months ago, he conceded facing the Swiss great was always difficult.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On