Five-Setter Thriller

For the first time since his 2005 Miami Masters final versus Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer has been pushed to five sets. This time it happened against David Nalbandian at the Tennis Masters Cup, in the final.

Things started out evenly; though Federer broke Nalbandian's serve in both the first and second sets, the Argentinian managed to break back almost immediately and took the sets into tiebreakers. Federer took them both. He then proceeded to lose the next two sets 2-6,1-6 due to a surge of unforced errors from his racquet, including two double faults in a row in the third set. The Swiss then had the trainer massage both his thighs, and the commentators overheard him telling the trainer that he had nothing left in his legs.

For the fifth set, Federer went down 4-0 (double-faulting on break point in his second service game) before finally managing to break Nalbandian's serve to gain one game. To start off his third service game, Federer hit a double fault. Resurgent play from him and some unforced errors later, Roger had game point at 40-15. A forehand sent long set him back 40-30, and another double fault brought the game to deuce.

Nalbandian hit a forehand long to give Federer the advantage, but a weak serve from Federer gave Nalbandian an opportunity to hit a return winner. Deuce. A long return from Nalbandian and an unreturned serve later, Federer was able to hold.

Nalbandian's next service game took the match into its fourth hour, and Federer held two break points. After Federer hit a long backhand and a volley into the net, the game came to deuce. Nalbandian had Federer on the run and had stepped into the court to hit a short ball, but this backhand sailed beyond the baseline. A forehand winner from Federer on the next point enabled him to break Nalbandian's serve again and get back on serve.

3-4, Federer serving. This game contained yet another double fault, but he managed to hold. Nalbandian pushed the game to deuce but an overhead on a high lob got Federer the advantage point. Nalbandian hit a forehand on the run long to give Federer the game.

4-4 on Nalbandian's serve. At 40-15, Federer sent up a lob that Nalbandian met with an overhead. Federer managed to hit the ball back, but Nalbandian was at net waiting. As he volleyed the ball away, it hit the tape but still managed to go over.

5-4. Nalbandian drew first blood by hitting a sharply angled crosscourt forehand, wrongfooting Federer. 0-15. Two Nalbandian backhands down the line went slightly wide. 30-15. Federer hit a drop shot. 40-15. Federer inside-in forehand gave him the game.

5-5, 30-all on the Nalbandian serve. Nalbandian hit a crosscourt backhand wide to give Federer the break point and sent a crosscourt forehand wide to hand Federer the game.

6-5, Federer serving for the match. Roger rushed the net to get to 15-0, then served a ball that was called out but overruled by the umpire. 30-0. Nalbandian managed to hit a return winner that wrongfooted Federer. 30-15. Wide Federer forehand. 30-all. Federer hit a dropshot that sailed wide. 30-40. A backhand down the line gained Nalbandian the break and the game.

The match then went into a fifth set tiebreaker. Nalbandian got the first minibreak, going up 2-1 with two serves before Federer forced an error to get even. 3-2 Nalbandian, Federer to serve. His approach shot wasn't good enough and Nalbandian hit a dipping ball that caused Federer to hit his volley into the net. 4-2 Nalbandian. Just as Nalbandian had Federer reeling on his heels, he hit a drop volley wide. 4-3 Nalbandian. Federer failed to return the serve. 5-3 Nalbandian. Federer nets a backhand. 6-3 Nalbandian, on Federer's two serves. Federer made the serve but netted his forehand to give the game, set, and match to Nalbandian.

The final score: 6-7,6-7,6-2,6-1,7-6 to David Nalbandian. He becomes the second Argentinian since Guillermo Vilas to win the TMC, and to think he wasn't even a part of the eight-man field last week! This Masters Cup has been unbelievable from start to finish--from the withdrawals to the ultimate winner.

This is the end of Federer's 24-match winning streak in finals, and he won't be tieing John McEnroe's 82-3 YTD match record, either. What a way to end the tennis year. Of course, there's still the Davis Cup final between Croatia and the Slovak Republic in December, but officially we've entered the off-season.

UPDATE: Here's a link to the official news about the match, from Reuters South Africa. Just in case you don't believe me.

posted by Noelle De Guzman @ 8:57 PM