Tennis: Rusty Federer fights through
Federer needed ten aces and a fighting finish in a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 win over Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen.
BASEL:
Roger Federer needed ten aces and a fighting finish in a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 win over Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen, which secured his place in the quarter-finals of the Swiss Indoors. Out of action for six weeks, the Swiss was tested for the first time by his longtime rival, who has never won against him. “I’m really happy to go through,” said Federer. “The second set was tough and Jarkko played very well. He was also great at the end of the third set.” Meanwhile, the field of leading seeds was reduced to Federer and Novak Djokovic as second-seed Andy Murray withdrew with a right buttock muscle strain.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2011.
Roger Federer needed ten aces and a fighting finish in a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 win over Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen, which secured his place in the quarter-finals of the Swiss Indoors. Out of action for six weeks, the Swiss was tested for the first time by his longtime rival, who has never won against him. “I’m really happy to go through,” said Federer. “The second set was tough and Jarkko played very well. He was also great at the end of the third set.” Meanwhile, the field of leading seeds was reduced to Federer and Novak Djokovic as second-seed Andy Murray withdrew with a right buttock muscle strain.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2011.