Australian Open 2020: Federer Saves 7 Match Points To Beat Sandgren, Secures Semis Berth

The Swiss ace and 20 time Grand Slam champion overcame a spirited challenge from his unseeded American rival to beat him 6-3,2-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 and set up a semifinal berth against the winner of the Novak Djokovic versus Milos Raonic quarterfinal.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 28: Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a backhand during his Men’s Singles Quarterfinal match against Tennys Sandgren of the United States on day nine of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

New Delhi: Third seed Roger Federer fended off seven match points to defeat American Tenny Sandgren in a pulsating men's singles quarterfinal encounter at the Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday. The Swiss ace and 20 time Grand Slam champion overcame a spirited challenge from his unseeded American rival to beat him  6-3,2-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 and set up a semifinal berth against the winner of the Novak Djokovic versus Milos Raonic quarterfinal.

Federer finds a way 🇨🇭@rogerfederer saves seven match points to def. Tennys Sandgren 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6(8) 6-3 and reach the #AusOpen semifinals for the 15th time.#AO2020 pic.twitter.com/B3Biy3q1Ez

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2020

After Federer winning the first set with relative ease, Sandgren stepped up his game to win the next two sets with some sublime tennis. Federer came back strongly in the fourth set to clinch it in a well contested tie breaker which saw him saving a couple of match points. 'Fedex' then produced some vintage tennis in the fifth set to clinch the match and secure a berth in the quarterfinal. The other two quarterfinals will witness top seed Rafael Nadal facing Dominic Theim and Stanislas Wawrinka taking on Alexander Zverev. Federer who has won the Australian Open six times in the past was knocked out in the fourth round in the last edition of the grand slam in 2019.