Roger Federer: It’s Unbelievable To Win Matches Like These In Slams

For the first time his career, at least he thinks it was, Roger Federer saved match points to win a Grand Slam match. Last night in a thriller, Federer saved two match points in the fourth set to deny Gael Monfils 46, 36, 64, 75, 62.

“It’s just unbelievable to win matches like this at slams,” Federer said after the 3-hour, 20-minute win. “I have won other big ones in other places. But over best of five, saving match points against Gael in an atmosphere that it was out here tonight, it’s definitely very special. I’m. Not sure I have ever saved match point before in a slam. If that hasn’t happened, I’m unbelievably happy that it was today, because I knew I could play better after the first couple of sets.

“I believed I could turn it around from the get-go when the third set started, and I’m so happy the crowd got into it. The rallies were incredible at times, and my game really picked up. I served great in the fifth when it mattered, and just overall an enjoyable match also to play, because it had all the ups and downs similar to the Wimbledon final.”

Federer served at 4-5, 15-40 in the fourth but survived the challenge. It was just his ninth career comeback from a two set deficit and his first at the US Open in 14 years.

“I think my game got better as the match went on,” Federer said. “I was able to play throughout at a high level physically and mentally. Mentally I’m not ever going to go away, but physically I was right there. I felt great in the fifth against Djokovic and great in the fifth against Monfils. I’m happy tonight it paid off. I felt I had more chances throughout the fourth than he did, so it would have been an unbelievable letdown for me to get broken at 5-4 and lose a match like that. It would have been not very cool, I must say.”

Federer was in attack mode all night winning 53 of 74 points at the net. He leads his next opponent, Marin Cilic, 5-0 in their head-to-head.

“I’m looking forward to playing Marin,” Federer said. “He’s a great guy. We had a tough, tough match in Toronto. I think I needed nine match points to close him out and beat him at midnight, 6-4 in the third, so we know what to expect.”