Australian Open Day 9: Roger Federer to face Novak Djokovic in semis

His quarter-final victory four days later was more epic still.

Millman had a world ranking under 50 and had at least defeated the Swiss before, at the 2018 U.S. Open.

But Sandgren had never faced Federer, who in turn had never lost to someone as lowly-ranked as the American at Melbourne Park.

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

“You’ve got to get lucky sometimes,” Federer said with a smile. “I tell you that because in those seven matchpoints you’re not in control.”

“I was just hoping that maybe he wasn’t going to smash a winner, if he misses one or two, who knows what’s going to happen? I think I got incredibly lucky today.”

“… I don’t deserve this one but I’m still standing here and I’m obviously very, very happy.”

“I think I got incredibly lucky.”

Luck or not, here’s how @rogerfederer assessed his performance to advance to the #AO2020 semifinals.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/MK8UDBxT9o

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2020

Federer started strongly, setting up an array of breakpoints before converting his sixth to go up 4-2 and take the opener, but his unforced error count kept piling up in the second as Sandgren, a quarter-finalist at the 2018 Australian Open, drew level.

Things got more messy for the Swiss in the third when he was broken early and then warned for obscene language, something that happens rarely to Federer on court.

Federer got involved in an argument with Serbian chair umpire Marijana Veljovic before taking a lengthy medical timeout that he later said was for a problem with his groin.

Sandgren had to wait almost nine minutes on court before Federer returned to resume the match but the American broke his opponent again, converting his sixth setpoint to nose ahead.

“I really don’t like calling the trainer.”@rogerfederer explains that medical timeout.#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/KBEM5Aubae

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2020

Sandgren, whose run to the last eight in 2018 was shrouded in controversy because of links to far-right activists on his social media account, hit 27 aces in the match and continued to put Federer’s serve under pressure.

With his back to the wall, Federer shifted up a gear to save three matchpoints on serve, with the Rod Laver Arena Crowd gasping every time he survived.

He saved four more during the tiebreak to force a decider, amid delirium in the stadium.

Federer rode the momentum in the final set, breaking Sandgren’s serve in the sixth game before converting his first matchpoint to set up a meeting against either Milos Raonic or Novak Djokovic for a place in Sunday’s final.

⛷or 🎾?@rogerfederer might need to rethink his priorities 😂#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/MnKdiI4eH0

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2020

“Draws are not getting easier. With these lucky escapes, you might play without expectations because you know you should be skiing in Switzerland,” he said.

“Lucky to be here, may as well make the most of it. I better feel better than today otherwise I am really going skiing.”

Djokovic sets up Federer showdown with Raonic rout 

Defending champion Novak Djokovic set up a semi-final showdown with ‘Big Three’ rival Roger Federer at the Australian Open on Tuesday with a thumping 6-4 6-3 7-6(1) victory over Canada’s hapless Milos Raonic.

The floodlit match between Raonic, one of the tour’s most vexing servers, against one of its most brilliant returners had promised, at the least, an intriguing clash of styles. Yet, barring a third set lull for Djokovic as he struggled with his contact lenses, it was a stroll for the second-seeded Serb who dismantled the Canadian’s power game to book the eighth semi-final at his Melbourne Park fortress.