Roger Federer US Open 2014

Roger Federer survives two match points in great escape at US Open<br /> New York: Gael Monfils very nearly did enough on Thursday night to break up the all-star coaches reunion. Mixing speeds and bright ideas in gusting wind, he won the first two sets of this US Open quarter-final against Roger Federer. He even had two match points on Federer's serve in the 10th game of the fourth set.<img alt="Roger Federer US Open 2014" src="http://images.smh.com.au/2014/09/05/5736337/Article%20Lead%20-%20wide6107069410cyiz1409897953359.jpg-620x349.jpg" title="Roger Federer US Open 2014" /><br /> But as has so often been the case through the years and the tournaments that matter most, the standing ovation would be for Federer, who rallied to win 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2.<br /> Monfils might have the stuff of a showman, but Federer - even at age 33 with millions of dollars and 17 grand slam singles titles in the bank - still has the desire of a champion. And instead of Monfils making a breakthrough at Flushing Meadows, it will be Federer making a return to the semi-finals for the first time since 2011.<br /> <br /> He will do so in the company of his new coach Stefan Edberg, the elegant, net-rushing Swede who won back-to-back US Opens in 1991 and 1992. Federer's opponent on Saturday will be the 14th-seeded Marin Cilic, the Croatian veteran who is now coached by former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic.<br /> In the other semi-final, Novak Djokovic, now coached by former No. 1 Boris Becker, will face Kei Nishikori, coached by former French Open champion Michael Chang.<br /> Edberg, Ivanisevic, Becker and Chang all played against each other. And after nearly a full season, the evidence appears indisputable: star players turned star coaches do make a difference.<br /> Missed chance: A dejected Gael Monfils.<br /> Missed chance: A dejected Gael Monfils. Photo: Getty Images<br /> "It's crazy and it's fun and it's great to see Michael, Stefan and Boris all in the semi-finals," Ivanisevic said on Thursday night. "We had so many great matches against each other, and now we are sitting there and we can't do anything, just clap and hope our guys are playing well and winning. Now, one of us is going to win a grand slam again as a coach. Who? It's going to be interesting."<br /> The only man who could have spoiled the symmetry was Monfils, who has no coach at all at the moment and seemed none the worse for the situation as he swept through his first four matches without dropping a set. He won the first two against Federer, too, before Federer put a stop to the streak by winning the third. But with the crowd pulling against him, Monfils managed to shake off an early break of serve in the fourth by breaking Federer back to 2-2. His chance came with Federer serving at 4-5 and 15-40.<br /> But Monfils decided to play it conservatively instead of boldly. Federer, with Edberg watching from the front row of the players' box, did the attacking, saving the first match point with a forehand volley that Monfils reached with his backhand and then missed.<br /> Federer saved the second match point with a forehand winner down the line and then served out the game to get back to 5-5.<br /> "I still thought the finish line was far for Gael," Federer said of losing the first two sets. "I knew I could play better tennis, and I got off to a good start and was feeling all right. But then when I was down two match points, I wasn't feeling so great any more. I thought, 'This was it, the last point, man. Just go down fighting. Don't miss an easy shot and let him have it.' "<br /> Monfils, clearly shaken, served consecutive double faults to lose his own serve in the next game, and Federer then served out the set.<br /> The rest, to borrow a French word, was denouement. Federer, after a resurgent year, is back in the final four of the US Open for the first time since 2011.<br /> Semi-finalist Cilic's last grand slam semi-final appearance occurred more than four years ago, an eternity in tennis years. The span included the peak of Cilic's years as a Croatian prodigy, a player graced with size and skill, but he never seemed to live up to the promise.<br /> The low point came last year, when a doping suspension forced him to miss four months and sit out the US Open. His ranking dipped to No. 37. He drew criticism from other players for the use of a banned stimulant, although he convinced an arbitrator that he was mostly not at fault.<br /> A year later, Cilic has climbed out of that career valley. He beat sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the quarter-finals on Thursday, propelling himself into the semi-finals of a major for the first time since he was a 21-year-old wonder at the 2010 Australian Open.<br /> Cilic conquered swirling winds at Arthur Ashe Stadium, on a court his opponent was far more familiar with, only a few days after a gruelling five-set match.<br /> "This was an amazing day for me," Cilic said. "I had a very hard couple of years, but I'm very happy. I'm very happy to break through here on this court."<br /> Cilic, the 14th seed, had beaten Berdych in the third round at Wimbledon, but the hardcourt at the Open seemed to favour Berdych's bigger serve and his deeper experience on one of tennis' biggest stages.<br /> The conventional wisdom proved to be wrong. Berdych could not figure out the wind during the first two sets, dropping his first two service games and four of his first five. He eventually found his way, but by then Cilic had won the first two sets and was revelling in the upgrades to his game, including a powerful serve of his own.<br /> "We are both hitting big, and it's a matter of who was going to put pressure on the other guy," Cilic said. "I think I did a little bit better today. I was returning a bit better, and I was putting a little bit more pressure on his second serve. Just overall, I felt that I used the wind a little bit better to my advantage."<br /> Cilic's serve peaked at 212km/h, as strong as Berdych's and far more effective.<br /> That made Cilic's coach very happy. A year ago, during his suspension, Cilic turned to Ivanisevic, his boyhood hero, to coach him. Ivanisevic, a Wimbledon champion who competed for 12 years at the top level of the sport, was known for his explosive serve - and temper.<br /> It was the serve that Ivanisevic wanted to teach to the tall Cilic.<br /> Against Berdych, Cilic had 19 aces and many other serves large enough to set up easy points. His serve is the most noticeable improvement since his forced hiatus, a time that Cilic credits for his new success.<br /> "I matured a bit more, and I was working day after day," Cilic said. "I wasn't, you know, relaxing and doing nothing. So I think that helped me to improve physically. Also, it helped me to have, you know, enough time to put some new parts in my game, which are helping me to play this good now."<br /> That new-found maturity helped him against Berdych, who seemed to come unglued when umpire Louise Azemar Engzell called a point against him in the third set, ruling the ball had bounced twice before he hit it. He won neither the argument nor the game, losing his poise and his last chance to be competitive.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> New York Times<br /> <br />

Federer Roger Federer SPORT tennis US Open US Open 2014 Roger Federer US Open 2014

Roger Federer survives two match points in great escape at US Open New York: Gael Monfils very nearly did enough on Thursday night to break...

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Roger Federer fightback ends Monfils run

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/9/5/635299header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Roger Federer " border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/9/5/635299header.jpg" title="Roger Federer " /></a>Roger Federer progressed to the US Open semi-finals after he came from two sets down to deny a brave Gael Monfils on Thursday.<br /> <br /> The Swiss second seed saved match points in the fourth set, and eventually prevailed 4-6 3-6 6-4 7-5 6-2 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.<br /> <br /> It was just the seventh time in a major that Federer had successfully arrested a two-set deficit.<br /> <br /> French 20th seed Monfils had not lost a set heading into his quarter-final with 17-time major winner Federer, and was still on a perfect run when he claimed the first two sets within one hour 18 minutes of the first ball being hit.<br /> <br /> Federer claimed the third after getting the decisive break in the fifth game, and maintaining his advantage by dropping just two points on serve in his next three service games.<br /> <br /> Monfils' chance to seal the upset came in the 10th game of the fourth set, as he opened up a 15-40 lead on the Federer serve - and two match points - but the Swiss saved the first when Monfils put a pass attempt long and the second with a brutal forehand down-the-line winner.<br /> <br /> The game was the first of five straight for the five-time champion at Flushing Meadows, with Monfils - serving at deuce in the 11th game - double-faulting twice in succession to hand his opponent an easy break.<br /> <br /> Federer took it to a fifth and opened up a break lead for 2-0 in the decider, as he raced towards the finish line.<br /> <br /> When Monfils was broken to love in the fifth game, his spirit was virtually crushed as Federer went on to complete a brilliant comeback in three hours 20 minutes.<br /> <br /> There was not much between the pair statistically, with Federer edging Monfils in the winners' count 48-43 and conceding slightly fewer unforced errors 44-49.<br /> <br /> Federer will take on Croatian 14th seed Marin Cilic in the semi-finals.<br /> <br /> <br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GAa_JW9XVAw" width="420"></iframe>

Federer Roger Federer Rogers Cup SPORT tennis US Open Roger Federer fightback ends Monfils run

Roger Federer progressed to the US Open semi-finals after he came from two sets down to deny a brave Gael Monfils on Thursday. The Swiss s...

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Cilic in career-best form

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/9/5/635093header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Marin Cilic" border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/9/5/635093header.jpg" title="Marin Cilic" /></a></div> Marin Cilic said he believes he is in career-best form after reaching the US Open semi-finals on Thursday.<br /> <br /> The Croatian 14th seed was too good for Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych in a 6-2 6-4 7-6 (7-4) win at Flushing Meadows in their quarter-final.<br /> <br /> Cilic's last-four appearance marks the second time he has been in a grand slam semi-final – and first since the 2010 Australian Open.<br /> <br /> The 25-year-old said he was at his best in New York, but refused to be satisfied too easily.<br /> <br /> "I feel I'm playing probably the best tennis of my career. I think what helped me also was the consistent play over last five, six months," Cilic said.<br /> <br /> "This year I haven't lost too many matches against guys who are lower ranked than me. That's always very positive.<br /> <br /> "So overall in the game I feel I'm playing well but I'm not getting satisfied too easy. I'm happy, but I still want to do well.<br /> <br /> "I feel that it's still a lot to improve even in some matches. I want to keep going.<br /> <br /> "Now I made it to the semis and it's completely different for me now atmosphere than what I have been in 2010.<br /> <br /> "At that time was maybe a little bit, too shocked for me and I didn't know how to deal with it afterwards. But now I'm, you know, cool and it's going well."<br /> <br /> Cilic said he deserved his semi-final appearance in Melbourne in 2010, but felt he could still improve on his current form.<br /> <br /> "I would say I deserved it at that time, too, to be in [a] semi-final, but I was putting more pressure on myself with the expectations," he said.<br /> <br /> "I wanted to do too well. Like on each match, on each training session, I was looking from my own self for too much.<br /> <br /> "Then after a couple of months everything breaks, so I feel now I'm steadily progressed a lot. I feel like I'm playing well but still I want to, I feel like I can still improve."<br /> <br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/skVXHPRz8P4" width="420"></iframe>

Marin Cilic tennis Tomas Berdych US Open Cilic in career-best form

Marin Cilic said he believes he is in career-best form after reaching the US Open semi-finals on Thursday. The Croatian 14th seed was to...

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Berdych tight-lipped after meltdown

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/9/5/635095header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Tomas Berdych" border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/9/5/635095header.jpg" title="Tomas Berdych" /></a>Tomas Berdych refused to elaborate on his objection to an umpire's call during the third set of his loss to Marin Cilic at the US Open.<br /> <br /> The Czech sixth seed bowed out in the quarter-finals as Cilic posted a 6-2 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory to advance to his second career grand slam semi-final.<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> However, the former Wimbledon finalist was poised to send the match to a fourth set when he held a 4-2 lead and serving with 30-15, Berdych crumbled when a double-bounce call went against him.</div> <br /> Replays showed chair umpire Louise Engzell made the correct call, but Berdych was furious with the decision - and handed back his break advantage before losing the tie-break.<br /> <br /> He was, however, less keen to discuss the matter post match as he was with Engzell at the time.<br /> <br /> "No, I pretty much said everything, so let's leave it to decide whoever saw it and whoever understands tennis. That's it," Berdych said.<br /> <br /> Berdych did rue his own poor performance, blaming his biggest weapon - his serve, which he landed only 50 per cent of the time on his first ball - for his collapse.<br /> <br /> "I started pretty terribly. It was not the way to start the match like that. Then obviously was really tough to catch up. And really my serve was off," he said.<br /> <br /> "Basically when you have a game built on a serve, then it's really tough and difficult to reschedule it and do it a bit differently.<br /> <br /> "Today was not, definitely not the day I want to have. Yeah, that's it. That's tennis. Just need to carry over and go forward."<br /> <br /> He added: "Yeah, it was [my] serve definitely. I mean, it was horrible from the beginning. That's impossible to play with an opponent like Marin is.<br /> <br /> "Really, I would probably struggle with 80 per cent of other guys if I served that bad like today. That's something what really I need to avoid."<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/skVXHPRz8P4" width="420"></iframe>

Marin Cilic tennis Tomas Berdych US Open Berdych tight-lipped after meltdown

Tomas Berdych refused to elaborate on his objection to an umpire's call during the third set of his loss to Marin Cilic at the US Open. ...

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