I guess, the brutal truth is that Roger Federer has never quite got his feet going on clay. If it hadn't been for Robin Soderling's stunning upset of the almighty king Nadal in 2009, he probably wouldn't have completed a career Grand Slam. Having said this, I am not stressing that the Swiss is a poor clay-court player. Not at all, but the French Open has always been his Achilles heel.
The same happened this season. After last year's shock defeat to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals, Roger was determined to make amends. His run to the final in Monte Carlo announced him as a strong candidate for the trophy. After a few easy wins in Paris, things seemed well on track.
Actually, everything was on track until Federer misplaced a smash at 7-6,5-3 40-15 against young gun, Latvian Ernests Gulbis. Cold-blooded Gulbis put that shot back into court, winning the point. That ball proved the turning point of the encounter, as the Latvian got himself back into the match breaking Federer's serve with an inspired display. He would go on to win that set and the set after, to build a commanding two-sets-to-one lead. Roger showed his class leveling the dispute, but a bit of a hesitation in the beginning of the decider proved costly, as his opponent capitalized on an early break to serve out the biggest win of his career.
“It’s the biggest win of my career,” Gulbis confessed in an on-court interview. “Sorry I had to win. I know how everyone likes Roger. It was a tough match but this is sport. I’ve been playing very well in France. I won tournaments in Marseille and Nice, hopefully Paris is the next one.
"For my confidence and just for me as a tennis player, a five-set win over Roger Federer, it's really big. Hopefully it's going to change me that I become more confident about myself, you know, on a tennis court."
Gulbis, better known for the controversy surrounding him than for his on-court results, is determined to clear his reputation and to fulfill his prophecy. Since a few years now, he is expected to breakthrough and reach the pinnacle of men's tennis. Having reached his second Roland Garros quarterfinal, the Latvian goes on to face Czech Tomas Berdych. And judging by his solid results this season, he has a solid chance of advancing deeper into the draw.
Federer on the other side was clearly disappointed by this early exit. He now needs to refocus and get ready for Wimbledon, his favourite Grand Slam and the one that has the best chance of winning. Go Federer!
"I'm clearly very disappointed not to come through with the win," said Federer. "After the chance in the second set, fighting back in the fourth, not to play a better fifth set. There are a lot of regrets here now. But I think Gulbis did a good job of hanging around and clearly coming back in that second set was crucial for him, I think. It was a tough match and I'm disappointed I lost it."
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| Although his good form this season announced him as a strong contestant for the crown, Roger Federer saw his French Open campaign come to a sudden end when he failed to take his chances against Gulbis. The Swiss missed two chances to go two-sets-to-love up and that proved the turning point of the encounter. |
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| The Latvian kept a cool head under pressure, derailing Federer to score the biggest win of his career. He won an epic encounter 6-7,7-6,6-2,4-6,6-3 to reach his second Roland Garros quarterfinal. |
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