DUBAI // At times last night at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, such was Roger Federer's expertise on court that career obituaries and worn-out clichés were rendered redundant.
Federer, a 17-time grand slam tournament champion supposedly on the wane, was asked to delve deep into his bag of tricks, yet he conjured continuous magic against Novak Djokovic in the semi-final at the Aviation Club.
By the time the dust had settled, and a little rain too, the Swiss had rolled back the years to register a stirring, come-from-behind 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph.
No wonder he appeared a little confused post-match. Having required one of his many moments of brilliance to save break point in the second set, Federer struggled to recall exactly which of his sublime collection had eventually set up the win.
Quality over quantity? Sometimes there is no need for compromise. “Was that the passing shot up the line?,” Federer asked. “I don’t remember. I’m not sure which one it was, man.”
To be fair, there were plenty to choose from. Federer may have struggled through opening exchanges, but that he was able to regroup so forcibly against such an imposing opponent as Djokovic bodes well for the season.
Without a grand slam title in nearly two years and creeping towards his 33rd birthday, Federer has had to reject constant queries about his apparent decline. Yet with niggling injury behind him and with 2013’s promising finish sustained through to 2014, Federer looks set to make good on his suggestion that a return to his best tennis is a bona fide ambition.
In fact, he may have already realised it.
“I hope it’s now; it’s happening,” he said. “Beating Novak on the hard courts here in Dubai, it’s tough, this is big. This is a big step in the right direction for me; gives me a lot of confidence. I just hope I can finish it well.”
Federer finishes today with the opportunity to avenge last year’s semi-final defeat to Tomas Berdych. Back then Federer, a five-time Dubai champion, would have anticipated jousting with Djokovic for the trophy, but the Czech shocked him in a straight-sets win.
Last night, having emerged victorious from his own last-four encounter, Berdych said he preferred to face Federer over Djokovic. With his final opponent displaying some vintage mastery, Berdych may be careful what he wishes for. "Oh, I'm happy he said that," said Federer, who leads the head-to-head record 11-6. "OK, good for him."
Djokovic can lay testament to Federer’s form. The world No 2 was poised for yet another Dubai final – he has won the event four times – but then his rival rebounded to prove there is indeed plenty left in the tank.
“I started making a lot of unforced errors in the second part of the second set and wasn’t managing to move as well, and he felt this is his opportunity,” Djokovic said. “And he used it. You know, that’s why he’s a big champion.
“When you lose against a better player, you shake hands and that’s it. You move on and try to take the best out of it.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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