Federer fights past Simon for 36th Major quarter final in a row

Roger Federer has not lost before the quarter-finals of a Major tournament since Gustavo Kuerten beat him in straights in the round of sixteen at Roland Garros in 2004. In his fourth round match against Gilles Simon at this year’s French Open that record looked set to continue as the Swiss raced through the first set 6-1, making tennis look, as he is prone to do, as simple as abc.

Simon, however, did not shrink away as many have done when faced with an on form Federer, preferring instead to make Federer do advanced calculus rather than recitations of elementary school songs. Simon summoned up his defensive skills to stay with the Swiss in the second set and at 4-3 30-30 the Frenchman was ready and waiting when Federer started to error, first on the backhand and then on the forehand. Simon’s reward for being patient was to serve for the set. Having been shrewd enough to hang in the match until a chance came his way, Simon did not waste this chance and took the set 6-4 as a backhand slice from Federer went long.

In the second set, with the Swiss serving at 2-2, Federer slipped when running to retrieve a Simon forehand. Simon took heed of the omen and hit another huge forehand for 0-30. A backhand down the line winner into the service box and he had three break points. A long rally on break point and Federer hit a backhand long to gift a Simon, a man only too eager to tear open his present, a break.

At 4-2, another Federer error and a more aggressive than usual Simon had break point, a chance he wasted as his passing shot hit the net. Another Federer error though and another break point. The Frenchman hits a drop shot. Federer runs it down but he nets his attempt at retrieval.

5-2 and Simon is serving for a two sets to one lead over a man who has not lost at this stage of a Major for nine years. On Simon’s second set point, earned courtesy of a service winner, Federer moves him around before moving forward but he cannot execute. Federer’s cross-court backhand lands in the net. Simon has the set and a two sets to one lead. One more set and he will, in ending Federer’s quarter final streak, create history.

The prospect excites him. The aggression he has been displaying escalates; the prospect of putting away Federer pumping him up. Service winners, forehand winners, backhand winners hit through the court, applauded by the home crowd.

But it does not prove to be enough. There is after all a good reason Federer does not lose before the quarters of Majors: He is Roger Federer. The Swissman, the second greatest clay-courter of the last ten years, the winner here in ’09 and four time runner up, does not suffer the disadvantage of playing a home player either, for the French crowd love him as much as they do their own. Federer gets a break point at 2-3. Federer hits a forehand crosscourt then a backhand down the line to force an error, a tried and tested tactic over the years of competing at the deep end of Majors. Federer has the break and he does not look back. The sting back in his tail, he hits winners down the line, drop shots, winning volleys. It is the first set all over again. A reprisal of Federer in first. At 5-2 Federer has set point and wins the set as a Simon backhand hits the net.

The fifth set, Federer serving first. He states his intentions, serving out to love. Simon serves and goes break point down. The Frenchman goes for Federer’s backhand. Federer hits slices and top spins, switches to inside out forehands, going cross court with Simon before changing the direction, going down the line, then down the middle. Simon steps forward. He has a chance. He goes for a cross-court forehand, the shot that had gleaned winners in sets two and three. This is the fifth set though, a set in which Federer is leading. The fifth set of a Major last sixteen match, the kind of match that Simon knows Federer just does not lose. Simon overpresses. The forehand fires wide where it had once been hitting lines.

Fed holds and it is 3-0. Simon survives a long deuce game despite Federer’s attempts at an exhibition of how to play tennis. One rally alone sees Federer hit a drop shot, a volley lob, a backhand down the line and forehand cross-court combo. Simon saves break point with some magic of his own: a forehand volley that clips the line.

With matters more competitive now, the two hold serve until at 5-3 Federer has to hold to win the match. Simon threatens him with a backhand down the line winner for 15-30. Federer hits an ace down the line. 30-30. Federer nets a volley. 30-40. Break point Simon. Federer hits a service winner. An ace and it is match point. A netted Federer forehand down the line and it is deuce. Simon sensing history could still spin his way attacks the Federer forehand and is rewarded with a break point. But Federer hits a huge serve and then comes in to smash away the short return. Deuce. A Simon forehand goes wide. Match point number two for Federer. The players trade ground-strokes. Simon misses a forehand down the line. Game, set and match Federer. His 36th consecutive quarter final at a Major. Fighting like this when his historic run is threatened, how many more he can Federer his way into remains a feat the tennis world eagerly awaits to see.