It had become one of the undercurrent stories of the week in Indian Wells, even if it was not as ‘high-profile’ a theme as the No1 ranking: Roger Federer would extend his time at No1 in the absence of Rafael Nadal if the Swiss could reach the semi-final. Was there any doubt, when he had done exactly that 10 times in the last 13 appearances?
The five-time champion duly obliged, and then attention turned to those other ‘records’. First, he notched up 60 match-wins, marking his sixth tournament with that tally, but shrugged it off (literally), calmly dismissive:
“Sounds like a lot, but at the same time, I don’t know how many people have done that. I mean, when you’re in the game for long enough and successfully enough, these things just tend to happen… just shows me that I have played Indian Wells a lot, I have liked it a lot, and I kind of like the conditions here.”
He then equalled his ‘best ever start to a season’, 16 straight wins. That the previous season was his jaw-dropping 2006, during which he went 92-5 and won 12 titles—three Majors and the final of the fourth among them—made the headline compelling. He was quick to undermine that one, too:
“12 years ago, long time ago… I don’t even remember what tournament I played first and won. I guess I had a similar good start to the year, but I guess back then, because I was on this massive streak of winning 30, 40-plus matches, I guess it had already started the year before that, which this time it didn’t.”
He shrugged again: “Doesn’t matter.”
His memory for past matches is renowned. Yes, he had put together a 35-match streak at the end of 2005, undefeated from Halle through Wimbledon, Cincinnati, the US Open, Davis Cup, Bangkok and into the final of the Masters Cup. In that season finale, he lost a remarkable four and a half hour five-setter to David Nalbandian, and that set his streak back to zero for 2006.
But while Federer had not put a similar 35-run together in 2017, his win-rate was not far short. Returning from his knee-surgery-absence at the Australian Open, he had gone 68-5 by the time he played this semi-final. And if the Hopman Cup was factored into 2018, his unbroken run is already up to 20.
And as he pointed out in Rotterdam and Indian Wells, these things come as a matter of course if the body and mind are fit enough to maintain winning ways.
He also had prescient words about the coming generation, particular pertinent in that two 21-year-olds had lined up for their first time in the Indian Wells quarters. Federer could face both, first Hyeon Chung, and then meet Borna Coric in the semis.
“The young guys are still calibrating their game, understanding what they need to do. There’s a lot of new things to them, like the pressroom and the promotional stuff and sponsors and fans. So there is a lot on their plate, but they will learn, and they’ll get better and eventually push us out—and [smiling] that’s the end for us.”
Chung had certainly brought a lot to the table, and demanded some of Federer’s best tennis in the tournament, yet the Swiss had still not dropped a set.
But Coric was improving and maturing almost before California’s eyes: he first beat the No19 seed, then No13, and in the quarters, scored a gutsy victory over No7 Kevin Anderson.
And it is easy to forget that the young Croat had blossomed early to reach 33 in the ranks almost three years ago, and was rediscovering that form since having knee surgery 18 months ago.
Now, under the guidance of a new coaching set-up that happened to include Federer’s friend and coach—and former Indian Wells champion—Ivan Ljubicic, Coric had got control of the tense frustration he used to suffer at his own imperfections.
He brought that same calmness and clarity of purpose to his first Masters semi-final, too, while Federer looked a shadow of his 16-winning-streak self. Initially, Coric fired more errors, but Federer could not get his first serve into play, and despite some early flourishes, Coric broke him in 11th game as the errors mounted on the Swiss side. The Croat pounded with persistence and accuracy to the backhand to hold for the set, 7-5.
What is more, Coric continued to strike with power and accuracy to both wings to break and then hold, 2-0. Federer was lacking penetration, forced to slice returns on the much-improved Coric serve, and could not break down the fine defence of his opponent either. Even at 0-40 in the fourth game, Coric held firm, finishing at the net for 3-1.
As the set headed to its sharp end, though, Federer found a way through, and helped by some energetic defence and a final clip of the net, he broke to level 4-4. That burst of confidence delivered two aces to hold, and then a break, 6-4.
The Tennis Garden erupted in support, but quickly deflated again as Coric scored a break to love to open the decider. Federer, though, pulled off a cross-court pass to break and level, and had a chance to break again, but could not convert. Instead, it was Coric who dug in and broke, 4-3: that surely was it.
But Federer, so lauded for the beauty and apparent ease of his shot-making, now simply gritted his teeth, refusing to lose. He pressed hard, drew a double fault, and levelled again, 4-4. And that seemed to release the hand-break. The Swiss held to love with a rare drop-shot winner, and broke for the match, 6-4.
It had taken two hours, 20mins, and had demonstrated the less celebrated side of Federer’s sporting success: the competitive blood-and-guts determination needed when the racket will not sing.
He afterwards admitted:
“It was very difficult: I think I won today through fighting,” and he grinned.
“Borna did a great job controlling the centre of the court. I couldn’t play the way I was expecting. He served really well… and I wasn’t controlling the baseline rallies any more. I was impressed by his mental strength, his movement… I think he got a little bit nervous and I got a little bit lucky.”
Coric, though, summed it up: “He pushed me. He got back. That’s why he’s a champion.”
Federer will have to regain his best game as well as that fight if he is to win the title against one of the men who has troubled him most through his career.
Juan Martin del Potro, looking something like the US Open champion of 2009 as he has worked his way yet again into the top 10—and he has undergone wrist surgery four times—beat Milos Raonic, 6-2, 6-3, in a clinical, heavyweight performance, in just 65 minutes. It was his 400th match-win, so one can only imagine the numbers he may have reached in matches and titles had he not missed years with injury.
Remarkably, the popular Argentine has yet to win a Masters title, but in this form, and against Federer, this could be his chance. For while the Swiss leads their head to head 18-6, that does not do justice to their rivalry.
Take three of their earliest meetings, with del Potro just turning 21 in 2009. On the clay of Roland Garros, he took Federer to five sets in the semis. Three months later, he denied the defending US Open champion, and beat Federer again in three sets on his way to the final of the World Tour Finals in London.
As for their recent meetings, del Potro beat Federer at the US Open last year, and lost in Shanghai and Basel, both times in three sets. And who could forget their titanic Olympic struggle in London, 19-17 to Federer in the final set?
Once again, they collide while both are playing some of their best tennis. It could then, be a classic.