2nd Round in Dubai 500 Masters: Federer vs Stepanek

Tonight i am watching Federer vs Stepanek match in 2nd round in Dubai. These two players are very familiar to each other. They played 14 times before and Federer leads 12-2. Stepanek is 35 yearsold from Czech Rep., ranking 48 in the world. He  was at number 8 in rankings in 2006.

Federer has had a bad start with losing his service game but he broke back Stepanek’s service instantly. He started a bit slow , i mean he could not find his rythm but as the games passes he got the mood. He took the first set in 33 minutes 6-2.

In the second set Federer started bad again and let his service broke but this time he couldn’t break back which is a problem now. Because Stepanek keeps winning his services  and all he needs to go like that to carry the match in the 3rd set. Stepanek is serving now and leading 5-4.

Federer has to take all the risks otherwise the match will go to the 3rd set. He is playing more aggresively now, he comes to the net and breaks the service. Now 5-5.

Federer is very dominant and comfortable in his service game. He makes Stepanek run throughout the court. Stepanek fell down while running another ball but luckily he is fine. Federer is laeding 6-5 and Stepanek will serving to stay in the match.

Radek Stepanek has played a very clear service game and carry the set to tie- break. Stepanek can’t win a set against Federer since Rome 2008 which is a huge pressure for a player i guess. Considering the fact that Federer is good at playing tie-breaks, i think most of the pressure is on Stepanek’s shoulder. Both players are making unforced erros which is understandable because both of them taking risk to get the tie-break. But so far Stepanek is in better position leading 5-2. It seems a bit hard to take it back after Federer made a double fault in his serve 3-6. Stepanek has 3 set points which is very hard to lose. Federer has saved the first one but Stepanek managed to get the tie-break 7-6.

Last month in Australian Open, i watched almost every match of Federer. By working with Edberg, there is a good impact that he is coming to the net more often and plays more agrresively, he changed his racquet, serving better, and improving his backhand shots. But in this tournamet i am not happy about Federer’s  performance so far. He is not looking so fit and strong. Mostly he can keep his pace but he doesn’t give me the feeling that he -for sure- can beat his opponents. You never know when will he lose his rythm.

3rd set started with Stepanek’s serve. I think he is in a good mood now. He has won the tie-break, got his service game. Now Federer is having trouble in his serves and probably a bit confused about losing tie-break. Stepanek is really fighting for every ball that RF sending. Federer is pushing Stepanek so hard to break back, he resists with a succesful defense but finally Federer has a break point chance and has used it. 2-1 Stepanek leads but Federer is serving now. Federer’s service game is very important now, if he wins it, i dont think he will let Stepanek win the match. Federer looking so confused, not focus on game, making so many unforced errors that he usually doesn’t. Stepanek is more agrresive, more eager than him. After giving 2 break points to Stepanek, Federer could save his service. 2-2.

Tennis is so related with the mood. It is very instant, every ball is important, every ball is a fight. Now Stepanek is looking mentally lost, he lost his service in a love game. This is the decision point of the match, i guess. Federer should use this advantage and move on. Federer has won his service game and brings it to 4-2 in the decider.

Both players broke their services mutually but at the end Roger Federer has won the set 6-3 and the match 6-2, 6-7, 6-3.

He will play against another Czech player Rosol in QF.




*Photo taken from Australian Open FB page.