The deciding set curse: Vramvrim (Federer) defeats VMoe86 (Verdasco) 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-4.
Congrats to Vramvrim, who had and still has a really difficult draw: He eliminated Clog, Richie and then me to reach "only" the SF, where butcher is waiting for him! It is a draw from hell, which he managed excellently so far, I think it is his time to shine here (and finally become a seeded player for RG
).
About the match, let's begin with the first set. I started serving, was down 0-40 immediately. First break point I don't know how I saved it, the second one he attacked at the net and I made fantastic cross court pass on the run. Third I don't remember as well. In the end, I held and was relieved. At this point, he had lost 3 bars of OE and myself 2 bars, it was inevitable that we'd reach the state of of 50% OE very soon. Well, I got a triple break point in the game at 2-1, him saving them all, but I created another one and broke him for a 3-1 lead. He broke back right away, Stamina was now in 50% State.
It is difficult enough to hit baseline winners with Verdasco with high Stamina, but with low Stamina it was more difficult (also since Verdasco has some Precision = Power on FH). In fact, I think there was no other way to trouble except the following: BH Short Acceleration to Fed's FH and rush the net. This saved me SO many times, here and there I was sloppy, but overall quite good at the net.
It remained on serve until 5-5, but at 5-4 I had a mini-chance to get a set point: He was up 40-0, I cancelled all his game points, got to deuce, but picked the wrong shot when he was at the net and he got to another game point and held. So, I invested something here and did not get a reward: Consequently I was broken and he was serving for the first set at 6-5. I made some good net approaches and broke back directly, tie break.
In the tie break was a bit more lucky on some points, so I won it. After around 45 minutes (!) that first set was over.
The battle continued in 2nd set, but I felt some exhaustion already. We both held in the first two service games, he broke first for a 4-2 lead and was the better player at this moment: Hitting great shots, especially with the Fed FH, but also defending extremely well. At 5-2, I tried a bit S&V, mixed it up, but no avail, he broke for the 2nd set and was serving first in the third.
In the third set we continued with a bit more Stamina, where I think he broke first and was up 3-1, once again coming up with great shots. Then I had a very good return game to get back to 2-3 and holding for 3-3, gaining some momentum again. In fact, I was 15-30 or 0-30 in the game at 3-3, a little chance, but he got out of it. I held for 4-4 and again I had a little chance there, but he held and the last game was just horrible from my side: The last two points, a no swing and a netted forehand to conclude this epic battle of low Stamina.
This match lasted one hour and twenty minutes, overall Vramvrim was better since he created more chances, I could make it a close match by doing some good stuff on important points, but he deserved to win in the end. I did not place my serve well enough today, which was key in the end, I think.
Once again, well played by Vramvrim, good luck in the SF against butcher! For me the next step is Rome, R16 against inseedious. Won't be easy at all, so I better be prepared.
