A blazingly efficient Roger Federer has dismantled German underdog Mischa Zverev in a tick over 90 minutes to book an all-Swiss Australian Open semi-final match-up with Stan Wawrinka.
Federer wrapped up the quarter final in straight sets 6-1 7-5 6-2 to leave Zverev shell-shocked and the Rod Laver Arena crowd wondering how their night ended so soon.
At one point, Federer was on track to wrap the match up in under an hour, having taken the first set in a blink-and-you-miss 19 minutes.
But Zverev should receive credit for fighting it out.
With his back well and truly against the wall, Zverev found a break in the second set to lead 3-1, but Federer was in no mood to hang around, fighting back to take the second set.
It was only a matter of time before Federer clinched the third, although a plucky Zverev made him work for 37 minutes, the longest set in the match, despite taking just the two games.
“I think it definitely went as good as it possibly could have gone, so I’m pleased with the way I started the match,” Federer said. “Right away again got off to a great start against him, like I did against him a few years ago. After that, naturally everything’s easier. Second set was definitely a key to shut it down for him. It was good that I was able to break back after he played a good game there. Then in the third set I think I was rolling.”
If you need to see what a six-month break from your job will do for you, you only need to look at Federer this tournament.
He has regained his enthusiasm, his movement around the court is like when he was in his prime and he is showing no rust with his strokes.
“Now that I’m into the semis and feeling as good as I am and playing as good as I am, that’s a huge surprise to me,” Federer said. “If someone would’ve told I’d play in the semis against Stan, never would I have called that one. I didn’t even know until a few days ago that he was in my section of the draw. I figured it out eventually, he was playing on my days, but I really never looked in that quarter of the draw because that was just too unrealistic to me.”
Federer’s first set carnage was simply mesmerising.
Zverev could not do a thing with Federer’s incredible passing shots, particularly on the whippy single hand backhand.
Zverev has enjoyed success with the serve and volley this Open, but he became a little predictable in the first set and Federer just picked his spots from the back court.
While Zverev is class below Federer, the 50th ranked player has been in good touch this tournament, and once the stage fright of facing Federer on centre court went away, he showed some of his potential.
Zverev does not have an explosive serve, but the left hander strikes it from a tricky height.
He had some success on the backhand – both double and single handed – and is good overhead.
But Federer dictated this one from the baseline, hitting the corners at will.
Federer had 65 winners to 35, of which 49 of Federer’s were from the baseline.
It was a master at work and the Melbourne crowd were appreciative to be in his general vicinity.
