Oh, how I wish this one hadn't been played at 3:30 am where I live!  I'll have to catch the replay on TV this afternoon.

From The Age: Federer survives five-set stoush (anyone who knows enough Australian lingo to know what "stoush" means, please let me know)

There was a feeling around Melbourne Park yesterday that Tommy Haas might be the one man left in the men's draw able to throw a stick into Roger Federer's spokes.

He came agonisingly close last night, in a style that will live in the memory of those fortunate enough to witness the match. Haas, for so long bedevilled by injury and slapped with the label of "great unfulfilled talent", recovered from two sets down to force Federer to five thrilling sets, before going down 6-4, 6-0, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2.

The Swiss began tentatively, struggling to win his first service game, but soon slipped into rhythm. But Haas is no journeyman, young punk or brainless slugger and was matching it with Federer.

The two were like fencers, probing and parrying before dancing in to draw blood with a neat cut. The Swiss broke Haas in the fifth game - enough to take the first set.

Things began to go horribly wrong for Haas in the first game of the second set, when broken by Federer. The rest of the set was a blur, leaving Haas sitting in his chair staring into space as Federer waited to deliver the third-set coup de grace and a big portion of the crowd headed towards Richmond station after only 63minutes of tennis.

Haas cleared one psycho logical hurdle when he won the first game of the third set on his serve, and held twice more.

Then, in the sixth game, the unthinkable hap pened as Haas broke Federer to love, then hung on to take Federer into the uncharted territory of a fourth set. Federer was looking more and more ragged as Haas began to shine.

In the third game of the fourth set, Federer stood at the net and volleyed back four of Haas' attempted passes before punching what he thought was the winning volley, only to see Haas fling himself full-length to put it back, tak ing the point, then the game.

Fittingly, another diving Haas volley set up set point and took Federer further on an unwanted excursion into the Melbourne night.

The decider was a microcosm of the match, all desperation and inspiration, but something had to give, and Federer broke Haas in the sixth game with a close line ball that had the German fuming but was correct. He then broke him again in the eighth to clinch the match.

Comments

That's why we love tennis, to watch matches like this!

it was odd seeing federer make mistakes on seemingly easy shots in the 3rd and 4th sets... where did he go? and the final 3 games were somewhat surreal... haas seemed pretty much beaten by a close line call and couldn't keep his head together. federer may be a master player, but he is also one very lucky man.

I believe it will make Roger play better next time and be the champion in the australian open. He is still the best and what a cool guy he is!