Dealing with your idol isn’t straightforward, particularly if he is among the biggest gamers of all time! Denis Shapovalov embraced one duel in opposition to his favourite participant, Roger Federer, battling in opposition to the Swiss within the 2019 Miami Masters semi-final.
The legend ousted a young person 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and 13 minutes, crusing into the title conflict. Denis recalled this duel in his latest dialog with Dominic Thiem and Thanasi Kokkinakis. The Canadian admited the Swiss made him really feel like a junior on the courtroom, standing powerless in opposition to such a powerful opponent.
Shapovalov performed nicely on the Arduous Rock Stadium, toppling the rivals like Andrey Rublev and Frances Tiafoe. Nevertheless, stood powerless in opposition to the Swiss maestro, particularly within the opening set.
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 30, 2019 Roger Federer storms over Denis Shapovalov in Miami 2019
Chasing his fourth Miami Masters title, Roger performed nicely in opposition to Denis within the semi-final, preserving power for the title conflict. Looking for a spot in his first Masters 1000 last, Shapovalov made a shaky begin and struggled all through the duel regardless of a stronger resistance in set quantity two.
The Swiss did every part proper, holding the factors on his racquet and pressuring his younger opponent. Federer attacked and took cost on serve and return, crusing excessive and changing into the primary participant with 50 Masters 1000 finals. Roger served at solely 49%.
Roger Federer, Miami 2019© Stream screenshot
Nevertheless, nobody may discover that within the legend’s sport. He dropped eight factors behind the preliminary shot, defending two break factors and difficult the younger gun to observe these numbers to stay aggressive. Shapovalov additionally struggled to search out the primary serve.
He couldn’t discover the correct sample after lacking it, going through points behind the second serve and providing Federer 11 break possibilities. Roger transformed three, controlling the scoreboard and crusing excessive. The veteran landed 17 winners and eight unforced errors.
He tamed his strokes properly and left his opponent on a 14-29 ratio. Denis missed equally from each wings and did not match the tempo of world no. 5 within the shortest, mid-range and most prolonged rallies.
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 30, 2019
They each left the primary serve exterior the courtroom forward of the match, serving underneath 45% within the opener! Nevertheless, one hanging distinction separated the rivals. Roger gave away 4 factors in his video games and stole 19 return factors, turning them into seven break alternatives.
The Swiss maestro offered two breaks, controlling the scoreboard and constructing the benefit very quickly. Denis led 40-15 within the opening sport earlier than going through difficulties. Roger drew six deuces and earned a break probability, lacking it after the rival’s stable assault.
Shapovalov introduced the sport dwelling after ten minutes, avoiding an early setback in opposition to his idol. Federer grabbed the second sport at love with two minutes and made one other push on the return at 1-1. The Canadian sprayed a backhand error, dropping serve and falling behind.
Denis Shapovalov, Miami 2019© Stream screenshot
The Swiss cemented the lead with a maintain in sport 4 and delivered one other break within the subsequent one. Thus, he solid a 4-1 benefit in 23 minutes in opposition to the rival who couldn’t management his strokes. Denis served to remain within the set at 1-5 and defended two set factors.
Federer served for the set at 5-2 and wrapped it up with a service winner, transferring in entrance after 35 minutes and gaining a lift. Shapovalov held firstly of the second set. Immediately, he discovered the rhythm on the return within the subsequent one, creating two break possibilities.
Roger saved his composure and denied them with winners, closing the sport with a smash and locking the consequence at 1-1. Denis sprayed a forehand error within the third sport, dropping serve and propelling the legend a set and a break in entrance.
Roger Federer, Miami 2019© Stream screenshot
Federer cemented the break with 4 winners within the fourth sport, marching towards the end line. He offered one other maintain at love within the sixth sport, opening a 4-2 hole and holding the strain on the opposite aspect. Roger claimed a 30-stroke trade within the seventh sport.
He created a break probability, and Denis denied it to increase his possibilities. Federer held at love within the eighth sport for 5-3, forcing his opponent to serve to remain within the match. The Swiss earned a match level with a forehand winner, and the Canadian stepped in and landed three winners to outlive.
Roger Federer, Miami 2019© Stream screenshot
Roger served for the win at 5-4 and landed a volley winner, sealing the deal and reaching his fiftieth Masters 1000 last.
“Roger can literally make you feel like a junior. We met in the Miami Masters semi-final after I beat good players like Andrey Rublev and Frances Tiafoe. However, Roger made me feel like a junior against him; it was insane,” Denis Shapovalov stated.