Wimbledon: Federer expelled from his garden

Published on : 07/07/2021 – 21:20

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Wimbledon (United Kingdom) (AFP)

Simple goodbye, or sad goodbye? Roger Federer left Wimbledon Center Court with his head down on Wednesday, eliminated after conceding a terrible 6-0 in the quarter-finals.

A month and a day before celebrating his 40th birthday, the Swiss thus leaves the way – a little more – free to Novak Djokovic, who very easily qualified for the semi-finals and intends to equal the record on the London grass. of 20 major titles co-owned by Federer and Rafael Nadal.

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As the audience rises to stand up to applaud the exit of his champion at heart, Federer, head lowered, quickly raises an arm before slipping away, beaten 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 by Hubert Hurkacz (18th) who had never gone beyond the third round in a Grand Slam.

“It is for these ovations that I played and that I continue to play”, commented Federer before admitting that such a defeat, “it shakes”.

Could it be the last image of the Swiss on Center Court, land of so many of his exploits, where he wrote part of his legend?

“I do not know. I really do not know, he assured. (…) I am really very happy to have arrived so far in the tournament and even to have been able to play Wimbledon at this level after everything I’ve been through. Of course I would like to play it again, but at my age you never know what can happen. “

After more than a year of absence and a double right knee operation, he had made Wimbledon his big goal. He dreamed of being crowned there for the ninth time and thus bringing the record for Grand Slam titles to 21.

– Admirer –

But he ran into an admirer who had no intention of passing up his idol.

“I don’t know what to say. Playing against Roger Federer on Center Court was a childhood dream. But I probably wouldn’t have imagined beating him,” said Hurkacz, who only left the audience 1:49 am to see play his star.

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At 24, he achieved his best Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon and will face Félix Auger-Aliassime (19th) or Matteo Berrettini (9th) for a place in the final.

The second Pole in history to reach the last four of a Grand Slam tournament, after Jerzy Janowicz in 2013, already at Wimbledon, Hurkacz also becomes the fifth player to have inflicted a 6-0 on Federer in his entire career, after James Blake at Queen’s in 1999, Patrick Rafter at Roland-Garros in 1999, Vince Spadea at Monte-Carlo in 1999 and Rafael Nadal at Roland-Garros in 2008!

In addition, the Swiss master had so far lost only twice in three sets at Wimbledon, where he played 119 matches: in 2000 against Yevgeny Kafelnikov and in 2002 against Mario Ancic.

– “Let’s go on !” –

In addition to its hero, the tournament on Wednesday lost the possibility of an enticing final, revenge of that of 2019, where Djokovic had beaten Federer in five sets after saving two match points.

The world No. 1 will be at the meeting point of the semi-finals.

The two-time defending champion, in search of a sixth coronation at Wimbledon and a very rare double Roland-Garros – Wimbledon the same year (only Federer in 2009 and Nadal in 2008 and 2010 succeeded since Björn Borg in 1980) , clearly dominated the Hungarian Marton Fucsovics (48th) 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

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“I had a solid game. I started very well and in the second and third sets a break each time was enough,” said the Serbian, who will face Canadian Denis Shapovalov on Friday for a place in the final. (12th), winner of Russian Karen Khachanov (29th) 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.

What will he have to do in the face of his next opponent? “Win!” He answered tit for tat.

He went on Wednesday for a 19th consecutive victory on London turf by counting his two victorious campaigns in 2018 and 2019, to reach his 41st semi-final of Grand Slam tournaments in total.

“It’s good to write history. Let’s continue!” He said.

© 2021 AFP

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