Australian Open day nine: Federer fights back to beat Sandgren, Barty beats Kvitová – as it happened

28 Jan 202003.17 EST

Summary

Jonathan Howcroft

Thank you for your company today, that quickly turned into one of the more memorable minute-by-minutes. Turns out we were watching Tennis’s version of rope-a-dope, not The Last Hurrah after all. Can’t wait to do it all again soon.

Don’t forget to slide over to the evening liveblog and find out who Federer will face in his semi-final: Novak Djokovic or Milos Raonic.

Kevin Mitchell’s deadline report is below, putting the afternoon’s events in context.

Meanwhile, Martina Navartilova and John McEnroe have led a remarkable protest against Margaret Court away from the spotlight on Melbourne Park. As Kevin Mitchell reports:

Martina Navratilova was cut off in mid-sentence when she climbed into an empty umpire’s chair on an outside court here on Tuesday to push for Margaret Court Arena to be renamed in honour of Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

“I’ve been speaking out about an issue for a while now,” the former world No 1 said of her criticism of Court’s homophobia, “and John McEnroe is here to join me and push the conversation forward...”

At that point, the umpire’s microphone goes dead. While there is no evidence Navratilova was deliberately censored, she and McEnroe both made strong statements criticising Court’s controversial views on gender and race before the 77-year-old Australian was presented with a replica of the winner’s trophy on Rod Laver Arena the previous night to mark the 50^th anniversary of her calendar grand slam.

Before we sign-off here and handover to the evening liveblog, here’s Kevin Mitchell’s take on Ash Barty’s surge to the semi-finals earlier on against Petra Kvitova.

Some stats, that only to serve to highlight the unlikeliness of Federer’s victory.

Aces - Sandgren 27 / Federer 5
Winners - Sandgren 73 / Federer 44
Unforced errors - Sandgren 53 / Federer 56
Total points won - Sandgren 161 / Federer 160

In Roger Federer’s long and storied career you might not expect a quarter-final victory over an opponent ranked 100 in the world to feature in his list of most memorable matches, but that was something else. At 0-3 down in the third set with the score at 1-1 he was off the court receiving treatment. His movement was impaired and during the fourth set he was a beaten man. Somehow - call it luck, call it grit, call it failure on the part of his opponent - he prevailed.

He still looks as though he can’t believe what’s just happened. Embarrassed, a little dazed, standing with body language that suggests he’s unsure how to respond to questions about his great escape. He credits Milos Raonic for his performance, ahead of a possible semi-final meeting - Novak Djokovic will have a massive say about that of course.

“I believe in miracles,” he says, after describing his groin injury that went on to affect his lower leg. His pride prevented him from retiring, or from receiving treatment on-court, and that stubbornness eventually opened the door for victory after Sandgren failed to put him away.

Federer’s voice is breaking as he talks to Jim Courier. Physically and emotionally exhausted.

Federer: “You’ve got to get lucky sometimes. I was just hoping that maybe he was not going to smash the winner, to keep the ball in play, who knows what he’s thinking about? I got incredibly lucky today. As the match wore on I started feeling better and the pressure went away. I don’t deserve this one but Im standing here and I’m obviously very happy.”

Fifth set: Federer* 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6 6-3 Sandgren (* denotes server) Sandgren toughs out the opening point to demonstrate he’s not going to be steamrollered on Federer’s march to glory. He digs deep again to force 15-30 but Federer secures a couple of quick first serve points to engineer his first match point (Sandgren has failed with seven) - and he does it! The great escape complete. What a turnaround from Roger Federer.

Fifth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6 5-3 Sandgren* (* denotes server) Federer plays a little fast and loose with Sandgren on the ropes, slipping to 40-15 with some poor shot selection. He concedes the game with a now rare unforced error, slapping a forehand into the net.

Federer to serve for the win.

Fifth set: Federer* 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6 5-2 Sandgren (* denotes server) Federer is serving as well as he has all day now, and he’s moving smoothly too, this is absurd. 40-15 arrives in textbook fashion and despite requiring a second serve he holds convincingly.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Fifth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6 4-2 Sandgren* (* denotes server) Sandgren berates himself when he strikes long under no pressure to allow Federer 15-15, then he loses his racket (perhaps accidentally) at 30-30 after Federer pierces his backhand corner. Both times he comes back strongly to win the next point but both times he can’t back it up and Federer forces deuce.

A superb deep return from a stretching forehand from Federer ramps up the pressure on Sandgren, who misses his first serve at break point then Federer clubs a high bouncing forehand that his opponent cannot control. Unbelievable, Roger Federer, from two sets to one down, incapacitated, facing seven match points, is a break up in the fifth.

Fifth set: Federer* 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6 3-2 Sandgren (* denotes server) Federer proves his fitness by executing a forehand drive volley (from memory the first he’s nailed all match, including a couple of notable misses). He is now serving at his highest average speed per set for the match and ripping backhand winners down the line. He holds to 30 but it feels more comprehensive than that.

Fifth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6 2-2 Sandgren* (* denotes server) It’s a tired bedraggled game from both men but Sandgren won’t mind. He holds to 15.

Here’s that ball-kid incident from earlier.

Nick Kyrgios’s tournament is over.

Fifth set: Federer* 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6 2-1 Sandgren (* denotes server) Federer holds to love, featuring just his fifth ace of the day.

Did he switch bodies with a stunt double between sets? Is that the secret to his success all this time? Somewhere in the bowels of RLA there’s a knackered Federer v1.0 icing up while 2.0 seals the deal. Maybe this is where Paul Rudd got the idea for that TV show ‘Living With Yourself’ and the in-joke about Tom Brady was all a red herring?

Fifth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6 1-1 Sandgren* (* denotes server) Pop! From the back right corner Federer pings a forehand crosscourt winner - the first of its kind in an age - to reinforce his Lazarus-like resurrection. What does he do next? Another! Vintage Federer. Sandgren stops the rot and both players trade points until deuce. Here Sandgren rattles the net with a backhand, trying to shorten a point ahead of schedule. Break point is on Federer’s racket but he can’t pierce his opponent’s ungainly reflexes at the net.

Federer gets a second look at deuce two, and Sandgren is increasingly disillusioned out there, chatting to the chair umpire again. There’s a phone ringing somewhere, the umpire’s mic’s dropped out, the tension is at fever pitch. Sandgren saves, getting smartly in behind a first serve, then he scuds his 25th ace to move to game point, and he takes it.

This is becoming quite a saga. And the longer it drags on the less into it the American seems to be.

Fifth set: Federer* 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6 1-0 Sandgren (* denotes server) Federer is twisting much freer now than at any point since the second set. There’s pop to his forehands and bend in his spine on his serves, all of which means he holds to 15 in pretty routine fashion. By contrast, Sandgren looks heavy-legged and hangdog.

Sandgren has left the court.

The trainer is back on working on Federer’s right groin while the legend is briefly bare-chested switching shirts in some fan-fiction made real cutaway.

Sandgren is back but he’s having a heated debate with the chair umpire, complaining that Federer has now gone for his bathroom break.

We need Bill Lawry telling us it’s all happening right now.

Fourth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6 Sandgren (* denotes server) Sandgren puts serious heat on his serve to stay in the set to force 8-8 but then Federer digs in, really digs in, grunts, stretches - you can practically feel his ageing sinews screaming in pain - and he forces the mini-break. Can he convert? YES! WOW!

This is unbelievable. Federer defends doggedly from the baseline then lobs up a testing overhead. Sandgren twitches - and we’re going five. Holy moly.

Tiebreak: 10-8

Fourth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 6-6 Sandgren (* denotes server) Sandgren earns another match point immediately with a fierce serve that Federer can’t return. Federer then misses with the first serve, inviting a long baseline exchange - 19 shots - and Sandgren slices into the net! The crowd erupts, then takes the roof off RLA after their hero follows up the save with a thumping smash winner to edge ahead.

Tiebreak: 8-7

Fourth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 6-6 Sandgren (* denotes server) Two awesome serves from Sandgren, and he is within touching distance of the biggest result of his life. Federer, serving to remain alive, survives a fourth match point after a tentative 19-shot rally. Match point five comes and goes with a solid first serve.

Back to Sandgren, with ball in hand, can he do it? No! Federer just keeps the ball in play from the baseline then somehow prevails with Sandgren all over the net.

Incredible.

Tiebreak: 6-6

Fourth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 6-6 Sandgren (* denotes server) Federer continues the serving masterclass, but then there’s controversy. What happened? Oh my! The ball-kid ran into Sandgren’s outstretched left leg while he was leaning to put his towel on his bench. That’s Sandgren’s taped leg, by the way. Oh boy, that could have been a story. Sandgren grimaces but plays on - and he wins the next point, earning the mini-break when Federer finds the net.

Tiebreak: 3-4

Fourth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 6-6 Sandgren (* denotes server) Sandgren nails his pair of serves without being required to play any further shots.

Tiebreak: 2-3

Fourth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 6-6 Sandgren (* denotes server) Federer dominates the opening point on Sandgren’s serve but misses the volley at the net to secure the mini-break. He serves clinically twice to edge his nose in front.

Tiebreak: 2-1

Fourth set: Federer* 6-3 2-6 2-6 6-6 Sandgren (* denotes server) In the circumstances, that was a quick, solid service hold to 15 for Federer. Tiebreak time.

Nick Kyrgios taking the scenic route, again...

Fourth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 5-6 Sandgren* (* denotes server) The crowd is well into this now, hollering its approval when a Sandgren error hands Federer an early advantage. They’re respectful in their applause when Sandgren hammers a couple of first serves to regain the ascendancy. There’s a nervous murmur when the American double faults and a weird anxious shriek when Federer finds a forehand winner that hits the line. He can’t convert his break point though, Sandgren turning from hunted to hunter in the blink of an eye to force deuce.

Sandgren looks to be struggling to know how to approach this dip for the finish line. He escapes with a poor put-away volley at deuce but fails to hold when he hits long soon after. Any nerves are settled with some pristine serving, returning all the pressure to Federer.

Fourth set: Federer* 6-3 2-6 2-6 5-5 Sandgren (* denotes server) Loose forehands are exchanged to open the game before a sharp serve and a Sandgren unforced error allow Federer the chance of a straightforward hold. He doesn’t get it though because Sandgren rattles RLA to its foundations with a couple of beefy bashes to up the ante on the next point - and Federer duly slashes a backhand wide with plenty of court to aim for.

That’s not the worst of it. A limp forehand into the net at deuce offers Sandgren match point... but a nervy rally ends Federer’s way when the American hammers a backhand into the net.

Deuce two begins in identical fashion, with Federer off-balance dumping a forehand into the net. Again he stays in match point long enough to induce an error from his opponent.

Deuce three follows the same pattern - Sandgren mishitting his third match point.

Federer finally sneaks an advantage after deuce four and he holds! Much to the delight of a raucous Rod Laver Arena. Have we gone from Ali-Holmes to Ali-Foreman rope-a-dope? Federer lives to fight another game.

Fourth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 4-5 Sandgren* (* denotes server) For the first time in an age there’s a smidgen of pressure on Sandgren’s serve at 15-15 but Federer’s reluctance to stretch for a makable forehand then inability to even contemplate a tough backhand allow Sandgren to move up 40-15. An error reduces the margin but any nerves are obliterated with a 20th ace.

Federer serving to stay in the championships.

Fourth set: Federer* 6-3 2-6 2-6 4-4 Sandgren (* denotes server) The painkillers from that medical time out might be kicking in, or maybe it’s adrenaline, but Federer reaches 30-0 in vintage fashion, serving strong and showing finesse at the net. He has two game points at 40-15 but Sandgren dismisses one of them with a blistering running two-handed backhand down the line that catches the spiderwebs in the corner. He backs that up with a punishing forehand return winner to an innocuous second serve.

Deuce one comes and goes with Federer unable to accept a third game point, but deuce two is enough for the hold. Federer’s serving motion is looking increasingly fluid and it’s reflected on the speedgun.

Meanwhile in the mixed doubles, Nick Kyrgios has put last night’s disappointment behind him.

Fourth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 3-4 Sandgren* (* denotes server) Sandgren holds to love in the time it takes me to copy and paste the score over from the previous game. I repeat: it is hard to see Federer forcing a break unless Sandgren completely implodes.

Fourth set: Federer* 6-3 2-6 2-6 3-3 Sandgren (* denotes server) Federer starts well, easing up 30-0 but an error then another demonstration of his impaired movement leads to 30-30. The crowd gets to its feet when Federer comes out on top in a thrilling exchange at the net, but they’re back in their chairs when he concedes deuce shortly afterwards.

The conservative serving approach disappears briefly for two quick points and nuggety hold. He’s toughing this out as long as he can.

“Hi Jonathan!” hi Scott Campbell. “Such a strange match, though as Fed tries to push back the waves it is worth considering that were Sandgren to crumble, and Fed were able to stay upright and somehow win, is there any guarantee that Fed would make it onto the court for Thursday’s semi? We’d then be in a (unique?) situation whereby either Djokovic or Raonic get a walkover into the final, which wouldn’t be good for anyone. By anyone, I mean those remaining in the top half of the draw. That being said, the above scenario does seem desperately unlikely.” Indeed, a walkover semi is far from ideal for tournament organisers, but it’s hard to see Federer winning the next two sets to bring that possibility into reality.

Fourth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 2-3 Sandgren* (* denotes server) Ace. Ace. Unreturnable second serve. Unreturnable second serve. It is hard to see Federer forcing a break unless Sandgren completely implodes.

Fourth set: Federer* 6-3 2-6 2-6 2-2 Sandgren (* denotes server) There hasn’t been much memorable proactive tennis recently but Sandgren’s running backhand pass at 30-0 deserves commendation. 30-15 quickly becomes 30-30 but Federer finds his serving range, however impeded, to remain in contention; just.

Fourth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 1-2 Sandgren* (* denotes server) During a nine-shot rally at 0-15 Federer is in business but a backhand long precedes a couple of points of Sandgren savagery that are too hot for the now maladroit maestro. An angled crosscourt winner to secure the hold rams home Federer’s immobility.

The stadium DJ plays Stayin’ Alive during the change of ends. He might need to upgrade to Livin’ on a Prayer pretty soon.

Fourth set: Federer* 6-3 2-6 2-6 1-1 Sandgren (* denotes server) A stop-start game inches its way to 30-30 before Federer executes a perfect point - serving wide, stepping in and crunching the backhand crosscourt winner - to set up game point. Sandgren overhits to confirm the hold.

Sam Groth, courtside, suggests it’s a rotational issue for Federer, which is clearly a big deal. The No 3 seed is digging in for now though, banking on his unheralded opponent eventually feeling the weight of the circumstance. Something that has yet to happen.

Fourth set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-6 0-1 Sandgren* (* denotes server) Are we in for an Ali-Holmes style drubbing that leaves a bitter taste? Or is Federer going to rage against the dying of the light? 15-30 suggests the latter but Sandgren muscles up to power his way to a hold.

Third set: Federer* 6-3 2-6 2-6 Sandgren (* denotes server) Federer’s average first serve speed has dropped 10% since the medical time out (and that’s in a tournament where his average serve speed was already down on previous years). He’s plugging away nonetheless, and looks on course for a hold at 40-15 but consecutive errors introduce deuce into the equation.

Here, Sandgren smells blood and asserts himself on his wounded foe, pouncing on a second serve and hunting Federer at the net to earn break point. Federer saves it after an 11-shot rally, but gifts it straight back with a half-volley into the net. A sharp serve down the T saves another day but deuce three again goes Sandgren’s way when his opponent slaps an inside-out forehand into the net. Somehow Federer staves off set point yet again, only to offer a fourth with a double fault. This one is repelled with an unreturnable serve and Federer links points together to force his way ahead. With the hold begging Federer taps a backhand volley into the net for deuce six!

Again Sandgren capitalises on a second serve to invite Federer into trading meaty forehands from the baseline, each one surely making the superstar wince. Set point five? Saved, of course, Sandgren unable to redirect a sliding backhand in court. Set point six arrives immediately after though, and this time Sandgren converts.

Roger Federer is on the ropes. Tennys Sandgren is zen, steeling himself for the knockout.

Third set: Federer 6-3 2-6 2-5 Sandgren* (* denotes server) Federer has never retired mid-match in his career, but that outcome is being discussed by Jim Courier and Todd Woodbridge on TV. He’s battling on, for now, keeping the ball in play without trying to force the issue, and he works his way to 15-30 before Sandgren batters a series of serves with the subtlety of a competitive woodchopper. There is a blunt force to the American’s style that is in contrast to his opponent’s refinement, and for the time being, much more effective.

It’s been a tournament of relatively few news stories (once the air quality improved). Hardly any tantrums, not many startling upsets, but this looks like it’s going to take top billing.