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Wednesday 5 June 2019

Here we go: Just like old times, Federer vs. Nadal in France

By HOWARD FENDRICH with a volley, then hugged
AP Tennis Writer Wawrinka at the net.
PARIS (AP) — Roger Feder- "A tough, tough one, for
er knew when he returned sure," said Wawrinka, who
to the French Open that, was coming off the longest
if things went exceedingly singles match of his career,
well, he eventually would a 5-hour, 9-minute victory
find himself face-to-face over Stefanos Tsitsipas.
with Rafael Nadal. Wawrinka credited Feder-
Here we go. er, saying, "It was important
Just like old times. to be aggressive, to be in-
Federer put away Stan side the court, and he did
Wawrinka after a 75-min- that better than me."
ute rain delay Tuesday, Attacking the net at any
converting a break point opportunity, Federer won
for just the second time in the point on 41 of his 60 trips
18 chances and quickly forward. It'll be fascinating
wrapping up a 7-6 (4), 4-6, to see whether he does
7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over his that against Nadal, too.
friend and Swiss country- "I'm looking forward to the
man to reach the semifinals test," said Federer, whose
at Roland Garros. last major semifinal was at
And what a showdown last year's Australian Open.
comes next: Federer vs. The quarterfinals on the
Nadal for a spot in the final. other half of the men's
"Always," Nadal said, "a big draw are Wednesday: No.
match." 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 5
They are two titans of ten- Alexander Zverev, and No.
nis, with Federer holding 4 Dominic Thiem vs. No. 10
a men's-record 20 Grand Karen Khachanov.
Slam titles, and Nadal next One women's semifinal is
with 17. Switzerland's Roger Federer dives to return a shot in the third set against Switzerland's Stan Wawrin- set: 26th-seeded Johanna
Nadal, who won 11 of his ka during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Konta vs. 19-year-old Mar-
trophies in Paris, has got- stadium in Paris, Tuesday, June 4, 2019. keta Vondrousova.
ten the better of their rivalry Associated Press Konta eliminated 2018
over the years, leading 23- runner-up Sloane Stephens
15 overall, 9-3 at majors, and he will be there," said I wanted to play," Nishikori was suspended as a storm 6-1, 6-4, grabbing 21 of the
13-2 on clay and 5-0 at the Federer, at 37 the tourna- said, "and especially if I'm arrived. But it didn't last last 22 points she served,
French Open, including ment's oldest semifinalist not fresh, it's not easy to long. to become the first Brit-
four finals. since 1968. "If I would have stay with him." When action resumed, Fe- ish woman in the French
"My next opponent is not had a different mindset Federer vs. Wawrinka, derer needed only 10 min- Open's final four since Jo
too bad. He can play on — to avoid him — then I meanwhile, lived up to the utes to take control, get- Durie in 1983.
clay, unfortunately," Fe- should not have played the billing, a 3½-hour tussle be- ting his second break of The unseeded Vondrouso-
derer joked to the crowd at clay." tween a couple of guys the match by smacking a va beat No. 31 Petra Martic
Court Suzanne Lenglen. The only time Federer won who won a Davis Cup title big cross-court forehand 7-6 (1), 7-5.
They haven't met at Roland the French Open, in 2009, and Olympic gold medal in to a corner that Wawrinka Until this year, Konta had
Garros since 2011. Federer, he didn't need to face doubles together. couldn't handle. It was 5-4, entered the clay-court ma-
who has won their most Nadal, who was knocked Coming in, Federer held a and Federer only needed jor four times, losing in the
recent five matches, last out in the fourth round by 22-3 edge head-to-head, to hold serve to end it. first round each time.
entered the field in 2015, Robin Soderling. That's one but Wawrinka knew this: All That turned out to be a tad So she has gone from 0-4
when he lost to Wawrinka of only two losses for Nadal three of his victories had complicated. before 2019 to 5-0 over
in the quarterfinals. He in 93 career matches at the come on clay, including He double-faulted for the the past 1½ weeks. "I've al-
pulled out with a bad back place. four years ago in the same only two times of the en- ways said that whenever
in 2016, then skipped the There was very little drama round, on the same court. tire afternoon, once on his I step out onto the court,
entire clay circuit in 2017- in Nadal's quarterfinal vic- They were locked in a taut second match point. He I'm always going to have
18. tory this time, a 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 fourth set at 3-all when was forced to deflect a a chance. I'm always go-
"If you to do or achieve stroll against No. 7 Kei Nishi- clouds grew thick and break point for Wawrinka, ing to have a shot," Konta
something on the clay, in- kori, who went through a charcoal-colored. Thunder doing so with a serve-and- said. "I don't think any play-
evitably, at some stage, pair of five-setters the past rumbled nearby. It was dif- volley winner. And then, er on tour can go on court
you will go through Rafa, two rounds. ficult to see, because there finally, on his third match against me and feel like
because he's that strong "He didn't let me play how are no artificial lights. Play point, Federer closed it out they've definitely got it."q