Federer, a life of Roland: "It's done, I'm going to return the game ...", the point that changed everything against Haas in 2009

Previous episodes

1.

“I loved facing Rafter on the Lenglen”, the story of his debut

2.

"A victory like any other", he beat the Swiss in 2002 and hardly remembers it

3.

"I couldn't believe my eyes", the day Nadal corrected it in 2008

4.

When a wild selfie provokes the wrath of God

5.

Central in trance and titanic fight… in 2011, the masterpiece in the semi-finals against Djokovic

6.

The day the announcer allowed David Goffin to talk to his idol

And to think that that day, Roger Federer almost ruined everything… Monday, June 1, 2009. An ideal day of Pentecost for the Swiss, rid the day before of his pet peeve Rafael Nadal by the grace of the devastating forehand of Robin Söderling.

For the Balois, who faces the German Tommy Haas in the round of 16, it is the royal road.

The opportunity may be unique to win this damn Grand Slam which the Spaniard takes pleasure in depriving him.

Especially since he remains on seven wins in a row against his opponent of the day.

Yes, but there you go.

Disturbed by the offering, Federer, already uneasy in the second round against the Argentinian Jose Acasuso, totally takes his feet in the orange red carpet.

Unrecognizable, in front of a dumbfounded Central, the world n ° 2 watches the number 63 lead him hard.

To everyone's surprise, Haas won the first two sets, very tight, and found himself at 4-3 with a break point in the third.

There is a state of emergency.

And the miracle.

Luck.

Or talent.

While he hardly had a winning forehand, Federer attempted a risky crossover shift that hit the line.

And that's all.

Everything you need to change a destiny.

And endow the Balois with a faith that is as sudden as it is unshakeable.

“Honestly, when I won this point, I said to myself:

Here it is, it's done, I'm going to return the game

.

Before, I didn't think I could do it too well because I was playing really badly from the baseline, he explains.

I know the importance of this point and I said to myself that the way was open.

But it was far from obvious because I was in danger.

I really struggled.

"

The only Grand Slam title he lacked

Under his upside down white cap, Haas couldn't get over it. "That's really Federer," he says, a bit annoyed. If I won that point, I won the game. He conceded the next nine games and saw Federer recover for the fifth time from a handicap of two sets in the Grand Slam. The last set is just a formality for RF who ends up winning 6-7 (4/7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-0, 6-2. With a lot of relief and a rather unusual display of joy at this stage of the competition.

Haas won't blame the Swiss, who is a friend of his. “I was very close and he knew he was about to lose this game,” he smiles. In the end, I was just happy that he won and won this title because that's the one he really wanted. It was good luck for him and he did. " Indeed. Federer will then rule out Monfils in the quarterfinals and Del Potro in the semi-finals before beating Söderling to finally lift the Musketeers Cup, the only Grand Slam lift that was missing from his huge record.