Roger Federer has survived seven match points to seal a remarkable 15th Australian Open semi-final berth with a miraculous win over unseeded American Tennys Sandgren.
Hamper by a groin injury, the six-time champion appeared headed for a shock exit against the world No.100 before rallying for a rousing 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 victory on Tuesday night.
It earned the 38-year-old 20-times major champion a record-extending 46th grand slam semi-final appearance.
“I think I got incredibly lucky today,” Federer said.
“I don’t deserve this one but I’m standing here and I’m obviously very, very happy.
“I was just hoping that he was not going to smash that winner on any particular match point.”
In their first ever meeting, nerves got the better of journeyman Sandgren, who had never gone further than the quarter-finals in a major.
Bidding to become the first American male to make the final four in Melbourne since Andy Roddick back in 2009, the 28-year-old will have nightmares over his fourth-set chances.
Sandgren had three match points on Federer’s serve at 5-4 but was unable to find the winner with the set then going to a tiebreak.
It was locked at 3-3 when a ballkid bizarrely ran into Sandgren’s leg at the changeover, with the American taking time to walk off the blow.
Unrattled, he steamed ahead to lead 6-3 but again couldn’t close it out.
He had one final chance at 8-7 but Federer showed his poise to level and then clinch the set.
A deflated Sandgren was unable to lift in the fifth, with the 20-time major champion breaking to go ahead 4-2 before sealing another victory.
Federer looked in full control early, taking the first set in 34 minutes, but Sandgren broke early in the second set and the wheels started to fall off and a hush fell over the venue.
Down 0-3, the frustrated world No.3 was angered when he received a code violation warning for a verbal obscenity after he was reported by a lineswoman.
Federer questioned the lineswoman and then the umpire saying: “She’s 100 per cent sure … give me a break”.
He then called for a physio and left the court for a medical time-out.
Sandgren took advantage of Federer’s restricted serve and movement to wrap up the next two sets in just 75 minutes.
Federer appeared to be moving more freely in the fourth set and matched his 28-year-old opponent with the pair going toe to toe until Sandgren tightened in his match point opportunities.
In the final four, Federer will face the winner of the match between seven-times champion Novak Djokovic and Canadian Milos Raonic.
“Draws arenot getting easier,” Federer said.
“I’ll have to play better than I did today otherwise I really am going skiing.”
