Federer can add a nickname to his name: the Roger of miracles. It is, at least, what is happening with him at the Australian Open, a tournament he should have left long ago and in which Friday will play for a place in the final on Sunday.

The 38-year-old Swiss defeated American Tennys Sandgren 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6 (10-8) and 6-3 after beating seven match balls in the fourth round.

"I didn't deserve to win this game, but here I am, very happy. I believe in miracles," Federer synthesized after a three-hour and 31-minute battle at Rod Laver Arena, a game that played with serious physical discomfort from the third set. .

"Sometimes you have to be lucky ... With seven match points you are not in control . I hoped he didn't throw the winning shot, but I think I had incredible luck. I started feeling better in the fifth set and getting better," added world number three, which was crude in the description of his time in Australia: "I should be skiing in Switzerland."

The elimination was not only a fact, it was also on Friday night, when Australian John Millman wasted an 8-4 advantage in the super tie break of the fifth set to let the Swiss react, who took the partial by 10 -8 to move to the round of 16.

Physical problems

The problem in the groin had Federer on the verge of leaving the tournament. The Swiss, clearly, could not move to the sides, and left the central court to be served in the locker room during the third quarter.

But it was the fourth set that justified paying any value for today's ticket. Federer, stuck in the cement, played with the arm and, above all, with the nerves of his rival. Slice upside down insistently, he left the ball available to do what he wanted, and Sandgren often made disasters. Of the seven match points he had in the fourth set, five lost them due to his own mistakes, increasingly gripped by nerves.

In the midst of an unusual match, I don't miss something happening ever seen in high-level tennis: a ball catcher collided at full speed with Sandgren's left leg, impacting his twin. Sandgren began to limp as she pointed out the situation to Marijana Veljovic.

Federer had two break points to place 2-0 in the fifth, but missed the opportunity. Although I still are able to move well, I did better than in the fourth set. And Sandgren, who alternated points with his powerful serve and striking errors, continued to suffer from the seven lost match points. I could not forgive him.

And he did not forgive him, because with Federer more and more recovered from his physical problems and using both his service and the inconsistencies of the rival, the one hour before was impossible victory became reality. On Friday, Serbian Novak Dkjokovic or Canadian Milos Raonic are waiting for him , who play tonight at Rod Laver Arena.

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