By Erik Gudris | Saturday, May 16, 2015
Roger Federer will go after an elusive Italian Open title after beating Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Roger Federer has won just about everything there is in tennis. However, one title that still eludes him is the Italian Open. But Federer will get another chance after earning a straight sets win in the Rome semifinals.
ATP: Djokovic Sees Off Ferrer in Rome Semis
Federer faced off against fellow Swiss Davis Cup teammate Stan Wawrinka in Saturday's semifinal. Wawrinka entered having dismissed Rafael Nadal the evening before with a strong resolve and stellar shotmaking.
Early on, Wawrinka continued that fine form in the opening set. After holding serve at love, Wawrinka took advantage of several Federer errors to break serve and then build a 3-0 lead.
However, that would be Wawrinka's last lead of the match. Federer soon improved his game. Having won only four points in the first three games, the three-time event finalist went on a tear. Federer won eight straight points to soon level the set at 3-all.
At 4-all, Federer made his move. Wawrinka started to unravel with poor shot selection and unforced errors. Federer responded with better play including ripping a backhand return winner to break Wawrinka for a 5-4 advantage.
Federer held off Wawrinka in a battle of backhands on set point in the next game to take the set 6-4.
The second set proved something of a formality for Federer. At 1-all, an ill-timed double-fault from Wawrinka gave Federer yet another 0-40 lead on his friend's serve. Wawrinka lunged for a volley on the next point only to send it into the net. With that, Federer took control for 2-1.
Wawrinka by now had 21 errors from his racquet and often looked unsure of how to turn things around. Federer, with a forehand winner, broke Wawrinka again at love to take a 4-1 lead.
With the match result almost a certainty, Wawrinka managed to hold serve yet still trailed 5-2. With that Federer was forced to serve for the final. Federer only allowed Wawrinka five points out of the last 30 played in the set.
Federer struck a final big serve followed up with a smash winner to close out the 6-4, 6-2 win in just 54 minutes.
The key stat proved to be unforced errors. Wawrinka struck 21 to just 12 from Federer.
Federer's win sets him up for the fourth Rome final of his career. Federer lost in the final three times 2003, 2006. and 2013. Rome is now Federer's 41st ATP World Tour Masters final and 129th overall.
Federer will face top seed Novak Djokovic who earlier defeated David Ferrer 6-4, 6-4 in their semifinal. This will be Djokovic's and Federer's 39th career meeting.
Djokovic and Federer, who will enter this month's French Open as the top two seeds, have split their two previous meetings this season. Federer won in Dubai while Djokovic won in Indian Wells.