Federer in final - Chung retires injured

The last singles semi final, and the one to determine who would play Marin Cilic (6) in this years Men’s Final, was played on Night Twelve on RLA.

It starkly presented the new and the old, Hyeon Chung the fresh face who’d been the story of the tournament, and Roger Federer (2) who had done what he’d done multiple times since 2004 in reaching this point.

Federer won the toss and elected to receive serve, a tactic clearly aimed at achieving an early break of serve, testing the nerves of Chung.

It worked. Three Korean errors, two forced, gave Chung two break points to save.

Swiss mistakes brought it to deuce, but finally more errors from Chung donated the break to Federer.

Two successive aces took Roger to 40-15, but he made another mistake and Chung hit his first winner to send it to another deuce.

A break point was wasted by Chung and Federer hit two winners to hold serve and lead 2-0.

Chung’s forehand winner sealed a confident service game.  

2-1 Switzerland.

A much simpler service hold this time for Federer - a love game including an ace and a service winner. 3-1.

Federer forced two errors on the Korean backhand en route to a pair of break points, the first of which was converted with a loose forehand by Chung. Federer has a double break 4-1.

A double fault was more than compensated by two Swiss service winners and an ace as Federer put the foot down. 5-1.

In a game lasting eight minutes and sixteen points, Chung saved four set points before he doubled faulted, setting up a fifth chance which Federer took, hitting a forehand winner. The set was Rogers 6-1.

On a roll, The Fed Express served a love game with two aces to open set two.

Chung surrendered just a single point in levelling at 1-1.

Federer nonchalantly extended his run of points won on serve to 10 and led 2-1.

A couple of Swiss winners contributed to Chung being broken next game and things looking increasingly grim. 1-3.

Two aces and a Korean error, and Roger flew to 40-0, 13 straight points won on his serve. That was stopped with two forehand mistakes, but an ace won the game and the Swiss lead was 4-1.

Hyeon unfortunately had a serious foot issue which had not helped him in the match but Federer was still playing too well as you would expect.

Chung held manfully and the score was 4-2 Federer.

Roger held to love but more importantly was the foot injury which was clearly an issue affecting Chung’s ability to continue.

Only four more points were played, Chung retiring at 1-6 2-5 and 30-30.

A sad end to a match which promised so much.

Hopefully Chung will recover quickly from his foot injury and continue his rapid rise in the tennis world - he has been a revelation this tournament.

Roger Federer now proceeded to yet another final where he will play Marin Cilic (6).

Cilic was beaten by Federer in last years Wimbledon final, and Cilic beat Federer en route to capturing his 2014 US Open title.

Having avoided expected other top names in reaching the final, Roger will face his first real test once there.

To date he has had others clear the deck of the likes of Nadal, Dimitrov, Thiem, Zverev and Djokovic, any of who could have been a significant barrier but for players like Chung and Sandgren putting their noses in the way.

Irrespective, it should be a great contest with Marin.