AO - Night 3 - Federer v Krajinovic

Second match on Night Three on RLA, 2020 AO was Roger Federer v Serbian Filip Krajinovic.

Federer served first and held for the loss of only one point, two forehands especially good. Three break points were created next game by Federer, backhand winners sublime. Krajinovic saved two, an ace and exquisite drop shot doing the job. He couldn’t save the third though.

Federer held again then went to work once more on the Serb delivery. At 40-30, Federer hit a forehand down the line then Krajinovic found the net. Another forehand winner confirmed the break, and Federer led 4-0.

An ace began game five, and Krajinovic hit back with a rifled forehand return that Federer could barely touch. Krajinovic put away a volley to make it 30-30, but Federer calmly served out the game, sealing it with a predictable winning forehand. 5-0.

A love game from Krajinovic saved some face, but Federer won the set 6-1 next game, complete with two more forehand winners.

Federer broke straight away in set two, despite an ace and winning volley from Krajinovic. Games went to serve for awhile, Krajinovic saving two break points in the fifth, and Federer one in the sixth.

Federer served at 4-3, and a backhand winner from Krajinovic earned one from the third seed in response. At 30-30 Federer netted a forehand and it was break point. Saved with a winning forehand.

Another netted forehand and a second break chance. Federer put a backhand long and Krajinovic broke back for 4-4.

Immediately, Federer did as expected. A forehand Swiss winner and a Krajinovic mishit brought 0-30. A Krajinovic winner couldn’t stop the Swiss train which produced two break points. Only one needed and Federer would serve for the set.

An ace and forehand put away. 30-0. Another ace for two set points. Unreturned serve and Federer led 6-1 6-4.

As in the first and second sets, Krajinovic lost his opening serve in set three. Federer consolidated the break for the loss of just a point, a terrific lob from Krajinovic. 

The third game was longest of the match, and Krajinovic saved a break point en route to holding serve. That was his final success for the night.

Federer held serve twice more, surrendering only point, while breaking the Serb serve in the fifth game.

At 1-5, Krajinovic went to the line. He lost the opening two points with errors. A double fault gave Federer three match points. Two were saved. A Swiss forehand winner sealed the victory 6-1 6-4 6-1.