Roger Federer has taken his undefeated start to the season to a stunning 17-0 for the first time in his career thanks to a battling victory over unseeded 21-year-old Borna Coric in the Indian Wells semi-finals on Saturday.
The Swiss, a five-time champion in the California desert, is one step away from a 28th Masters 1000 title and a 98th career trophy.
Federer is into the final at Indian Wells for a fourth consecutive time (missed the 2016 tournament) but had to do it the hard way as he climbed from 5-7, 2-4 down, and twice canceled a break down in the final set, to secure a comeback win over the Croatian youngster, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
“I needed to fight a little bit. Trying to keep the ball in play. Borna was incredibly steady. It was tough for me to accept and move on but I was happy to stay in the game and stay in the rally. He got a bit nervous and I got a bit lucky as well,” said the 36-year-old Federer, who was given a rare 11:00am start and joked that he “had pasta at 9:15am”.
The defending champion entered the match having won 38/41 sets contested this year, but that changed when Coric broke late in the opening set to jump to an impressive yet unexpected lead.
The pair were neck and neck throughout the first 10 games before Coric created the first break point opportunity of the match at 5-5. Federer saved it with a good serve but got in trouble moments later. This time Coric converted with a cunning passing shot that dipped low and drew the error from Federer who netted his response.
Serving for the set, Coric went up 40-0 and secured his lead on his second chance.
The young Croat broke to start the second set and consolidated for a 2-0 advantage. He faced triple break point in game four but heroically saved all three to go up 3-1 and deny Federer a chance back in the contest.
The Swiss again had a chance to break in Coric’s next service game but that too slipped away and the youngster maintained his lead.
Federer kept up the pressure on the Coric serve, and this time, the forehand let the Croatian down as he allowed the top seed to finally break back on his sixth break point opportunity of the match.
A netted backhand saw Federer get his hands on two set points on the Coric serve and the world No. 1 leveled the match on an overcooked forehand from his opponent, taking a fourth straight game to force a decider.
Coric broke at love to start the third set but a signature backhand passing shot from Federer helped the Swiss to a break point in game two. The retaliation came immediately and they were back on level terms.
Point of the match!
Federer earns himself a break point at 30-all and he converts, drawing back even in the third vs. Coric.
He then holds, so we’re back on serve — *1-2 Borna serving. #BNPPO18
🎥 @TennisTV pic.twitter.com/xRNsEjxAYr
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 17, 2018
Coric saved a break point to hold for 2-all then got a chance to break in game seven as he drew the error from Federer at the net. The 36-year-old saved it but he hit a wide forehand on the next break point to give Coric a 4-3 lead.
Federer roared in the next game when he out-rallied Coric for break point. A crying baby possibly disrupted Coric and he ended up double-faulting to hand over the break back.
Serving to stay in the match, Coric crumbled allowing Federer safe passage to the final.
