On his sole two break points, which came in Stepanek’s very first service game, Djokovic had been unable to pass the Czech at the net. At 2-2 in the second, Stepanek again saved one break point rushing the net for a volley winner.

During this first stage of the match, Djokovic seemed to be a step slower than usual. Stepanek, on the other hand, showed his determination to be aggressive, coming in behind both serves and as often as Djokovic would give him an opening from the baseline. His own serve was reliable, but, just like Djokovic, he was yet to break his opponent’s serve. Stepanek had his opportunities in the second set when Djokovic hit double faults in all but the first of his service games, including one to set up three consecutive match points.

At 0-40, he didn’t allow Stepanek to take control, running the Czech left and right and finally forcing the error with a beautiful forehand down the line. With perfect pace and perfect placement, the first match point was saved. On the second one, the Djokovic first serve drew the error from the Czech. On the final match point, the Serbian again forced an error with his forehand.

The match had undoubtedly turned. In the next game, Stepanek found himself down two break points. He tried his luck at net again, but, this time, Djokovic’s cross-court forehand found the opening to take the game. Djokovic served it out and before Stepanek could recover, the Serbian was up 2-0 in the third. The remainder of the set was a mere formality, 6-2.




Djokovic not only won the match, but in his charming on-court interview in German (!), he won over the crowd as well. Unsure whether on the occasion of talking German for “the first time in five, six years,” he had made himself clear, he repeated the following once more in English: “At 4-5, 0-40, you were with me and, thanks to you, I made it through.”


Federer vs Chiudinelli: 6-6( 6-7)

The first set of the semifinal between the two friends and Basel natives, Roger Federer and Marco Chiudinelli, was a much closer affair than most people would have predicted. Curiously, it was Federer who later admitted that he felt very awkward playing an opponent who knows him that well. “It was bizarre playing someone who probably knows exactly what I am about to do next,” he said. “And when you look across the net at a challenge or after a good point, you don’t only see an opponent, but a friend.”

Chiudinelli who two days earlier had described his playing philosophy with, “If one player plays aggressive, the other one passive, the first one wins. So you have to be that player,” was determined to put this plan to action. He was serving well, wasn’t afraid to come to the net and even drop-shot Federer down 0-1 in the first set tiebreak. On break points against him, he played serve and volley and even found himself at 0-40 in Federer’s third service game. Federer then played two of his best points of the match, a tough low backhand volley and a forehand down the line winner, to win the game.

His best shot, however, came down a set point in the tiebreak. Up to this moment, the play in the decider had already been of high quality with only two unforced errors and a point which featured a drop-shot, a lob, a backhand smash, and a forehand volley winner that had the crowd on their feet. At 7-6, Chiudinelli again decided to follow his strong approach shot to the net. Later he would say that he had nothing for which to blame himself at this point. He was aggressive, did everything right, and then Federer hit the shot: an inch perfect cross court backhand pass.

Two points later, Chiudinelli’s forehand sailed wide and Federer won the set 7-6 (7). The loss of the first set left Chiudinelli rattled for a moment, which was enough for Federer to pull ahead 3-0. Much like Djokovic’s final set, this set lacked the class and tension of the previous one, as Federer safely served it out, 6-3.


More photos from the 2009 Davidoff Swiss Indoors Basel.
Photos: Tina van Eickels