Australian Open: Fading Roger Federer back from the dead

An ageing and frustrated Roger Federer somehow survived seven match points against an opponent who choked with the door open.

Switzerland's Roger Federer hits a return against Tennys Sandgren of the US

Roger Federer was injured. Old man’s groin. He trailed Texan Tennys Sandgren. Houston, problem. Frustration. Anger. He vented. A Swiss lineswoman heard him. Disliked it. She reported to the umpire, Marijana Veljovic, that Federer had used a trucker’s mouth. A Swiss trucker. Nothing was said in the Queen’s English.

Federer received a caution for an audible obscenity. “Give me a break,” he told Veljovic. He looked morally offended. Glum. Wounded.

“I was upset with the pain I was feeling. I found it a bit tough. It’s not like I’m known to throw around words and whatever. It’s not like the whole stadium heard it, either. But no problem, I’ll accept it.”

Asked which language he said it in, Federer replied good-naturedly: “It was a mix. Clearly she speaks mixed. Didn’t know that. Next time I’ve got to check the lines-people.”

When he lost the third set, Houston, we had an even bigger problem. His tournament looked in peril. His career looked in peril. He might need a Zimmerframe to get to his chair. He walked off the court as if he needed a good lie down.

Give him a break? He needed one against Sandgren’s serve. He seemed in neither the physical nor mental state required to mount a revival. He cast his mind toward his likely next commitment: Swiss alps.

The groin problem was getting worse. His legs started aching. He could barely serve, hardly run. But Sandgren suddenly became immune to the pressure of a journeyman, ranked 100 in the world, being on the cusp of maiden major semi-final berth. Don’t stuff it up. Don’t stuff it up. Don’t stuff it up. D’oh. He stuffed it up. He choked. Totally. Completely.

Seven match points were squandered by him, more than they were saved by Federer, who was merely keeping the ball in play, before the 20-time major champion won 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6 (8) 6-3.

“I just said, I believe in miracles,” Federer said. “Gotta get lucky sometimes, I tell you that. I was just hoping that maybe if he misses one or two … I don’t deserve this one but I’m standing here and I’m obviously very happy.

“With these lucky escapes, you might come out and play great the next match. You know you should already be skiing in Switzerland. Might as well make the most of it.”

Federer moved into a semi-final.

Asked about his injury, he said: “Groin. Leg. I’ve played a lot of tennis throughout my career. I didn’t want to get treatment. Sign of weakness and all that stuff.

“The good thing about a groin injury is you leave the court to be treated, so nobody knows what the problem really is.

“It was just stiff and tight, whatever you want to call it. It wasn’t so bad that I was going to make it worse. I thought, let him finish me off in style. He didn’t do that. I started to feel better. Incredibly lucky. I’d better feel better for my next match or I really will be skiing in Switzerland.”

Sandgren fainted at the sight of the door opening in front of him, completely losing his timing. Choke. He started rushing. Choke. His composure disappeared. Choke. He could rally only half as long as he had been. Choke. He was too anxious to swing as freely as he had done. Choke.

Federer played it brilliantly smart, doing all he had to do. All he could do in his compromised physical state.

A ball girl ran into Sandgren, hurting his calf muscle, and he stumbled through the final set, shocked to be still on the court. After three hours and 31 minutes, he was out of the tournament.