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Andreas Seppi has provided one of the biggest shocks in the history of the Australian Open with a 6-4 7-6 4-6 7-6 win over Roger Federer in the third round.
For the first time since 2001, Roger Federer has been eliminated in the third round of the Australian Open.
It is the first time in 12 years, since the 2003 open, that Federer has not made a semi final in the first grand slam of the year.
Heading into this match, those records seemed unlikely to be broken.
Federer was 10-0 against Seppi, and had only lost 1 out of 21 sets against the Italian.
Today though, the Italian threw the form book out the window, and won the match of his life.
While Seppi has beaten Nadal and Murray before, in 2008 and 2006, today’s win was done on grand slam level.
The match was won in the first two sets, with Seppi making a brilliant start, and Federer conceding 32 unforced errors.
After getting a break point in the 5th game of the match, Seppi got another one, in the 9th game.
He won the break, saved three break points of his own, and shocked the crowd with a 6-4 set win.
Seppi continued the momentum into the second set, and broke Federer in the third game, to lead 2-1.
Federer would respond by breaking back immediately to level at 2-2.
The Italian would break again and serve for the second set with a 5-4 lead.
Federer though lifted again and broke back to level the set again.
The second set then went to a tiebreaker with Federer racing to a 4-1 lead.
Just when you thought Federer would win the set, and run away with it, the Italian had other ideas.
He would win six out of the next seven points to steal the second set from the Swiss Maestro.
As any champion does, Federer would respond, and win the third set, 6-4.
He would then try to force the match into a deciding set by putting pressure on Seppi’s serve.
Unfortunately for him, Seppi would serve well in the 4th set, and force it into another tiebreaker.
At 5-4 up in the tiebreaker, Federer had two serves, to bring it to a 5th set.
Seppi though would win the next two points and create a match point.
What followed was one of the best shots on match point.
Seemingly out of the point, after a backhand down the line by Federer, Seppi lunged at the ball on his forehand, and the ball fell in to beat the world number 2.
He had won the match, and stunned the world, on Pat Rafter Arena.
After the victory, Seppi describe the result as a special one for him.
“To beat Roger (for the} first time, especially in a Grand Slam, is a special moment for me.”
“I was pretty calm, I have to say, from the beginning. Also in the important moments. Maybe it was the match where I felt more comfortable with my emotions. I think that help me for sure in the end of the match a lot.”
He now faces Australian Nick Kyrgios in the next round. A match in which the Australian will get plenty of support.
“It’s not going to be easy. But I think, you know, I have to approach it like today: go out there, enjoy the moment, just try to focus on my game, and try to play my best.”
That match will be played on Sunday.
Roger Federer will be looking to continue his impressive record against Andreas Seppi in the third round of the Australian Open today.
Join The Roar for a live blog of the match from around 3:00pm.
Playing Roger Federer must be a nightmare for Andreas Seppi.
In ten meetings between the two, Seppi hasn’t won one of them, as Federer leads the ledger 10-0.
It gets worse.
In just one of those matches, at the 2012 Doha event, Seppi was able to win a set from the Fed Express.
He has lost 21 out of the last 22 sets of tennis against Federer.
It is an imposing record for the Italian as they face each other for the 11th time today.
In those ten matches, one has already been played at the Australian Open.
In 2009 Seppi lost 6-1 7-6 7-5 to Federer in the first round.
His 2015 tournament so far has been impressive.
A 5 set win over Denis Istomin in Round 1 was followed up by a 4 set win over Jeremy Chardy in Round 2.
It is a good return to form after a lean 2014.
After starting the year – as a seed – as the world number 25, he fell to 45 by the end of the year.
He will be looking to return to the top 30 by the end of the year.
Seppi’s game can be described as solid.
His serve, forehand, and backhand are all strong and he really doesn’t have a weaknesses. The unfortunate thing for him is that none of them are weapons as well.
He’ll get the odd winner here and there, but his game is based around staying in plenty of points, and waiting for a mistake from his opponent.
For Roger Federer that hardly happens.
The Fed Express has started the tournament well with two comfortable wins.
He may have lost a set against Simone Bolelli but he was not in any danger of losing.
Today he faces another Italian, who he has a good record against.
If Federer plays at his best today, he should comfortably beat Seppi.
If he doesn’t then Seppi can surprise, and win a set or two.
You can’t be complacent against the Italian.
I don’t expect the Swiss Maestro to do that and it should be a comfortable victory for him.
His backhand, forehand, and serve will be too much for the Italian.
PREDICTION – Federer 3-0
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