1 Response to miami03costa_federer

1. Voo de Mar says:

   September 14, 2025 at 1:59 am

   Points won by each set: [ 51-48, 21-30, 52-47 ]
   Points won directly on serve:
   20 % Costa – 25 of 122
   23 % Federer – 30 of 127

   One of Federer’s most dramatic three-set defeats. At the time Costa was a reigning French Open champion while Federer before his first major title so the surface issue wasn’t as huge as it’d be one year later. Anyway Federer was ranked higher [4 vs 9] so he could be expected as a winner, leading 2-0 their H2H. The Spaniard was three points away from losing the first set at *5:6 (blowing three set points on serve at 5:4) and saved three match points in the 3rd set. The decider, played under the floodlights, was exceptionally dramatic: the Swiss led 4:2* (30-all) & 5:3 (Costa held in impressive serve-and-volley style), then at 5:4 he had two match points on serve – served very well but Costa received and forced an error, on the second match point Federer served again to Costa’s backhand and his return landed on the line… a few strokes later Federer missed his forehand. Costa broke back to lead 6:5* (30/0). At ‘deuce’ the rain fall and the match was suspended. After the resumption the following day, Federer quickly won two points to open the deciding tie-break in which he led 6:5* – the third match point Costa fought off with one of the longest rallies (16 strokes, Fed’s FH error, Costa hit the net-cord in the meantime). Federer decisively saved the first match point, but on the second one for Costa, the Swiss hit the net-cord and the ball landed outside the baseline. Costa won the tie-breaks 7/4 & 9/7. The official ATP match-time is 3:12, but it lasted 2 hours 57 minutes. I suppose the error is connected to the fact the match was halted due to rain and the umpire Norm Christ waited too long to halt his clock.

   Serve & volley: Costa 6/7, Federer 10/16

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