5 Instances when Roger Federer's serve deserted him completely

#1 2009 US Open final - Serving for the second set at 5-4 and a two-set lead vs. Juan Martin Del Potro

2009 US Open - Day 15

Federer was the No.1 seed and defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the semifinal. Del Potro was seeded sixth and defeated Rafael Nadal also in similar fashion to reach the final.

Federer was unstoppable in the first set. He broke Del Potro in the second game with an amazing inside-in forehand winner and consolidated by holding his serve to take a 3-0 lead and went on to win the opening set 6-3.

In the second set, Del Potro double-faulted on break point to allow Federer to get the break of serve in the opening game.. It was 5-4 (30-30) and Del Potro’s chance to win the US Open was on a knife-edge as Federer was just two points away from a two-set lead.

At 30-30, Del Potro was too far behind the baseline, and with Federer approaching the net, Del Potro hit an inside-out forehand winner that was called out by the umpire.

But it was at this stage technology would prove to be a knight in shining armour for Del Potro, as he was quick to challenge the call and the replay showed that the ball had just barely caressed the line.

All of a sudden the Argentinian had a break point and he broke Federer's serve to make it 5-5 with a carbon copy of the same shot, but this time the ball was well inside the line.

Federer’s approach to venture the net was badly misfiring as it enabled Del Potro to take risky chances that paid off. He would go to win the second set 7-6 (7-5) in a tie-breaker.

In the third set, both players exchanged a break of serves in the seventh and eighth game. Federer had a set point on the Del Potro serve at 4-5 (30-40) in the third game. Unnerved by the situation, Del Potro double-faulted to lose and gift Federer the third set.

In the fourth set, Federer had two break points early on at 1-0. The Argentinian remarkably saved both the break points with two consecutive forehand winners. Del Potro saved another break point at 2-1 with a forehand passing shot.

At 2-2, Del Potro had three-point break-points with a chance to get a critical break of serve in the fourth set. He did just that after Federer sent his forehand wide.

But Federer would break Del Potro back in the eighth game to make 4-4, and the set went to a tie-breaker. Del Potro took control of the tie-break and rose to a 3-0 lead. He had two set points at 6-4 when Federer sent his forehand too long which made it two games a piece.

In the fifth set, Del Potro led 1-0 and had a break point at 30-40. Federer committed the cardinal sin of approaching the net prematurely and Del Potro made him pay dearly by firing a forehand winner and got an important break of serve to lead 2-0.

After that, Federer was in a state of consternation and couldn’t seem to find a way to get back in the match. Del Potro had a championship point at 5-2 and converted it after Federer sent his backhand long behind the baseline.

The Argentinian couldn’t control his emotions as he won his first Grand Slam at the age of 20 and in the process, is the only player outside the top 5 in history to beat both Federer and Nadal in the same grand slam.

But in the overall scheme of things, this was one match Federer should have won in straight or four sets, had he just been a little more cautious with his approach and tactics at critical junctures in the match. It was more so especially when he was serving for the second set at 5-4 and when he had multiple break point opportunities in the fourth set.

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Match result – Del Potro won 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2

Match duration – 4 hours and 6 minutes