937E2C86-205A-49EB-9A17-400082AFD4FC
By Alberto Amalfi
Photo Credit: Jurgen Melzer.com
(June 2, 2010) The finish line loomed as large as the baseline as Novak Djokovic held a two-set lead over first-time quarterfinalist Jurgen Melzer.
Djokovic spent much of the next three sets hearing Melzer's fast footsteps echo in his ears while wearing the pained expression of a man on the verge of completing a marathon only to be informed a series of wind sprints were required to win the race.
An inspired Melzer staged a ferocious fight back from a two-set deficit to rally past Djokovic, 3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(3), 6-4, and reach the Roland Garros semifinals.
It was a stunning rally from the 29-year-old Austrian, who will face four-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal for a spot in the final.
The second-seeded Nadal was tested, but refused to be bested and continued to clean up on clay with a 7-6(2), 7-6(3), 6-4 victory over Almagro in today's first men's quarterfinal.
The two hour, 35-minute triumph sends Nadal into the French Open semifinals for the fifth time in the past six years as he continues his quest to become the first man to capture all three clay-court Masters 1000 crowns — Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid — and the French Open in the same season.
Down two sets and facing a 2-0 deficit in the third set, Melzer made up his mind to dig in and stick around as long as necessary.
"I changed the match. Well, the only thing I told myself, It's my first quarterfinals in my life in a Grand Slam. Just don't go away. Just don't make it easy for him," Melzer said. "Fight as much as you can, and I was I wasn't playing so bad. I just missed a lot of easy shots when I had the chance and the opportunity to finish the point. And after that, I mean, I got back in, and at 2-all in the third it was an open match. I think I got a little under the skin after the third set. I should win the fourth set probably earlier than I actually did, and then the fifth was just a battle."
The 22nd-seeded Melzer looked down and out, but never gave in against the 2008 Australian Open champion.
In the ninth game of the final set, Djokovic cracked and Melzer pounced. A nervous Djokovic missed a fairly routine forehand pass with Melzer well out of position to hand the left-handed Austrian two break points. Djokovic dug in and saved them both, but on the third break point, Djokovic could not contend with a Melzer backhand down the line.
Melzer had the break and stepped up to serve for the most significant win of his life.
Continuing to apply pressure, Djokovic drilled a backhand down the line that was called out, leaving a frustrated Djokovic fuming and facing a 0-30 hole. This time it was Melzer's turn to tighten as he ntted a volley on match point. Djokovic earned a break point, but his backhand missed the mark. Melzer stayed the course and closed on his fourth match point.