Roger Federer was playing behind closed doors for the first time when he took the court against Dominik Koepfer on Saturday at the French Open. That’s right; just like with the previous night-session matches this week, there were zero fans in attendance because of the 9:00 pm curfew in France.
Although counting up the fans watching on television would result in a non-zero number, it was also a lot less than it should have been. In the United States, Federer vs. Koepfer could not be found on Tennis Channel because TC always relinquishes its tournament rights to NBC on weekends. But it also couldn’t be watched on NBC because that channel was covering the Belmont Stakes so the tennis match was handed over to NBA’s Peacock TV affiliate.
Few people know what Peacock TV is. And even fewer have it.
So when Federer found himself tied at one set apiece and trailing by a break in the third while also clearly running low on energy, it looked he would be playing what could be his final French Open match with no fans bidding him farewell in person and not enough watching remotely.
A crisis was developing on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Well, crisis averted.
Finding motivation from within without any atmosphere to fuel his comeback, Federer dug himself out of his mid-match scare and battled back to beat Koepfer 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 7-5 after three hours and 35 minutes.
Trailing 4-2 in the third set after seeing momentum evaporate by losing the second, the 39-year-old raised his level to break back for 4-4. Even though Federer was obviously feeling some physical effects of his longest match since the 2020 Australian Open, he came up clutch in the pressure-packed moments and played a near-flawless third-set tiebreaker. The Swiss also rose to the occasion late in the fourth, breaking at 5-5 and then serving out the proceedings in routine fashion one game later.
How else did he do it, beyond simply showcasing brilliant tennis?
“(I was) thinking of all the people watching on TV,” said Federer, clearly unaware of America’s Peacock debacle. “I was really picturing a lot of people on a Saturday night checking in on the game and watching some tennis. So in many ways, I was also playing for them and trying to let that inspire me.
“My fighting spirit got me over the line, as well,” the 23-time Grand Slam champion added. “I tried really hard. You’ve got to love what you do. I do.”
More people would have loved to see it. But at least they will–presumably–be able to when Federer plays his next match against Matteo Berrettini on Monday.
That, thank goodness, will be on Tennis Channel. And if Roland Garros tournament organizers come to their senses (which they have rarely done so far this fortnight), they will schedule it for a time when fans can…you know…actually attend.
nice one, Fed
That was good workout for his ‘medium-term’ conditioning.
>the 23-time Grand Slam champion added
Haha so you reckon he’ll get a few more eh
Dementia?
In the UK the match was live on ITV4, and the satellite’s footprint covers parts of continental Europe too, you just need a decent dish, no subscription required.
Seriously impressive.. when you consider that there are players citing motivation issues and this legend plays at night at his worst slam in a night session without a crowd after two knee ops against a charged up opponent and comes up with the goods
Great effort by the Old Goat! But WTH was NBC thinking? I mean, if you hope to sell streaming subscriptions based on a tennis match you really need to let people know that it exists. I got a laugh this morning hearing Ted Robinson describe it as a “match that was in a witness protection program”. Tennis Channel never did show it last night, just reran what they had from their day matches. He also said he talked to people in France that couldn’t find the match! How weird is that? Well, maybe highlights on YouTube?
It was a disgrace for NBC to do that. An absolute disgrace. It’s just sick. Nobody had a clue in hell about peacock!
We deserved to see this match with Fed coming back after surgery.
NBC can rot in hell.
any news on whether Fed will play the 4th round?
I still can’t find any info online.
No news yet. Will probably make a decsion by end of todays session.
He’s made the quaters of this event a dozen or so times; another one isnt going to make any difference and doubt he will beat both Berrettini and Djoovic. Might as well appreciate he’s progress and focus on an event that he can win or make the final of.
The OOP is published around 3 pm local time so we might find out then.
Fed pulls out
Good decision imo. Fed has nothing to gain and much to risk by playing another tough match.
So, Berettini will be fresh with Djoko / Musetti 🤠then.
On the bright side hope that frees up a slot and they do not put rafa at night
They shouldn’t be putting anyone at night imo – not while there’s a curfew preventing crowds.
Sucks that Fed’s out but I doubt he would’ve beaten Berrittini anyway, he looked badly fatigued in the 4th set against Koepler
They have to have a night match.
RG were paid a lot of money by a tv company for the night matches.
I really hope they don’t put Rafa on then although I fear they will. Could be Nole against Musetti.
I hate watching these stupid night matches. Fortunately the quarters is the last one.
Also, apart from Serena, why don’t the women play any?
Are u worried abt sinner Amy…
Yes I am sanju!
Rafa played poorly against him last year if you remember? But that was another stupid night match and it was really cold. You could tell Rafa was in a bad temper!
This match is on rafa’s racquet. If the real Rafa turns up he wins. If he is very nervy then Sinner does have a chance.
amy,
Sinner is not winning the match, last year was different circumstances. The weather was atrocious because it was played in the fall. Rafa will be ready.
Nny, hope you are right darling!
Honestly it is not just Rafa struggling with nerves! I am a basketcase this year!
I think it’s because of Rafa being 35 and not knowing how many slams he has left to play…
Maybe that is affecting Rafa as well? Or just mad projection on my part?😀 he does seem nervous to me..
When nny is confident .I suddenly feel confident. She has seen rafa way more than us n understands him better
If they dare to do to Rafa what they did to Fed, I will declare war on them. This has to stop! The point is for fans to see the matches!
amy,
We will see. I know how difficult it is to go through RG. But if we are worrying about Sinner, then what are we going to do when he meets Novak in the quarterfinals?
I know that it’s hard as Rafa gets older and we know that he can’t play forever. I just have to have faith in him. He does need to be challenged to bring out his best. Even though it’s so stressful for his fans!
He may be nervous. He has such immense pressure at RG and I don’t know how he deals with it.
I actually felt better after I watched the replay of his match with Norrie. The tennis channel commies said his second serve percentage went down in that second set. He was only winning 1 out of 5 second serves. That is why he was broken twice. But the good news is that he broke back both times. He did not allow Norrie to gain the advantage. Then he broke to go up 4-3. He won the second set with a cc backhand for the ages. So it wasn’t that bad. Then he responded well in the third set.
I don’t know what happened with his second serve, but that can cause him to lose concentration. I hope his serve is on for the Sinner match.
I actually get more nervous in the early rounds nny.
I did notice that Rafa was hitting his second serve very short. It was just begging to get hit for a winner.
I know that you have said he had been struggling on serve. It’s certainly true that when he does the rest of his game suffers.
I really hope it clicks tomorrow.
The one part of his game he was consistent with
against Norrie was around the net.
Also he has to stabilise his fh.
amy,
Good points. I can pick up on things when I watch the replay of Rafa’s matches. I know the result so I can concentrate on certain things,
Rafa was great at net. He had a few vintage Rafa shots in that match. The forehand has to be working. But most of all it’s the serve. Rafa was so good in Rome. He isn’t there yet but hopefully he can raise his level of play.
There r night matches till mens qf…
Fed fans ..I understand fed needs to listen to his body but is he expecting that grass will not have long matches ..grass will play slower 4th round onwards ..the grass matches will be long too ..he played 3.5 hrs with rafa in 19 n 5 hrs against djoko…
Sinner is saying he has played twice against rafa n the outcome this time could be different (:-
I have the same question as sanju.grass will be challenging, too. I don’t see how his body will hold up after being out for. so long.
I do understand Fed withdrawing at this point. That match had to take a lot out of him. He is focusing on Wimbledon. He got what he needed here.
However, I do think the same thing could happen at Wimbledon.
Yeah and consideing how challenging the grass has been for Rafas knees as it can be quite slippery in the first week.. guess we will know when fed starts in halle
I wonder if we will be able to watch Zverev v Nishikori. It’s supposed to be next, but will it just disappear as the Federer match did?
It disappeared. It’s on the peacock livestream.
Any time the networks get involved in showing tennis, fans lose out. I remember when the networks carried the slams and they would show matches on a tape delayed basis. With the internet everyone knew the result in real time.