Roger Federer Crashes Out Of Indian Wells
17 March 2010
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Roger Federer crashed out of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells at the hands of Marcos Baghdatis after throwing away three match points.
The Indian Wells tournament is the first the world number one has played since winning the Australian Open back in January.
The match was close from the start but a single break in the twelfth game was enough for Federer to take the opening set.
Into the second and once again it was another closely fought set but it looked like going the way of the Swiss when he was 15-40 up on the Baghdatis serve at 5-4.
But the two match points went begging as the Cypriot dug his heels in to hold serve. And it was a Federer error that gave Baghdatis the advantage in the next game as long forehand saw Federer facing break point.
And Baghdatis took his chance were Federer had failed as he broke the world number one before holding his own serve take the set 5-7 and level the match.
Once again Federer was being taken the distance in Indian Wells, he was yet to win a match in straight sets, but he broke early to take a 3-1 lead.
But Baghdatis refused to go away and he broke back in the seventh game with an outstanding forehand that Federer could only net.
A third match point came Federer's way when he lead 6-5 but another netted ball saw Baghdatis hold onto his serve and push the final set into a tie break.
The tie break was another close affair but it was Baghdatis who kept his cool to clinch it 7-4 to take the match 5-7 7-5 7-6 (7-4).
Speaking to the BBC after the match Baghdatis said: I did everything well, because Roger had a great percentage of first serves. One moment he was playing only with first serves, so it was really tough to return. But I kept calm.
"I said to myself that the chance would come, and when it comes, I'll take it. That's what I did.
He will now face Tommy Robredo who was a comfortable 6-3 6-0 winner over Dudi Sela.
However it was not all good news in the third round for Spain as Feliciano Lopez fell to Robin Soderling 7-6 (7-3) 6-4.
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