MADRID — Roger Federer’s return to clay lasted solely three matches.
A day after saving two match factors on the Madrid Open, Federer squandered two match factors himself within the quarterfinals towards Dominic Thiem on Friday, dropping, 3-6, 7-6 (11), 6-4.
It could have ended his first look at a clay-court event in three years, however Federer was not overly disillusioned with the end result.
“I really feel superb about my recreation,” Federer mentioned. “I believed I had some good matches right here. I really feel good on the clay proper now. It’s been a great week. Irritating, clearly. Shedding with match factors is the worst, in order that’s how I really feel. However however, if I take a step again, it’s all good.”
Federer had skipped the clay seasons the previous two years to stay match for the remainder of the season. He determined to return this yr in preparation for his first French Open look since 2015.
The fifth-seeded Thiem, the runner-up in Madrid the final two seasons, will subsequent face top-ranked Novak Djokovic, who didn’t must play his quarterfinal after Marin Cilic withdrew due to meals poisoning.
Thiem has an opportunity to win his third title of the yr after victories in Barcelona and in Indian Wells, Calif., the place he defeated Federer in a three-set last.
“Going through him, it at all times requires my best possible recreation and likewise slightly bit luck, which I each had in Indian Wells and likewise right here,” Thiem mentioned. “And that’s why I gained these two matches.”
The opposite semifinal will likely be between Stefanos Tsitsipas and the five-time Madrid champion Rafael Nadal. Tsitsipas defeated the defending champion, Alexander Zverev, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, whereas Nadal cruised previous Stan Wawrinka, 6-1, 6-2.
Nadal misplaced solely seven factors on his service video games, conceding no break alternatives towards the 34th-ranked Wawrinka, who misplaced the 2013 Madrid last to Nadal.
“It was certainly one of my finest matches in a very long time, my finest match on clay this yr,” the second-ranked Nadal mentioned. “It means rather a lot to have this sense on this essential second of the clay season.”
On the ladies’s facet, Simona Halep made it again to the Madrid last for the primary time since 2017 with a 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-Zero victory over unseeded Belinda Bencic.
The French Open champion can surpass Naomi Osaka for the No. 1 rating if she wins Saturday’s last.
“I don’t wish to take into consideration that,” the third-ranked Halep mentioned. “For me, it’s extra vital to win the trophy right here than being No. 1. I desire titles than numbers and rankings. So that is my purpose, to play finals and to win trophies.”
She’s going to face final yr’s runner-up, Kiki Bertens, who defeated Sloane Stephens, 6-2, 7-5.
Federer, 37, was making an attempt to win his third Madrid title, and his first since 2012. He has already gained hardcourt titles this season in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and in Miami.
Federer received off to an ideal begin towards Thiem on the Magic Field heart courtroom, breaking Thiem’s serve early and cruising to a first-set win. He squandered 5 break factors within the second set after which had match factors at 8-7 and 10-9 within the tiebreaker earlier than Thiem pressured the deciding set by changing his sixth set level.
Federer had saved two match factors in his tough three-set win over Gaël Monfils on Thursday.
Thiem broke Federer for the primary time within the third recreation of the third set, changing his ninth break alternative of the match. Federer received again on serve at 4-Four however began his subsequent recreation 0-40 and couldn’t get well. Thiem then served out for the victory, changing on his second match level.
Thiem has gained the final two matches he performed towards Djokovic, who had the time without work due to Cilic’s withdrawal.
“It was alleged to be positively a great match,” mentioned Djokovic, who has performed solely 4 units this week. “I went again on the courtroom, educated for an additional hour and received a great sweat in. Joyful that I’m going to be recent for my semifinal.”
The highest-seeded Djokovic is in search of a 3rd Madrid Open title and his second title of the season after profitable the Australian Open.
Thiem misplaced the Madrid last to Nadal in 2017 and to Alexander Zverev in 2018.
“I used to be taking part in Novak final yr and two years in the past, and he was not at his finest, I assume, and now he’s once more,” Thiem mentioned. “He’s gained the final three Slams, and he’s on the prime of the rating once more. So the problem couldn’t be greater.”