Australian Open 2020 news - Mats Wilander: Roger Federer serve leading to errors

Federer produced a brilliant comeback as he came back from 8-4 down in the super tiebreak to beat Millman 4-6 7-6(2) 6-4 4-6 7-6(8).

While Millman took the game to Federer, the Swiss was uncharacteristically slack, making a remarkable amount of unforced errors.

In total Federer made 82 unforced errors, 49 of which came on his forehand with Federer alluding to his struggles in his post-match interview.

“I had to figure out a way to get him in trouble on his serve.” Federer said after he was asked how he adjusted after losing the first set.

“He’s not known to be the best server, he’s got a good serve but it’s not like the tall guys coming in super fast.

“But he was doing such a nice job of not making too many mistakes and I was struggling in the forehands cross-court, backhands cross-court he was sort of dominating both sides.”

Barbara Schett asked Wilander for his thoughts on what was happening with Federer.

“I think we can most probably explain it because of his serve,” Wilander replied on Game, Schett and Mats.

“He’s not getting any free points on the serve tonight compared to what he normally does. So the other player feels more comfortable and can start going for his shots because he gets some rhythm.

“When Federer hits second serves the other player gets rhythm. When Federer gets a couple of free points all the time they get no rhythm and there are no rallies, but here there were.”

One of the other major talking points from the game was Federer’s astonishing six-point streak in the super tiebreak including an outrageous drop shot.

“Very gutsy, very creative of course.” Wilander said while reviewing the footage. “This is what you get in return for not winning Wimbledon last year when he had two match points against Novak Djokovic.

“Millman was maybe becoming a little bit passive in this rally, Federer is playing with good height, keeping Millman away from the baseline.

“I think Roger realised that any time he brought Millman to the net, or he was up at the net, he felt he’s a better player and has better hands.

“But when it was from the back, he said that forehand and backhand crosscourt was troublesome, so somehow with slices, drop shots and coming to the net he figured out how to make Millman a little worse towards the end of the match.”

Federer will face Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in the fourth round.

Federer has always stuck to routine coming into the Australian Open and has generally had a great deal of success in his warm-up tournaments. He won Brisbane in 2015 and was twice a beaten finalist in 2014 and 2016. Since then he had played in the Hopman Cup, winning the mixed tournament in 2018 and 2019 alongside Belinda Bencic. This year he was due to play in the ATP Cup but cancelled his appearance after an elongated tour of Latin America in the 2019 post-season.

Though he was troubled by neither Steve Johnson nor Filip Krajinovic, both players hardly without pedigree, he looked off the boil against Millman, with his forehand spewing numerous errors - a sure sign that Federer's game is not in sync. It could well be that a break of two months without competitive action means Federer has come into Melbourne undercooked.

Should he and Novak Djokovic progress to their projected semi-final meeting, Federer will need to tighten up these vital aspects of his game or the Serb will come a step closer to equalling his record 20 Grand Slams.