In crucial moment, Federer had one more tool in his kit than Wawrinka

The pre-match numbers didn’t look good for Stan Wawrinka in his quarterfinal against Roger Federer on Tuesday.

22-3: That was Federer’s record against him.

6-0: That was Federer’s record in their last six matches.

5 hours, 9 minutes: That’s how long Wawrinka had played in his fourth-round win over Stefanos Tsitsipas two days earlier. It was only slightly less than the amount of time Federer had spent on court during the entire tournament.

But over the course of their three hour, 35 minute quarterfinal on Court Suzanne Lenglen on Tuesday, only a few points would spell the difference between the two countrymen. Federer’s 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (5) 6-4 win demonstrated how little can separate a 20-Slam winner from a three-Slam winner—but it also demonstrated how crucial that little bit of difference is. In the match’s most decisive moment, Federer could do something that Wawrinka couldn’t.

The moment came with Federer serving at 5-5 in the third set. The match hung in the balance throughout this long game. Each man had won a set, and the third had been a fierce tug of war; both knew what it meant. Wawrinka squandered a 4-2 lead, and Federer squandered two set points at 5-4. Now it was Wawrinka’s turn to knock on the door with two break points of his own.

On the first, Wawrinka pushed Federer back with a series of big ground strokes. Federer defended his forehand corner well, but instead of closing the net, Wawrinka retreated and ceded the court position he had just gained. Federer happily took it. He charged forward and finished the point with a forehand drop winner. In that rally, the momentum surged in Wawrinka’s direction, and then back in Federer’s, which is where it would stay.

Wawrinka could match Federer’s serve—Stan saved 16 of 18 break points, many of them with unreturnable bombs, and hit eight aces to Federer’s five. Wawrinka could match Federer’s forehand; Stan finished with 54 winners to Federer’s 53. But he couldn’t match his variety of weapons. In the stat of the day, Federer won 41 points at net to just nine for Wawrinka. Federer had success bringing Wawrinka forward and passing him. And he had even more success following his high-bouncing kick to net—often on second serves—and catching Wawrinka too far behind the baseline and out of position. Wawrinka couldn’t counter those tactics with any similar surprises of his own.

That’s what made the difference today, what has made the difference in many of their matches over the years, and what separates Federer from just about everyone else. That’s why he’s 23-3 against a three-time Slam champ, and 7-0 in their last seven meetings. And that’s why, at 37, he’s back in the semifinals at the French Open, with a chance to win his 21st major title.