WATCH: Federer comes up with clutch shot in Swiss Indoors quarterfinal
The world No. 2 staved off a break point in the third set with a
Roger Federer says he surprised himself with his backhand winner down break point against Adrian Mannarino in the quarterfinals of Basel.
Federer was serving at 2-3, 30-40, in the third set when Mannarino drilled the ball deep toward the baseline. But Federer, standing there, produced a stunning winner off a backhand half-volley. Mannarino did not win another game as the top seed took command of the meeting from that point.
"When I won this point, I thought Mannarino could take a bit of a psychological hit," Federer told local press. "If I play this point 100 times, I think I win it like five times. I made a good choice ... left myself room to play the half-volley. But I would never anticipate it would finally transform into a winner down the line."
Federer, despite producing a high amount of unforced errors, hit several backhand winners during the match, including on match point.
Federer is a seven-time champion at Basel.
