Italy's Andreas Seppi said
he was staying focused after stunning Roger Federer in the third
round of the Australian Open Friday.
"It was a great match, among the best in my career, but
there's nothing to celebrate, it isn't as if I've won the
tournament," said world no.46 Seppi, 30, who turned pro in 2002
and reached a career-high ranking of 18th in 2013.
"I'm satisfied because I kept up a very high level of play
for three hours against a strong opponent like Roger.
"It wasn't easy," said Seppi, who has won three ATP Tour
titles - Moscow (2012), Belgrade (2012) and Eastbourne (2011).
"Now I have to stay calm and focused and maintain this
level of play in the next match".
Asked if he was going to celebrate the biggest win of his
career, the Alto Adige native said: "No, it's just going to be
dinner and an early night".
Seppi, who is nicknamed Andy and speaks Italian, English
and German, beat World no.2 and second seed Federer in four
sets, 6-4, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (5).
It was his first win in 11 tries over the legendary 17-time
Grand Slam winner, who has won four times in Australia.
The victory also ended a 23-match losing streak against top
10 opponents.
Seppi thus moves into his second slam quarter-final since
2013, where he will face either Australia's Nick Kyrgios or
Tunisia's Malek Jaziri.
The Italian confided that Federer congratulated him on his
win, and especially on the glorious running forehand winner
that clinched it.
"'Bravo', he said as he shook my hand. 'You even ended it
with a mad point'," said Seppi.
Federer said "It was just a bad day.
"I wish I could have played better, but clearly it was
tough losing the first two sets," said the Swiss, who many
consider the greatest player ever.
"I had chances to get back into it.
"I let it slip, both times in some ways. I guess I won the
wrong points out there today".
Federer enjoyed a revival last year, vying with Novak
Djokovic for the number one ranking, and began 2015 with his
83rd career title in Brisbane.
However, there had been signs in his previous match
against another Italian, Simone Bolelli, that he was not at his
best as he dropped the opening set.
In the Seppi match, when he was two points from defeat in
game 10 of the fourth set, Federer held on to force another
tie-break and had two serves at 5-4, but lost them both to give
the Italian a match point.
Faced with the biggest point of his career, Seppi came up
with that spectacular pass on the run to complete one of the
year's biggest upsets.
"I just tried to enjoy playing on centre court (Rod Laver
Arena) because it's not often I get the chance," added the
Italian.
"I was focusing on my service games as I was not getting
many chances on his.
"The tie-break was great, especially the last point. I did
not think I would get the ball. I thought it was a winner so I
don't know how I hit a winner".
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