Robredo makes history in Paris
Originally published on: 03/06/13 00:00
Robredo became the first person since Frenchman Henri Cochet at Wimbledon in 1927 to come back from two sets to love down in three consecutive Grand Slam matches. The 31-year-old Spaniard was 0-2 down against Igor Sijsling in round two and against Gael Monfils in round three before finding himself in the same position against compatriot Almagro in the last 16.
“He was 4-1 up [in the third set]," said Robredo. "Maybe he had a little bit of doubt, though, in that moment. Then I just pushed hard and I won the third. And then I was just dreaming and dreaming to try to do it again, and I did it.
“I'm not thinking about history,” he added. “What is very important is that I won a big match against a player who defeated me five times, and the rest is only records, for history.”
The former world No.5 dropped as low as No.470 in the ATP rankings last year after being sidelined for 14 months with injury. Since returning to the tour last July, Robredo has climbed back up the rankings and after collecting the 11th title of his career in Casablanca he returned to the top 50.
"I don't know why, but I have the impression I have been crying quite a lot recently," said the world No.38, who broke down in tears as the crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen gave him a standing ovation. "And today, again, my emotions were so strong they were overpowering. There was a lot of tension before the match, and then at the end of the match I wanted to find a way out from my emotions.”
Robredo has reached the last eight in Paris on four different occasions – 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 – and if he is to surpass his previous achievements he will need to overcome fellow Spaniard David Ferrer, who swept past Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-1 6-1 in the previous round.
"I think that being in the quarter-finals again, it's amazing, and also with three comebacks the way I did," said Robredo, who trails Ferrer 2-6 in their head-to-head. "I just need to enjoy it because I think that in tennis, we need to enjoy it when we do great things and keep focused. Because if it's possible, why not? [I could be] one time in the semi-finals here."
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