(June 2, 2013) So far this fortnight Spain’s Tommy Robredo has earned the name “The Comeback Kid.” On Sunday at the French Open he became the first man since 1927 to win three consecutive Grand Slam matches, having to rally from two sets to none down for the win.
Henri Cochet accomplished this feat at Wimbledon in 1927.
Robredo, the 32nd seed defeated countryman No. 11 Nicolas Almagro 6-7(5), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to move into the quarterfinals. He trailed in the third set 2-4.
In the third round he performed the same magic defeating Paris hometown favorite Gael Monfils 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(3), 6-2, saving four match points along the way.
In the second round, the Spaniard topped Igor Sijsling 6-7(2), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1.
“Nobody dreams of doing such things,” Robredo said. “What one dreams of is to reach quarterfinals, but not such a nightmare that is a five‑setter. What I accomplished was very difficult, very complicated.
“This player, Nico, is a big player. Last time, last five matches we played, he won. And yet I believed in the fact that I could win. I had one opportunity when we were at 4‑1 in the fourth set. That’s when I tried to dictate my game and to hit him. It was like a battle, a battle I won.
“I managed to do this, and I’m very satisfied.”
Even Roger Federer commented on Robredo’s win in his post-match news conference.
I think it’s amazing, really, Federer said. I did see Tommy as well in Sao Paulo, so for me I was happy to see him back on tour.”
“So the combo of him doing that three times consecutively at probably his most favorite tournament in the world, yeah, amazing achievement. And, yeah, couldn’t be happier for the guy, really.”
As for Almagro when asked about the loss he said: “I don’t know what adjective to use.
“At the same time I feel privileged to have arrived up until this point, to have the life that I lead, to have my team around me that has blind confidence in me, my family that supports me right up to the hilt.
“I think sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. That’s sport, and you have to accept that.”
Robredo missed both the 2011 and 2012 French Open due to a leg injury and surgery. Robredo saw his ranking fall out of the top 100 down to almost 500.
Robredo whose last appearance in a French open quarterfinal came in 2009, will face another tough task when he faces another fellow Spaniard in No. 4 seed David Ferrer next.
“But, anyway, it’s a lovely dream,” Robredo said to the press. “And hopefully I can remember it a lot of times because at the end during the year you don’t have that many experience like that. I know it’s important to enjoy when you do things like this and remember it. It just give you more power to try to go for the next one.”