Roger Federer's 3 greatest Grand Slam escapes

#1 2020 Australian Open Quarterfinals: Beats Tennys Sandgren 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 6-7(8), 6-3

Federer greets Sandgren at the net after their quarterfinal at the 2020 Australian Open

On paper it appeared to be a hopeless mismatch, given the gulf in experience and pedigree of the two players.

While Federer was making his 15th quarterfinal at the Australian Open, and a record-extending 57th in Grand Slams, Tennys Sandgren was playing his second Major quarterfinal, two years after making the last eight at Melbourne Park.

In the pair's first ever meeting on tour, Federer squandered break points before breaking the American at 3-2 en route to taking the opener 6-3. However, afflicted by an injury, Federer began to appear restrained in his movements as Sandgren reveled in the spotlight.

The Swiss maestro won only two games as Sandgren restored parity at a set apiece and then streaked to a 3-0 lead in the third. Following a medical timeout. Federer struggled to make an impact on the American's serve as Sandgren took the set 6-2 to stand a set away from a monumental upset.

Federer, serving at 4-5 in the fourth, had to dig deep to save three match points. In the ensuing tiebreak, a loose forehand from Federer at 3-3 allowed Sandgren to streak 6-3 clear and have three more match points.

The 38-year-old took care of his serve to erase the first two but Sandgren stood a swing of his racquet away from the greatest win of his career. However, as the American tightened, Federer seized the initiative to get back on serve.

You may also like: 3 milestones Federer could achieve at the 2020 Australian Open

Sandgren saved Federer's first set point of the set with an ace and arrived at a seventh match point, only for the 20-time Grand Slam winner to win 3 points on the trot to take the match to a decider.

Federer was now a man reborn. With adrenaline coursing through his veins and a partisan crowd firmly behind him, Federer broke Sandgren for 4-2 in the fifth. He ultimately converted his first match point to extend his perfect Australian Open quarterfinal record to 15-0.

In the process, Federer also extended his near-perfect record against Americans at Grand Slam tournaments to 36-1. He has now gone 32 matches unbeaten against American opposition at Majors since losing to Andre Agassi in the fourth round of the 2001 US Open.

For a place in a record 8th Australian Open final, Federer will take on defending champion Novak Djokovic in the pair's 50th meeting on tour.

You may also like: 3 milestones awaiting Federer in 2020