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MIAMI GARDENS: Roger Federer will face a hectic few days if he’s going to win another Miami Open.
He’s off to a good start.
Federer is through to the quarter-finals, having little trouble on the way to a 6-4, 6-2 victory over 13th-seeded Daniil Medvedev on Wednesday needing only 61 minutes to prevail in a match where he committed a mere eight unforced errors. The match was supposed to be Tuesday and was pushed back a day because of rain.
So now, to win what would be his fourth Miami title, Federer will have to prevail four times in a five-day span. Next up for the fourth seed is a quarter-final against sixth seed Kevin Anderson — a match between the two highest seeds left on the men’s side, and the biggest test yet for Anderson since his return from an elbow issue.
“I’m feeling really good,” Federer said. “Today’s match, I can be really happy with so I hope it’s going to give me some confidence.”
Federer and Medvedev split the first eight games, and then things turned quickly. Federer broke Medvedev for a 5-4 lead in the first set, fought off three break points to close out the set in the next game, and got another break to open the second set. He cruised home from there.
“When you want to go deep in tournaments, sometimes you need those 15 minutes that go your way and you’re able to pull away with the score too,” Federer said of the break and then the rally from 0-40 down to serve out the opening set. “Margins are super-slim and you need a bit of help sometimes from your opponent.”
Defending champion John Isner, meanwhile, powered his way to the semi-finals as Roberto Bautista Agut, who sent world number one Novak Djokovic crashing out in the previous round, was seen off 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 ,(7-5).
Isner will face Canadian teen sensation Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last four. The 18-year-old Auger-Aliassime became the youngest ever Miami semi-finalist after seeing off world number 13 Borna Coric 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.
HALEP EYES TOP RANKING
In the women’s draw, Simona Halep moved closer to reclaiming her world number one crown after a well-executed 6-4, 7-5 triumph over China’s Wang Qiang.
Following Petra Kvitova’s exit on Tuesday, Halep needs only to reach Saturday’s final to knock Naomi Osaka off the top of women’s tennis after being deposed following the Japanese’s second major win at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Halep’s recovery from 1-5 down in the second set showed the kind of mental toughness displayed by only the very best and the Romanian is looking in good shape to land her first Miami title, even if she’s not overly consumed about the prospect of reclaiming the number one tag.
“It doesn’t mean everything to get back to number one. It’s more important to finish the year in that position,” said the number two seed. “But if I do it, I will be very proud.”
Halep will meet world number seven Karolina Pliskova in the last four on Thursday after she won the battle of the Czechs with Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 6-4.
“The first set was very close, she played well but I just tried to be more aggressive,” said Pliskova after reaching her third semi-final of 2019. “A match against Simona is always intense. “