World number one Roger Federer advanced to the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open with a 7-5 6-4 victory over Jeremy Chardy on Wednesday.
The 36-year-old surrendered just three points on serve in the opening set and took control of the second with a crosscourt backhand winner that broke Chardy when tied at 4-4.
“I like his play. He hits it big, has a big serve, big forehand,” said Federer, a five-time champion at Indian Wells.
“The wind picked up, so you never know what’s going to happen. But I think we played really good tennis for most of the match.”
Federer needed just one hour and 22 minutes to move to 15-0 for the year. The last time he began a season 15-0 was 2006 when he would finish the year with 12 titles and three grand slams.
Facing Chung Hyeon
Federer will next face South Korea’s Chung Hyeon, who defeated Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas 6-1 6-3. It will be a rematch of their Australian Open semi-final in January when Chung had to retire due to blistered feet.
Juan Martin del Potro, a runner-up in Indian Wells in 2013, battled a bad back to outlast Leonardo Mayer 3-6 7-6(2) 6-3.
“I was surprised by Mayer’s level today,” del Potro said. “I think I was very smart during the tiebreak. After that I turned the match around and took control of the points.”
Next up for the Argentine is Germany”s Philipp Kohlschreiber, who advanced with a 6-4 7-6(1) win over France”s Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
Kevin Anderson beat Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6 6-3 7-6(6), the South African recording 16 aces in a victory that took him to a last eight tie against Croatian Borna Coric, who defeated American Taylor Fritz 6-2 6-7(6) 6-4.
Sam Querrey, the lone American remaining in the men’s draw, reached the quarters with a 6-3 6-4 win over Feliciano Lopez of Spain.
-
Federer overpowers Dimitrov to win 97th career title
Roger Federer came to the ABN AMRO World Tournament aiming to secure a return to the top of the world rankings. He achieved that goal on Friday. On ... Sports -
Federer returning to top of ATP rankings at 36
Roger Federer sealed a return to the top of the tennis world rankings for the first time in more than five years by winning his quarterfinal at the ... Sports -
Breaks, lighter schedules can help players improve, says Federer
Swiss ace Roger Federer believes he has benefited from a lighter schedule and says players should not be afraid of taking breaks from tennis to ... Sports -
Federer is the best Tennis man in history... but three women have outdone him
By winning Sunday in Melbourne, Australia, his twentieth Grand Slam title, the Swiss Roger Federer has risen a step higher to the pantheon of world ... Sports