TENNIS – Roger Federer has reached the quarter final for the ninth time at the BNP Paribas in Indian Wells after beating Tommy Haas after an entertaining match with a double 6-4 but he will not face his fellow countryman Stanislas Wawrinka who was defeated by South African Kevin Anderson in three sets with 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-1. Diego Sampaolo
Federer capitalized on just three of his 11 break points to claim his 13th win in 16 head-to-head matches against his German friend Haas.
The first set went on serve in the first four games until Federer broke serve in the 10-minute fifth game after Haas made a double fault and hit a forehand long to trail 2-3. It was the first of three consecutive breaks in the first set. Haas broke back immediately for 3-3 after a 24-shot rally ended with a forehand error by Federer.
Federer converted on his fourth break back point chance to take the 4-3 lead after Haas saved three break point opportunities. Federer held serve to love to close out the first set on his first set point after 43 minutes. In the first set Federer hit 12 winners to Haas’ six and won nine of his 10 net points.
Federer converted on his fourth break point chance to take a 3-2 edge in the fifth game of the second set before closing out o his first match point with his seventh ace.
There will not be the eagerly-awaited Swiss quarter final derby as this year’s Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka was beaten by in-form Kevin Anderson who clinched the win in three sets 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-1.
Federer beat Anderson 6-4, 6-4 in their only head-to-head match last autumn in Paris Bercy but Anderson is enjoying a good period of form as he reached two consecutive hard-court finals in Delray Beach and Acapulco moving up to World Number 18.
The South African player put an end to Wawrinka’s winning streak this year. It was the first 2014 defeat for the Australian Open champion who won 13 previous consecutive matches.
Anderson broke serve in the second game of the opening set but he dropped serve in the following game after a backhand unforced error. Wawrinka got two break point chances at 4-all but he failed to convert on them. Anderson wasted a 40-0 lead at 5-5 with two consecutive double faults. The first set came down to the tie-break which Anderson dominated with 7-1.
Stan called the medical time-out at the start of the second set. On his return to the court Anderson broke serve to love at 1-1. Wawrinka received again treatment on his hamstring and he looked to be on the verge of withdrawing from the match but he managed to break serve at 3-2 for Anderson. Wawrinka earned four break points when he was leading 4-3 but Anderson saved them. Anderson saved to stay in the set but he made a double fault to hand Wawrinka two set points.
Anderson saved both set points but Wawrinka converted the third break point with an incredible backhand return to force the match to the third set after two hours.
Wawrinka made three consecutive forehand errors to earn Anderson two break point chances. Wawrinka managed to save them but Anderson converted on a third break point chance. The South-African player broke serve to love for 3-1 before closing out the 19-minute third set on his first match point with 6-1.
Wawrinka fought back from a break down in the second set but he was broken serve in the first game of the decider and dropped serve again in the fifth game to love. The Lausanne player was broken four times after not facing a single break a single break point in the first two matches at Indian Wells.
Anderson scored his fifth career win against a top-ten player and improved his seasonal record to 14-4.
Federer showed great respect for his quarter final rival Anderson. “I know how tough he is. He is the best on hard court outdoors here in the United States. That’s when he has had his best success. I am aware that it is not going to be an easy match.”
Federer and Wawrinka will not meet in the singles quarter final but they teamed up to win their doubles quarter final match against Radek Stepanek and Leander Paes with 6-3, 6-7(6), 10-4.
