Six-time champion Roger Federer defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber for the 11th time on Thursday with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win which booked a Swiss Indoors quarter-final place.
Top seed Federer, playing at the venue where he got his start in the game as a ball boy two decades ago, was due to face Belgium’s David Goffin yesterday, who he beat for the title last year.
After defeating his German friend Kohlschreiber in 98 minutes with 13 aces and two breaks of serve, Federer was happy to escape with the win.
Photo: EPA
“The support really made the difference for me tonight, especially at the end of the match,” Federer said. “The fans helped me a lot and probably drove him down a bit — thanks to everyone. It’s always difficult against Philipp, he’s such a tough opponent. I may have beaten him a lot, but it’s not been easy. Today was another battle and I’m just relieved to get to the quarter-finals.”
Federer, with five titles this season, won his 55th match of the year against nine losses.
Donald Young of the US stunned South African fourth seed Kevin Anderson 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) to reach the quarters.
Young, the world No. 49, was due to face world No. 29 compatriot Jack Sock, who withstood 14 aces from fellow American and sixth seed John Isner’s racket in a 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 win.
Sock earned his second win from six attempts against Isner, as the 23-year-old claimed his 34th match of the season.
Seventh-seeded former US Open winner Marin Cilic earned a place in the quarter-finals, beating Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-3, 6-1, but managing just seven aces in the process.
Cilic was due to face 14-time major winner Rafael Nadal for a place in the semi-finals.
Serve king Ivo Karlovic enjoyed a 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 win over Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic, with the Croatian firing 25 aces just a day after knocking out Swiss second seed Stan Wawrinka with 21.
Anderson, Isner and Karlovic have each delivered more than 1,000 aces on the ATP Tour this season, the first time that mark has been achieved since records began in 1991.
Fifth seed Richard Gasquet extended his outside bid for a place in the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals when he beat Dominic Thiem 7-6 (7/1), 6-4.
The Frenchman needs to win the Basel title and next week’s Paris Masters to have a chance to claim a place in the eight-man London showpiece. He was next due to face Karlovic.
“I played a good tiebreaker which was key,” Gasquet said. “I hit some great shots when I needed to. My backhand was working really well and I got confidence from it. It was a super match for me and keeps me in the race for London. Karlovic is such a tough opponent. His serve is unbelievable. I just have to concentrate on returns, I will need to play really well.”
With the last two spots in the season wrap-up still in play, the situation was complicated by the pullout in Valencia of David Ferrer.
The 33-year-old Spaniard, who won the Vienna title last weekend, was suffering with an elbow injury, a problem which forced him off court for three months this season.
Ferrer stands joint seventh in the points chase, level with Japan’s Kei Nishikori, who is also out injured.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care