Roger Federer gained a measure of revenge against Wimbledon nemesis Kevin Anderson, beating the South African 6-0 6-4 in the Miami Open quarters.
Federer cruised to a 6-0 6-4 win over Anderson
Miami:
Shapovalov is one of two Canadian teenagers in the semis, with 18-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime playing defending champion John Isner. Federer has won 100 career titles, 100 more than Shapovalov, and he is looking forward to the pair’s first match-up. “He’s one of the big shot makers in the game. I love his forehand,” said Federer.
“It’s an exciting draw for John and for myself here, playing these young guys. They are not just young, but they are very good, as well.” The Swiss raced through the first set against Anderson, the man who came from two sets down to beat him in a quarter-final match at Wimbledon last year.
Anderson took nine games to get on the board. He eventually found his groove and broke back with a series of return winners to level the second set at 3-3. Federer struck the decisive blow at 4-4, however, winning a marathon game of 22 points. Shapovalov broke Tiafoe four times and could hardly stop smiling at the prospect of playing Federer.
“It’s definitely a match-up I have been looking forward to my whole life,” he said. “It’s going to be a dream come true to play him in such a big event. The stakes are so high, semi-final of a Masters 1000 against your idol, it’s just a dream come true.”
Pliskova and Barty to meet in final
Karolina Pliskova reached the Miami Open women’s singles final with an emphatic 7-5 6-1 win over second seed Simona Halep in soggy south Florida.
The Czech fifth seed will meet Ashleigh Barty in Saturday’s final, after the 12th seeded Australian beat Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit 6-3 6-3 in the other last four match.
With the victory, he to set up a semi-final meeting against a player barely half his age. Federer will have little time to rest his 37-year-old legs before his clash against 19-year-old Denis Shapovalov, the highly regarded Canadian talent. Shapovalov won his battle of ‘Next Gen’ hustlers 6-7(5) 6-4 6-2, against American Frances Tiafoe.
Shapovalov is one of two Canadian teenagers in the semis, with 18-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime playing defending champion John Isner. Federer has won 100 career titles, 100 more than Shapovalov, and he is looking forward to the pair’s first match-up. “He’s one of the big shot makers in the game. I love his forehand,” said Federer.
“It’s an exciting draw for John and for myself here, playing these young guys. They are not just young, but they are very good, as well.” The Swiss raced through the first set against Anderson, the man who came from two sets down to beat him in a quarter-final match at Wimbledon last year.
Anderson took nine games to get on the board. He eventually found his groove and broke back with a series of return winners to level the second set at 3-3. Federer struck the decisive blow at 4-4, however, winning a marathon game of 22 points. Shapovalov broke Tiafoe four times and could hardly stop smiling at the prospect of playing Federer.
“It’s definitely a match-up I have been looking forward to my whole life,” he said. “It’s going to be a dream come true to play him in such a big event. The stakes are so high, semi-final of a Masters 1000 against your idol, it’s just a dream come true.”
Pliskova and Barty to meet in final
Karolina Pliskova reached the Miami Open women’s singles final with an emphatic 7-5 6-1 win over second seed Simona Halep in soggy south Florida.
The Czech fifth seed will meet Ashleigh Barty in Saturday’s final, after the 12th seeded Australian beat Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit 6-3 6-3 in the other last four match.