Roger federer reaches quarter-finals with ease in Basel
Roger federer reaches quarter-finals with ease in Basel
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Cool: Roger Federer celebrates in Basel last night. PIC/GETTY IMAGES |
Roger Federer took just an hour to crush Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-3 for a sixth straight victory against the Italian to reach the quarter-finals of the Swiss Indoors here yesterday.
The top seed, a hometown hero at the St Jakobshalle, was invincible as he reached the last eight, winning his 17th straight match in Basel and his 57th of the season. The winner of the last three editions has not been defeated at the tournament since 2003 when he lost to Ivan Ljubicic, who went out here on Wednesday having come to the tournament in form having won the Lyon title last Sunday.
"It was a straightforward match, similar to my first round," said a relaxed Federer. "But tonight I had to saved break points. It was a bit tougher." Federer saved two break points in the routine win, with Seppi yet to win a set in their encounters. The Swiss improved to a 31-6 record in his career playing at home and has now won 36 of his last 37 matches. Federer will await a winner from Russian Evgeny Korolev and France's Jeremy Chardy, who beat slumping American James Blake, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (6/8), 6-4.
"He served well and I didn't do my job of putting pressure on his serve," said the 41st-ranked Blake who had to deal with 24 aces from his opponent. "I had one lapse early in the third set and he took advantage. He didn't let up on his serve at all during the match."
u00a0Croatian Marin Cilic stayed in touch for a possible place in the year-end final as he began with a defeat of Philipp Petzschner 6-4, 6-4. The German has gone a month without a decent result.
