Federer Edges Gonzo, to Face Gasquet in Toronto Final
Posted on August 13, 2006Roger Federer overcame a spirited challenge from Fernando Gonzalez to beat him 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 in the semifinals Saturday night at the ATP Masters Series stop in Toronto, Canada.
Federer showed off his entire arsenal in the victory -- from sliced backhands to stinging volleys. And that was partly because he was pushed hard by Gonzalez, who showed quite a bit of variety and fight in his own game, including the blazing forehand for which he is famous.
In the final Sunday, Federer will face Richard Gasquet of France, who beat Andy Murray of Britain with an overpowering all-court game 6-2, 7-5 in the other semifinal Saturday afternoon
Federer of Switzerland holds a career edge of 4-1 over the Frenchman, winning their last four matches, including at Halle and Wimbledon this year.
In the match against Gonzalez, Federer broke the Chilean four times and only lost serve once himself. The winner garnered 91 points compared to 78 for the loser. The match lasted one hour and 49 minutes.
Federer kept his record against Gonzalez perfect at 7-0. Federer's record for the year improved to 61-4, while Gonzalez slipped to 32-16
Federer, who turned 25 Tuesday, is playing in his 17th straight final dating back to June 2005. The last time he failed to reach a final was at Roland Garros last year when he lost in the semifinals to Rafael Nadal.
He has now reached the final of his last seven ATP Masters Series events, and won four of the prior six.
This year Federer is 6-4 in finals, with all four losses coming to Nadal. The Swiss magician has a 53-match winning streak in North America since his last loss to Dominik Hrbaty in the first round of Cincinnati Aug. 3, 2004.
During that streak, he has won eight titles -- the US Open and Tennis Masters Cup in Houston in 2004, Indian Wells, Miami, Cincinnati, and the US Open in 2005 and Indian Wells and Miami this year.
Federer is playing his first tournament since winning Wimbledon on July 9 and has a 17-match winning streak. Federer is 83-2 on hard courts over 2005-06, going 50-1 last season and 33-1 thus far this year.
He is seeking his second Canadian title. In 2004, he captured the crown over Roddick. He didn't come back to defend his crown last year. Federer has a career record of 14-3 in this tournament.
In his match Saturday, Gasquet broke Murray four times and lost serve only once himself. The victor won 69 points, compared to 53 for the vanquished. The match lasted one hour and 23 minutes.
It was the first ATP meeting between Gasquet, 20, and Murray, 19. The Frenchman improved his 2006 record to 22-15, while Murray fell to 29-19.
Gasquet is on a hot streak, taking 15 of his last 17 matches to recover from a 7-13 start. He has an INDESIT ATP Ranking of No. 51.
Gasquet will play in his third ATP final of the year -- all within the last two months. He took the titles at Nottingham in June (d. Bjorkman) and Gstaad in July (d. Lopez).
Gasquet will appear in his second ATP Masters Series final. He was runner-up to Federer at Hamburg in May 2005. This will be Gasquet's sixth career ATP final. He has won three titles -- the two this year and one last year at Nottingham (d. Mirnyi).
Last year he made his Canadian debut in Montreal and lost in the second round to Sebastien Grosjean.
In doubles Bob and Mike Bryan of the U.S. beat Mark Knowles of the Bahamas and Daniel Nestor of Canada 6-3, 6-7(6), 10-5 (Match Tie-break) in the semifinals.
The Bryans will shoot for their third title in as many weeks in the final Sunday against third seeds Paul Hanley of Australia and Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe. Hanley and Ullyett beat No. 7 seeds Martin Damm and Leander Paes 3-6, 6-3, 10-4 (Match Tie-break) in the semifinals.
The final will be a re-match of last week's final in Washington, won by the Bryans.
-- ATP
Federer showed off his entire arsenal in the victory -- from sliced backhands to stinging volleys. And that was partly because he was pushed hard by Gonzalez, who showed quite a bit of variety and fight in his own game, including the blazing forehand for which he is famous.
In the final Sunday, Federer will face Richard Gasquet of France, who beat Andy Murray of Britain with an overpowering all-court game 6-2, 7-5 in the other semifinal Saturday afternoon
Federer of Switzerland holds a career edge of 4-1 over the Frenchman, winning their last four matches, including at Halle and Wimbledon this year.
In the match against Gonzalez, Federer broke the Chilean four times and only lost serve once himself. The winner garnered 91 points compared to 78 for the loser. The match lasted one hour and 49 minutes.
Federer kept his record against Gonzalez perfect at 7-0. Federer's record for the year improved to 61-4, while Gonzalez slipped to 32-16
Federer, who turned 25 Tuesday, is playing in his 17th straight final dating back to June 2005. The last time he failed to reach a final was at Roland Garros last year when he lost in the semifinals to Rafael Nadal.
He has now reached the final of his last seven ATP Masters Series events, and won four of the prior six.
This year Federer is 6-4 in finals, with all four losses coming to Nadal. The Swiss magician has a 53-match winning streak in North America since his last loss to Dominik Hrbaty in the first round of Cincinnati Aug. 3, 2004.
During that streak, he has won eight titles -- the US Open and Tennis Masters Cup in Houston in 2004, Indian Wells, Miami, Cincinnati, and the US Open in 2005 and Indian Wells and Miami this year.
Federer is playing his first tournament since winning Wimbledon on July 9 and has a 17-match winning streak. Federer is 83-2 on hard courts over 2005-06, going 50-1 last season and 33-1 thus far this year.
He is seeking his second Canadian title. In 2004, he captured the crown over Roddick. He didn't come back to defend his crown last year. Federer has a career record of 14-3 in this tournament.
In his match Saturday, Gasquet broke Murray four times and lost serve only once himself. The victor won 69 points, compared to 53 for the vanquished. The match lasted one hour and 23 minutes.
It was the first ATP meeting between Gasquet, 20, and Murray, 19. The Frenchman improved his 2006 record to 22-15, while Murray fell to 29-19.
Gasquet is on a hot streak, taking 15 of his last 17 matches to recover from a 7-13 start. He has an INDESIT ATP Ranking of No. 51.
Gasquet will play in his third ATP final of the year -- all within the last two months. He took the titles at Nottingham in June (d. Bjorkman) and Gstaad in July (d. Lopez).
Gasquet will appear in his second ATP Masters Series final. He was runner-up to Federer at Hamburg in May 2005. This will be Gasquet's sixth career ATP final. He has won three titles -- the two this year and one last year at Nottingham (d. Mirnyi).
Last year he made his Canadian debut in Montreal and lost in the second round to Sebastien Grosjean.
In doubles Bob and Mike Bryan of the U.S. beat Mark Knowles of the Bahamas and Daniel Nestor of Canada 6-3, 6-7(6), 10-5 (Match Tie-break) in the semifinals.
The Bryans will shoot for their third title in as many weeks in the final Sunday against third seeds Paul Hanley of Australia and Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe. Hanley and Ullyett beat No. 7 seeds Martin Damm and Leander Paes 3-6, 6-3, 10-4 (Match Tie-break) in the semifinals.
The final will be a re-match of last week's final in Washington, won by the Bryans.
-- ATP