Federer v Chung As QFs Begin At Indian Wells; Del Po, Raonic Play Friday
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Roger Federer will get another look and the young Korean phenom Hyeon Chung tonight in the quarterfinals. In January in their Australian Open semifinal, Chung had to retire in the second set due to a debilitating blister on his left foot. A healthier Chung relishes a chance at redemption tonight against the Swiss who’s undefeated at 15-0 in the year.
In the other quarterfinal, this afternoon US Open finalist Kevin Anderson seeks his very first Masters quarterfinal against the in-form Borna Coric. Anderson has won all three matches and seven sets against the 21-year-old Croat.
“I know what to expect. I know how he sort of plays. I have been watching him a little bit this week. Seems to be play very well, fighting very well, being aggressive from the baseline,” Anderson said. “For me the biggest thing is always focusing on playing my kind of tennis as much I can. I feel when I do that I give myself the best chance of having a good result.”
Yesterday on a fall day of round of 16 action, Federer was made to work by Jeremy Chardy in a tough 7-5, 6-4 win.
“I’m relieved that I was able to win three matches already,” Federer said. ‘Because in a big, tough draw like here at Indian Wells, you’re never quite sure what to expect. So I’m just happy I’m on a good run.
“You can’t plan for these runs to happen. Either they happen or they don’t. Sometimes you need a bit of luck to keep the runs going. And this year it’s just been really good, solid matches,” Federer added. “We’ll see how long it lasts really. This might be the last day. So we’ll see. It’s just how it goes. Don’t jinx it.”
Chung picked up his 15th win of the year dispatching Pablo Cuevas 6-1, 6-3.
Anderson won a nail-biter over 2017 Indian Wells semifinalist Pablo Carreno Busta, edging the Spaniard 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(6).
Former finalists Juan Martin del Potro and Milos Raonic both were winners. Del Potro overcame a set and break down in the second to deny friend and countryman Leonardo Mayer 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-3.
“I’m surprised with the Mayer levels of today,” Del Potro said. “He deserved to play like that… I turned around the match and the control of the points, and then I started to play much better right after the tie-break.”
On Friday, del Potro will meet Philipp Kohlschreiber who was a 6-4, 7-6(1) victor over Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
Raonic had the easiest day earning a walkover against Marcos Baghdatis who withdrew due to an illness.
“I woke up and felt a bit ill. I have some stomach issues. I came to have a hit and didn’t feel myself. I didn’t feel well to go out there. I’m really sorry to the fans who wanted to see this match. I’m a bit disappointed myself,” Baghdatis said.
Raonic will take on Sam Querrey after the California native advanced to his first Indian Wells by beating Felicano Lopez 6-3, 6-4.
“It’s the best I played so far,” Querrey said. “My first-serve percentage was a little low. But other than that, I did everything really well. Really aggressive. I thought I returned pretty well against the guy. He’s got a tough serve.
THURSDAY INDIAN WELLS SCHEDULE
STADIUM 1 Starts At 11:00 Am
QF -10 Angelique Kerber VS -20 Daria Kasatkina
Not Before 1:00 Pm
QF Borna Coric VS -7 Kevin Anderson
Not Before 5:00 Pm
QF -8 Venus Williams VS -27 Carla Suárez Navarro
Not Before 7:00 Pm
QF -1 Roger Federer VS -23 Hyeon Chung
Followed By
QF -3 Oliver Marach/Mate Pavic VS Feliciano Lopez/Marc Lopez
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