Roger Federer will face South Korean Hyeon Chung in the quarter-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, who has a return match for the Australian Open semi-finals in mind.
Stops, praises and even the SABR are currently practiced by the world’s best tennis player in Indian Wells. In principle since the beginning of the year, because Roger Federer has not lost a match since the beginning of the year. Another victory and he starts a season as well as never before. So far there have been 15 victories, seven at the title in Melbourne, five on the way to triumph in Rotterdam and California, and three for the time being “Don’t bewitch it”, warned Federer at the press conference in California. A request to the journalists not to see him as the early winner.
Federico Delbonis, Filip Krajinovic and Jeremy Chardy could not stop the 36-year-old in the last lap. Now Hyeon Chung, against whom he has only played once, is waiting. Well, it wasn’t really an act. In the semi-final of the Australian Open Chung was very handicapped and gave up after just under an hour of play due to a deep and huge blister at the ball of his foot.
The injury of the 21-year-old has completely healed and Chung will go into the match against the world’s number one in full possession of his powers. The South Korean is in top form and is slowly but surely one of the world’s top men around the globe.
In Indian Wells some established top stars felt that. Tomas Berdych, for example, who was rolled over and eliminated by the South Korean power roll. Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas got worse. After a 6-1 draw in the first set, the older player even faced a bagel in set two. Cuevas fended off nine match points and fought three more games, but the final stop was still.
Federer can’t know what to expect from Chung, because the appearance at the Happy Slam in Australia doesn’t count. The young South Korean’s enormous power and sensational defensive skills cost the opponents an enormous amount of strength. This will also be felt by Federer, simple points are missing against Chung. Only the serve of the NextGen winner from Milan leaves much to be desired. Federer will want to take advantage of this weakness and can at the same time put pressure with his service, which is considered the best for many players and experts in the tennis circuit.
Federer uses the impact variably. Hard and straight through the middle, with a kick to the outside or an ingenious slice serve disrupt his opponents by the dozen. Chung has the advantage that he still has enough strength and stability for a dangerous stroke even in a non-optimal position due to his strong legs and well-trained physique.
From the baseline, both players act aggressively, Federer dominates the volley like no other and will also seek his way to the net against the 15 year younger opponent on the other side.
The audience can look forward to a battle of generations under the Californian sun. Big and spectacular tennis is pre-programmed anyway.
The men’s single tableau in Indian Wells