Roger Federer has the best start of his career at the ATP Masters 1000 Tournament in Indian Wells after winning his last sixteen against Jeremy Chardy.
It’s been a long time since Roger Federer started the season with 16-0 wins. Twelve years ago, after winning tournaments in Doha and Melbourne, the “Maestro” only failed in the final of Dubai after Rafael Nadal. A further victory in the Californian desert would equalize this start record – and secure the lead in the world ranking.
“After his 7-5,6-4 win over Chardy, Federer joked after the journalists confronted him with the historical figures.
In the quarter-finals, the 36-year-old Swiss strikes Hyeon Chung, who won 6-1 and 6-3 against Pablo Cuevas. Federer had competed most recently in the semi-final of the Australian Open with the up-and-coming South Korean. However, due to a painful bladder on the left foot, the 21-year-old had to give up at the end of the second set.
Against Chardy Federer was harder than expected, especially the windy conditions in the Indian Wells Tennis Garden caused problems for the world’s number one tennis player. After organizing his break in the eleventh game of the first set, Federer was back in the second act with a score of 5:4.
Borna Coric and Kevin Anderson will contest the second quarter-final in the upper half of the tableau. While the Croatian defeated local hero Taylor Fritz in three sets, U. S. Open finalist Anderson had to face Pablo Carreno Busta in the 4:6,6:3,7:6 (6) as well.
Acapulco champion Juan Martin del Potro is also in the top eight. The Argentine defeated compatriot Leonardo Mayer 3:6,7:6 (2), 6:3 and will now face the last German in the field, Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Milos Raonic benefited from Marcos Baghdatis’s absence due to illness in the last 16. The former Wimbledon finalist from Canada will now face Sam Querrey, who was 6-3 and 6-4 to Feliciano Lopez.